Social and Community Development Committee Meeting – Wednesday 10 July 2019

The Social & Community Development Committee (SCDC) held their monthly meeting on Wednesday, 10 July 2019.

The Information Bill remained on hold, pending a high level decision on the way forward for Data Protection and Freedom of Information. Both remained priorities, in particular the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Progress on the Saint Helena National Trust Regulations now depended on receiving the draft legislation which is currently being discussed by the Trust Council and the Attorney General’s Chambers.

To encourage some parts of the private sector to adhere to providing employees with written details of basic terms and conditions, as stipulated in the Employment Rights Ordinance, a recommendation remains with SHG to consider making this eligible for consideration when SHG awards contracts for goods and services.

The priority list of legislation relating to the Committee’s areas of responsibilities was reviewed and updated. It was noted that an Asylum Bill which is a national requirement will be dealt with separately to work on the review of the Immigration Ordinance which is to be considered by the whole Council shortly, in preparation for public consultation planned to commence at the end of August.

The work undertaken by the Social Security Review Working Group is nearing completion and a report with recommendations will be submitted to the Committee soon so that  initial discussions can commence in mid-August.

The Committee gave approval for the Disability Policy to be reviewed urgently.

A Corporate Parenting Policy was endorsed. This Policy has been implemented on St Helena to ensure that all corporate parents know and understand their roles and responsibilities. All Councillors have signed up to the policy and multi-agency training has been delivered so that all roles and responsibilities are understood.

Updates from the Children & Adults Social Care Directorate included:

  • Qualified Principal Social Worker, Rosalie Brown, had moved to the Princess Royal Community Care Centre (CCC) to support this service area
  • Events had been organised to recognise World Elder Abuse Awareness Day which was well attended and received positively by the community
  • A Fostering Campaign is currently underway on St Helena as there is a need for foster placements for many different reasons and it is important that there are foster carers trained and available to provide different levels of support to children and young people.
  • Staff recruitment continues and to date, seven new carers have been recruited. The CARE Recruitment Campaign is underway.

The Social & Community Development Committee consists of voting members Councillors Anthony Green (Chairman), Cyril Leo (Deputy Chairman), Kylie Hercules, Derek Thomas and Gavin Ellick and Non-Voting Members Director of Children and Adults Social Care, Tracy Poole-Nandy, and Acting Deputy Chief Secretary, Kerisha Yon. The Committee Secretary is Nicole Plato.

#StHelena #SCDC #MeetingSummary

https://www.facebook.com/StHelenaGovt/

https://twitter.com/StHelenaGovt

SHG
24 July 2019

St Helena Government Communications Hub

Telephone: 22470
Email: kimberley.peters@sainthelena.gov.sh