Health and Social Services Department (HSSD)
Ministerial Decision Report
Delegation of authorisation of gift fund payments
1. Purpose of Report
The purpose of this report is to propose that the Minister of HSSD delegate the power of management of the HSSD gift funds in line with the scheme of delegation.
2. Background
Article 28 of the States of Jersey Law 2005 enables a Minister to delegate functions:-
(1) A Minister may delegate, wholly or partly, functions conferred upon or vested in the Minister by or under this Law or any other enactment or any enactment of the United Kingdom having effect in Jersey, to –
(a) one of his or her Assistant Ministers;
(b) an officer.
(2) A Minister shall not delegate –
(a) any power to make an enactment;
(b) any power to decide an appeal under an enactment;
(c) any function the delegation of which is prohibited by an enactment.
(3) The delegation of functions by a Minister under this Article shall not prevent the Minister exercising those functions personally.
Definition –
“officer” means a person employed under the Civil Service Administration (Jersey) Law 1948 whose duties are wholly or mainly administrative, professional, technical or clerical and includes a member of the States of Jersey Police Force and an officer appointed under paragraph 1(1) of Part 1 of Schedule 2 to the Immigration Act 1971 as extended to Jersey by the Immigration (Jersey) Order 1993.
3. Delegation
HSSD receives donations and bequests (“Gift Funds”) to assist in the department’s aim of promoting health and social wellbeing for the whole community, providing prompt services to all and protecting the interests of the frail and vulnerable.
Under the Trusts (Jersey) Law 1984 these Gift Funds may constitute a Trust where there is a specific instruction to this effect, either in writing or by oral declaration.
Whether a Trust or not, a Gift Fund may be the responsibility of the Minister or the Chief Officer of the Department (depending on the terms of the gift).
In order to manage gift funds effectively it is proposed that the Minister delegate her powers in respect of any existing or future Gift Funds to the Chief Officer who will make further delegations documented in the Department’s scheme of delegation.
3. Recommendation
The Minister is recommended to delegate the power to authorise payments made from the HSSD Gift Funds to the Chief Officer.
It is noted that the Chief Officer intends to further delegate authority over payments from Gift Funds to departmental staff in line with the scheme of delegation.
4. Reason for Decision
To ensure effective and efficient administration of Departmental Gift Funds.
5. Resource Implications
None.