Skip to main content Skip to accessibility
This website is not compatible with your web browser. You should install a newer browser. If you live in Jersey and need help upgrading call the States of Jersey web team on 440099.
Government of Jerseygov.je

Information and public services for the Island of Jersey

L'înformâtion et les sèrvices publyis pouor I'Île dé Jèrri

Employment Forum: Appointment of Members

A formal published “Ministerial Decision” is required as a record of the decision of a Minister (or an Assistant Minister where they have delegated authority) as they exercise their responsibilities and powers.

Ministers are elected by the States Assembly and have legal responsibilities and powers as “corporation sole” under the States of Jersey Law 2005 by virtue of their office and in their areas of responsibility, including entering into agreements, and under any legislation conferring on them powers.

An accurate record of “Ministerial Decisions” is vital to effective governance, including:

  • demonstrating that good governance, and clear lines of accountability and authority, are in place around decisions-making – including the reasons and basis on which a decision is made, and the action required to implement a decision

  • providing a record of decisions and actions that will be available for examination by States Members, and Panels and Committees of the States Assembly; the public, organisations, and the media; and as a historical record and point of reference for the conduct of public affairs

Ministers are individually accountable to the States Assembly, including for the actions of the departments and agencies which discharge their responsibilities.

The Freedom of Information Law (Jersey) Law 2011 is used as a guide when determining what information is be published. While there is a presumption toward publication to support of transparency and accountability, detailed information may not be published if, for example, it would constitute a breach of data protection, or disclosure would prejudice commercial interest.

A decision made 16 October 2015:

Decision Reference: MD-S-2015-0082

Decision Summary Title :

DS Employment Forum member re-appointments

Date of Decision Summary:

16 October 2015

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 Employment Forum member re-appointments

Date of Written Report:

16 October 2015

Written Report Author:

Policy Principal

Written Report:

Public or Exempt?

Public

Subject: Employment Forum – re-appointment of three members

Decision(s): The Minister decided to re-appoint three of the existing members of the Employment Forum, each for a four year term.

Reason(s) for Decision: Schedule 2 to the Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 requires that members of the Employment Forum must be appointed by the Minister for Social Security. In accordance with best practice, members generally hold office for a maximum of 10 years.

 

The terms of three members, listed below, are due to come to an end on 30 November 2015 and having served 6 years to date, each has requested a further four year term.

 

  1. Helen Ruelle – Chairman
  2. Barbara Ward – employee member
  3. Thomas Quinlan – employer member

 

Resource Implications: There are no financial or manpower implications.

Action required: Policy Principal to advise the three members that they have been re-appointed. The Employment Law does not require that the States is notified.

Signature:

 

 

Position:

Minister

 

Date Signed:

 

 

Date of Decision (If different from Date Signed):

 

Employment Forum: Appointment of Members

 1

Employment Forum Member – RE-APPOINTMENT

 

Background

 

The Employment (Jersey) Law 2003 (the ‘Employment Law’) provides that the Employment Forum (the ‘Forum’) consists of eight members and a Chairman who are appointed by the Minister for Social Security (the ‘Minister’).  Members are appointed having regard to the desirability of securing an appropriate balance between members with experience as employers, members with experience as employees and members with other relevant experience.

 

Although the Employment Law does not set a maximum term of office for a Forum member, the Forum has proposed that, in accordance with best practice, terms of office should be limited to a total of 10 years, other than in exceptional circumstances. It is vital to provide a balance between introducing new perspectives and skills, as well as providing some continuity amongst the membership with the retention of knowledge and experience.

 

The current members and their terms of office are as follows:

 

 

Term of office end date

Proposed end date

Independent

  

 

Helen Ruelle

30 November 2015

30 November 2019

Malcolm Ferey

17 October 2017

 

Gary Jones

30 April 2017

 

 

 

 

Employer

 

 

Jeralie Pallot

31 May 2017

 

Thomas Quinlan

30 November 2015

30 November 2019

Julie Fairclough

17 October 2017

 

 

 

 

Employee

 

 

David Robinson

31 December 2015

 

Barbara Ward

30 November 2015

30 November 2019

Gary Du Heaume

31 July 2017

 

 

 

Recommendation

 

It is recommended that the Minister re-appoints the following three members of the Forum;

 

  1. Helen Ruelle has served six years on the Forum and it is recommended that she be re-appointed as Chairman for a further four years.

 

Helen Ruelle has been a member of the Forum since November 2009 and Chairman since November 2011. Helen is a Partner and Head of the Jersey Employment Law team at Mourant Ozannes, where she has worked since 2001. Helen is a Jersey advocate and an English solicitor (non-practising) and has over fifteen years' experience of employment law, both in Jersey and the UK. Helen is head of the firm's competition law team as well as advising on mergers and acquisitions, data protection, control of housing and work law matters and general commercial work (both contentious and non-contentious). Prior to joining Mourant Ozannes, Helen worked as a commercial lawyer in the UK in both private practice and as an in-house lawyer in local government. Helen is a member of the Employment Lawyers' Association and the Institute of Directors and she was recently appointed as the Chairman of the Jersey Community Relations Trust.

 

  1. Barbara Ward has served six years on the Forum and it is recommended that she be re-appointed as an employee member for a further four years.

 

Barbara Ward is a co-opted member and representative for the Jersey Civil Service Association on pension matters and is also a trustee of the States’ Public Employees Contributory Retirement Scheme. Barbara’s previous experience includes 23 years of lead trade union roles for the Royal College of Nursing, including Lead Negotiator, Chairman, Secretary, Convenor and Lead Steward.  Barbara is currently employed as a part-time Staff Nurse for the States’ Health and Social Services Department and also works as Casual Duty Manger for the Jersey Opera House.

 

  1. Thomas Quinlan has served six years on the Forum and it is recommended that he be re-appointed as an employer member for a further four years.

 

Thomas Quinlan is the Human Resources Director for the Hotel de France, with responsibility for all recruitment, selection, training, development, human resources strategy and payroll within the hotel.  Thomas has more than 20 years’ experience working in the hospitality industry, both in Jersey and a number of award winning hotels in the United Kingdom, including roles managing hotel food and beverage operations, restaurants, bars and large conference and banqueting events. Thomas holds an Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM) Level 5 qualification in Jersey Employment Law. 

 

 

 

 

Back to top
rating button