Chief Social Services Officer

Paul Martin

Phone (028) 9052 0561

Secretary - Phone (028) 9052 0657

It is a DHSSPS priority to deliver policy, legislation and standards which empower and enable children, adults and families to secure greater control over their own lives, to allow aspirations for independence to be met and values including dignity, respect, privacy and fulfilment to be upheld. Paul Martin, the Chief Social Services Officer (CSSO) leads and champions these objectives in the DHSSPS and across Government and with key stakeholders in the wider public, voluntary, community and private sector. The CSSO works to build capacity and capability in social care across the DHSSPS and to ensure that there is an integrated approach to policy development, legislation and the setting of standards including, development of the Programme for Government, Corporate and Business plans for the DHSSPS and the setting of priorities for action across Health and Social Care Services (HSC).

Key areas of responsibility include:

providing clear leadership for social work and social care within the DHSSPS and across Northern Ireland Departments ensuring:
- a coherent, integrated approach to the current and future role of social work and social care in safeguarding the vulnerable, improving the wellbeing and promoting social inclusion within our integrated health and social services structure;
- a robust framework for commissioning and delivery in social care, including the development of standards for social care services and the workforce in place to deliver services; and
- statutory functions are delivered in a consistent and effective way throughout the HSC;

promoting effective partnership working with other Government Departments and all key stakeholders in the wider public, voluntary/community and private sectors across Northern Ireland in the arena of social work and social care services, supporting a culture of collaboration and joint working at every level of the system and seeking to ensure a strong voice for all adults, children and families and carers using health and social services;

delivering the commitments on reform and improvements in social care and related health outcomes identified in the Government’s current agenda;

leading further policy development on social work, social care, family and child care in the DHSSPS and working closely with colleagues in the DHSSPS, Commissioners of Social Work and Social Care Services, HSC Trusts and other ‘stakeholder’ agencies to ensure an integrated approach to policy and standards development;

assisting in securing resources for social care, family and child care provision and providing assurance to Ministers and the DHSSPS Departmental board on the delivery of improvements in efficiency and effectiveness to secure improved outcomes;

oversight and professional line accountability for building appropriate capacity and capability within the DHSSPS in social care, including:
- the input/integration of relevant expertise within policy directorates/units across the DHSSPS/NIO and, as appropriate, other Government Departments, in particular, the Office of First and Deputy First Minister, the Department of Education, the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department for Social Development;
- development of a stronger evidence base for policy focusing specifically on the future needs of those who use health and social services.

representing the Departmental Board on the Inter-Departmental Group for Children and Young People and assisting Permanent Secretary in his role as a member of the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Children;

in accordance with legislation, representing the Department on the Children Order Advisory Committee;

approving the ‘schemes’ for the delegation of statutory functions between the Boards and Trusts and monitoring their implementation;

conducting business on behalf of the Departmental Board with key stakeholders with clear focus on policy standards and finance, including:
- the office of the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People;
- Judges and Magistrates in the Family Court Division;
- Directors of Social Services and Social Work (Boards and Trusts, Regional Authority & Trusts), the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority; and
- the Chief Social Services Policy Advisers in Scotland & Wales, the National Director of Social Care (Department of Health) and the National Director of Children’s Services (Department for Education and Skills the National Director of Children’s Services, Department of Health and Children, Republic of Ireland;
- the Universities and Colleges providing professional social work training in Northern Ireland; and
- professional social work bodies and social care staff groups;

discharging Departmental responsibilities under the Adoption (Intercountry Aspects) Act (Northern Ireland) 2001 and the Adoption of Children from Overseas Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2002, as amended by the Adoption of Children from Overseas and Intercountry Adoption (Hague Convention) (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006;

sponsor of Northern Ireland Social Care Council and Northern Ireland Guardian ad Litem Agency; and

discharging the responsibility of the DHSSPS’ Child Protection Officer.