Acting Assistant Chief Social Services Officer
Christine Smyth
Phone: (028) 9052 0732
Secretary Phone (028) 9052 0728
Key areas of responsibility include:
- managing and co-ordinating the work of the Office of Social Services (OSS);
- ensuring completion of outworking of the current inspections and evaluation programme;
- providing input to major Reviews and Inquiries as determined by Minister or other government Departments;
- oversight of policy development with regard to social work and social care training, related professional issues and sponsorship of NISCC;
- scrutiny of Schemes for the Delegation of Statutory functions;
- determining the operational policies of the OSS and the management and allocation of resources;
- producing and managing the OSS Business Plan;
- maintaining the OSS Risk Register;
- providing input to the DHSSPS Human Rights screening programme;
- sitting on the Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults Review Panel to determine the suitability of people to work with children or vulnerable adults;
- providing professional advice to inform policy and legislative formulation to DHSSPS and other government Departments;
- quality assuring OSS input to briefings, submissions, policy development and OSS Publications.
- professional secretary to the DHSSPS Central Personal Social Services Advisory Committee;
- promoting effective working relationships with the Child Care Policy Directorate, other Policy Branches, Departments and other Agencies; and
- deputising for the Chief Social Services Officer.
