FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
GENERAL
1. Why are changes being made to health and social care in Northern Ireland? What changes are taking place?
The changes are part of a wider government initiative to reform public services in Northern Ireland known as the ‘Review of Public Administration’. The changes aim to put in place modern, accountable and effective arrangements for public service delivery in Northern Ireland.
The structural changes within Health and Social Care will deliver £53 million annually in efficiency savings. This is money that will then reinvested in front-line services.
2. What changes are taking place?
The first phase has already taken place. Five new integrated Heath and Social Care (HSC) Trusts were established in April 2007 to provide health and social care in NI. They replaced 18 Trusts and provided for a more streamlined structure. There is also a NI Ambulance Service Trust.
The second phase in the reforms focuses on the four Heath and Social Services Boards, the four Health and Social Services Councils and a number of smaller Agencies.
Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey is making the following changes for phase two:
- A single Health and Social Care Board for Northern Ireland will replace the existing four Boards. It will focus on commissioning, resource management and performance management and improvement;
- a new Public Health Agency will incorporate and build on the work of the Health Promotion Agency, but will have much wider responsibility for health protection, health improvement and development to address existing health inequalities and public health issues for all the people of Northern Ireland;
- a new Business Services Organisation will provide a range of support functions for the whole of the health and social care system. The Central Services Agency will be dissolved and the majority of its services, along with other functions, will be undertaken by the new organisation;
- a single Patient and Client Council will replace the current Health and Social Services Councils, with five local offices operating in the same geographical areas as the existing Trusts, thus providing a strong voice for patients, clients and carers.
There are a number of other changes:
- A smaller and more focused Department;
- The Regional Medical Physics Agency will be merged with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; and
- The functions of the Mental Health Commission will transfer to the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority.
- The NI Practice and Educational Council, NI Medical and Dental Training Agency, NI Guardian Ad Litem Agency, NI Social Care Council and Health Estates Agency will remain unchanged.
- The Minister is currently giving further consideration to the position of the NI Blood Transfusion Service.
3. When will the changes take effect?
On 1 April 2009.
4. Who is overseeing the changes?
As Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Michael McGimpsey, ultimately has responsibility for the changes within Heath and Social Care.
Within the Department, the Minister is supported by a ‘Modernisation and Improvement Programme Board’ (MIPB) who oversee the changes.
- Find out more on the MIPB
5. Where will the new organisations will be located?
The new organisations will be located as follows (effective on 1 April 2009):-
- The Health and Social Care Board headquarters will be in the current Eastern Board building in Linenhall Street, Belfast.
- The Public Health Agency headquarters will be based in Stoney Road, Dundonald on an interim basis until March 2010, with other Belfast based agency staff, such as the Health Promotion Agency, remaining in their current accommodation. Work will start immediately on a longer term solution for the Agency headquarters in Belfast - which is intended to be in an area that will reflect its role in addressing health inequalities.
- Both the HSC Board and the Public Health Agency headquarters will be supported by four co-located Commissioning Support Units in the existing locations of Londonderry, Armagh, Ballymena and Belfast.
- The Business Services Organisation headquarters will be located on an interim basis in the CSA headquarters in Franklin Street, Belfast where the great majority of its staff are currently based. Staff currently based in Londonderry and elsewhere will remain in their present location. A further comprehensive option appraisal will be carried out to determine the location and accommodation for the shared service centres. There will also be an exercise to determine the location of the permanent headquarters which will be sited outside Belfast.
- The Patient and Client Council headquarters will be in Antrim. Four of the five local offices will be in the existing locations of Broughshane, Belfast, Lurgan and Omagh. New premises will be required for the Omagh office, because staff are currently housed on Trust property. The new local office for the south eastern area will be in Newtownards.
STAFFING
6. How will decisions be made on who goes where in the new organisations?
A staff mapping exercise has identified which functions will go into which organisation. The general rule of thumb is that staff will then follow their function.
7. When will staff be told in which organisation they will be working?
Staff affected by the changes should by now have received a letter from their employer outlining which organisation they are likely to be transferred to at 1 April 2009. Staff have the opportunity to discuss the letter with their line manager in the first instance before final decisions on staff transfers are made. If you think you should have received a letter and have as yet not done so, please contact your current HR Department for advice.
Each member of staff will receive a letter in early March confirming which organisation they will transfer to.
8. What are the recruitment pools for posts?
The recruitment pools can be found in the October edition of the e-bulletin
9. What is the estimated recruitment timetable?
Chief Executive interviews were held in December and appointments have been made. The new Chief Executives take up appointment on 1 April 2009 but will be undertaking work on behalf of the new organisations immediately.
Director recruitment has started and should be completed by the end of February 2009.
Tier 3 recruitment will commence as soon as possible during February/March 2009.
10. Can staff on fixed/temporary term contracts apply for jobs?
Yes, staff on fixed term contracts who meet the specified criteria for the job they are applying for will be considered alongside permanent staff.
11. If staff feel that they don’t want to be part of the post-RPA Phase 2 organisations, would it be detrimental for them not to take part in the recruitment process?
Whilst it is not essential to take part in the recruitment process it is necessary for individuals to consider what their position will be following the implementation of RPA phase 2. All staff will transfer to one of the new organisations on 1st April 2009 and if not appointed through competition (or slotting in where that applies) individuals may be required to consider suitable alternative employment. This could be at your own grade or a lower grade.
12. At what point in the implementation process will staff be able to get advice on whether or not they should be applying for posts?
As structures become known and appointments are made to the senior
positions staff should be kept fully informed of any changes that will be made to the way functions, are currently staffed. Staff should consider applying for posts when the implementation process is dealing with jobs at their level, the level immediately above or the level immediately below.
13. What arrangements are in place for staff who wish to apply for Voluntary Early Retirement/Voluntary Redundancy?
There will be the opportunity for staff working in RPA phase 2 organisations to go on VER/VR.
Given that recruitment for Chief Executives is now complete and that the process is well underway for Tier 2 staff, applications for VER/VR for both levels has now be put to DHSSPS for consideration. Advice can be sought from your HR Department. Further tiers will be advised of when they are able to apply in due course.
14. Are staff side engaged in the process? How?
The RPA HR Implementation Group comprises both Management and Staff Side and meets monthly to consider RPA HR policies and procedures and to reach agreement on their implementation.
We are committed to a process of ongoing communication and consultation with Trade Unions.
15. Will there be any compulsory redundancies?
The implementation of Phase II of RPA will result in a considerable reduction in number of managerial and administration posts in Health and Social Care.
We are confident, however, that a combination of vacancy control and voluntary severance will mean that we can avoid compulsory redundancies. No absolute guarantee can be given, but the Minister has given an assurance that we will do everything possible to avoid compulsory redundancies.
