Employment Forum: Appointment of New Members

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A decision made 10 October 2011 regarding:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2011-0077
Decision Summary Title :	DS New Forum Members		Date of Decision Summary:	7 October 2011
Decision Summary Author:	Policy Principal		Decision Summary: Public or Exempt?	Public
Type of Report: Oral or Written?	Written		Person Giving Oral Report:	N/A
Written Report Title :	WR New Forum Members		Date of Written Report:	7 October 2011
Written Report Author:	Policy Principal		Written Report : Public or Exempt?	Public
Subject: Employment Forum Membership
Decision(s): The Minister decided to appoint three new members to the Employment Forum, each for a three year term, starting on 18 October 2011. The Minister also decided to extend the appointments of two existing members of the Forum, each for a three year term.
Reason(s) for Decision: The three proposed new members were selected following a period of open recruitment and selection undertaken by the Forum during June to September 2011. The Chairman and members of the Forum recommend the three selected candidates for appointment; Mr Malcolm Ferey, Mrs Julie Fairclough and Mr Ian Syvret. The Forum also recommends that the terms of appointment of Mr David Robinson and Mrs Carol Le Cocq are each extended for a further three years.
Resource Implications: There are no financial or manpower implications.
Action required: The Minister to formally notify the five individuals of their appointment, or extension to their appointment to the Forum. The Employment Law does not require that the States is notified of the appointments.
Signature:		Position: Minister
Date Signed:		Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

Employment Forum: Appointment of New Members

Employment Forum Membership

Background

The Employment Forum is intended to consist of nine members, appointed on the basis of their interest in employment relations and diversity of backgrounds, with three employer, three employee and three independent representatives. The Employment Law requires that members are appointed by the Social Security Minister.

Although the Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 does not limit the number of terms that a member may hold, the Forum has suggested that in accordance with good practice, there must be an opportunity to recruit new members in order to prevent stagnation. The Forum suggested that when a member has completed two three year terms, their position should be openly advertised, whilst allowing that existing member to also be considered, if they wish to continue.

The current members and their terms of appointment are:

	Appointment end date
Independent
Carol Le Cocq	31-Dec-11
Helen Ruelle	30-Nov-12
Vacant

Employer
Jeralie Pallot	31-May-14
Jan McCarthy	31-Dec-11
Thomas Quinlan	30-Nov-12

Employee
David Robinson	31-Dec-11
Barbara Ward	30-Nov-12
Vacant

The second terms of three members will expire on 31 December this year. These positions have been openly advertised, along with two positions that are currently vacant. Mrs Jan McCarthy has indicated her intention to resign when a replacement has been approved.

Recruitment process

When recruiting, the Forum’s main priorities are to ensure that its nine members cover the widest range of skills, expertise and industry types possible, and that members have recent knowledge and relevant experience of employment relations. It is also vital to provide some continuity amongst the membership to provide a balance between retaining Forum knowledge and experience, as well as introducing new perspectives and skills.

A notice advertising positions in all three membership categories was sent to all of those on the Forum’s consultation database on 17 June 2011 (approximately 250 contacts, including employers and employees, trade unions and employers associations). A notice was also placed in the Jersey Evening Post, on the Social Security ‘Jobs in Jersey’ website, and on the ‘Linked In’ professional network.

Eight candidates were interviewed. Two continuing members of the Forum, Mrs Jeralie Pallot and Mrs Helen Ruelle, undertook the interviews during September following best practice in the recruitment process. Three new members have been selected and are recommended for appointment by the Minister.

The Minister is requested to appoint the following candidates as Forum members, each for a three year term of office, effective from 18 October 2011:

Independent

Mr Malcolm Ferey is Bureau Manager of the Jersey Citizens Advice Bureau which is responsible for providing advice to individuals from all walks of life on a wide range of issues, including employment related matters. Previously, Malcolm worked for the Social Security Department as the qualified Data Protection Officer and as a Compliance Inspector; a role which included surveying business for compliance with Social Security and employment legislation, including minimum wage investigations and enforcement. Malcolm is a member of the Consumer Lending Steering Group, the Chair of the Debt Collection Agency Working Party and is a former Centenier for the Parish of St Helier.

Employee

Mr Ian Syvret is Assistant Manager of the Parks and Gardens division of the Transport and Technical Services Department. Ian is the current Chairperson of Civil Service Unite, which is a branch of Unite the Union and one of Jersey’s Civil Service staff representative bodies. Ian previously worked as an employee in the local fulfilment industry for eight years, and prior to that, operated his own gardening maintenance business in the UK for 10 years, employing 12 staff. Ian is also a Constable’s Officer for the Honorary Police.

Employer

Mrs Julie Fairclough is the Head of Transformation for Royal Bank of Canada Global Trust & Wealth Management UK, leading business restructuring and cross-jurisdictional change initiatives across all business lines. Julie is the UK representative for the RBC Wealth Management Diversity Advisory Council and Chair of the RBC New Business Committee. Julie is a qualified accountant and has managed small and large teams throughout her career, including previously as the Financial Controller for a large local retail franchise.

Other appointments

The Minister is also requested to approve that the terms of appointment of Mr David Robinson and Mrs Carol Le Cocq are each extended for a further three years.

The current and proposed members and their terms of appointment are:

	Appointment end date
Independent
Carol Le Cocq	31 December 2014
Helen Ruelle	30 November 2012
Malcolm Ferey	17 October 2014

Employer
Jeralie Pallot	31 May 2014
Thomas Quinlan	30 November 2012
Julie Fairclough	17 October 2014

Employee
David Robinson	31 December 2014
Barbara Ward	30 November 2012
Ian Syvret	17 October 2014