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2.10 Deputy D.J. De Sousa of the Minister for Health and Social Services regarding the extension of the Hospital Managing Director's employment contract:
Would the Minister inform Members of the process used in deciding whether to extend the hospital Managing Director's employment contract?
The Deputy of Trinity (The Minister for Health and Social Services):
It is important to note that the contract for the Managing Director of the hospital is a contract of services and not an employment contract. With regard to the rest of the question, the Ministerial team were advised by the Chief Officer and the Interim Director of Human Resources. I would like to draw Members' attention to the written answers 6082 and 6077, to Deputy Higgins and Deputy Le Hérissier respectively, as this provides further information on this issue.
- Deputy T.A. Vallois of St. Saviour :
Under Recording of Ministerial Decision Guidelines it requires a Minister to make a Ministerial decision for contracts. Could the Minister advise why this was not carried out?
The Deputy of Trinity :
This is a contract for services of a particular person for the Managing Director of the hospital. If that is the case then I will look into it.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
Can the Minister advise; during the 6 months of the interim contract was the post advertised and, if it was, where was it advertised?
The Deputy of Trinity :
I can confirm that during those 6 months the post was not advertised because there was so much to do within the hospital that it was important the interim settled in and tackled the areas within the hospital, and also with the C.S.R. that was taking place and the strategic roadmap, continuity is vital at this point in time.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
I understand the hospital was very, very busy at the time; could it not have been passed to the Chief Minister's H.R. States people to deal with?
The Deputy of Trinity :
It is not just the role; it is having the right person in the right place at the right time. This is the most important thing that the Ministerial team felt, and even today I really feel that we have the right person at the right time to take especially the Health of... to make the hospital a safe and sustainable place for the future.
- Senator S.C. Ferguson:
Would the Minister explain why there was no consultation with the Central Chief Officer of Human Resources in the Resources Department or indeed the Director of Procurement in the Central Department?
The Deputy of Trinity :
The appointment of the contract for services did go through due process. It was discussed within the Chief Officer of H.R. as well as the Appointments Commission, and the Chief Executive of the States of Jersey.
- The Deputy of St. John :
Can the Minister give us details of how many staff within her area of responsibility earned more than £150,000 per annum, and will she consider her own position and do as Helier Clement suggests, fall on her sword? [Members: Oh!]
The Deputy Bailiff :
The first part of the question is disallowed, it is not relevant to the question which has been put, and therefore is not a proper supplementary. Are you going to fall on your sword, Minister?
The Deputy of Trinity :
I am sure my predecessors looking across the Assembly here when I say it is never an easy job. It is an important job and as a former nurse I believe passionately in the health and care of Islanders. [Approbation] I am not here to look back. I am here to look forward and to make sure that the structures and the right personnel are in place at the right time to deliver the best possible care for Islanders. That is my main aim. [Approbation]
Deputy M.R. Higgins:
This is another example of the Minister not answering a direct question.
The Deputy of St. John :
Will the Minister answer the question: will she or will she not fall on her sword? The Deputy of Trinity :
Absolutely not. [Approbation]
[10:45]
- Deputy S. Pitman:
I will say this very slowly: how long does the Minister envisage this contract with the M.D. lasting?
The Deputy of Trinity :
It is a 2-year contract of services.
- Deputy A.E. Jeune :
A point of clarity on the last answer please. Is that effective from last November or when?
The Deputy of Trinity :
It is effective from 1st February.
The Deputy Bailiff :
I should have offered Deputy De Sousa the final supplementary.
- Deputy D.J. De Sousa:
My final supplementary is this: originally this post was for an interim 6 months extended for 2 years; following on from Deputy Jeune , is there a guarantee that this will not be extended further?
The Deputy of Trinity :
There is nothing guaranteed in life. I have always said you cross the road and you
never know whether you are going to get there. [Aside] This is the right person at
the right place at the right time. I would like to think that in 2 years' time that the hospital would have moved forward to put in place a substantive Managing Director. But at this moment in time, I cannot give that guarantee.