Minutes of the VSS Board Meeting No 85

Board Meeting Type: Strategic Board             

Tuesday 8 February 2022

Remote, via Zoom

Board Members Present:

Oliver Wilkinson (OW)               Chair

Patricia Haren (PH)                   Board Member

Bertha McDougall (BMcD)         Board Member

VSS Officers in Attendance:

Margaret Bateson (MB)              CEO

Andrew Walker (AW)                Head of Service Development

Ivor Johnston (TL)                     Acting Head of Corporate Services

Bryan Leonard (BL)                   Head of Health and Wellbeing

Nicola Nugent (NN)                    Head of Health and Wellbeing HIA

Melissa McCartan (MMcC)         Business Support Officer (minutes)

A      Apologies

No apologies received.

B     Minutes of the Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 18 January 2022 were agreed. 

C       CEO Reporting by Exception

MB provided with the Board with an update on the review of VSS structure and strategic direction, highlighting the overall purpose and timelines of each review.

The Board noted the format of the first facilitated strategy planning session with Power of Choice and VSS staff, starting at 10:00am today.

 D     Power of Choice Strategic Planning Session with VSS Board and Staff

Michael and Lynn of Power of Choice joined the meeting at 09:55am.

All VSS Staff joined the meeting at 10:00am.

MB welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced Michael and Lynn of Power of Choice, VSS Board and Staff. MB provided an overview of the key strategic considerations for VSS and highlighted the purpose and timing of today’s engagement.   

VSS staff and Board then engaged in a facilitated strategy planning session with Power of Choice. Areas of discussion included:

- Regional Trauma Network

- Troubles Permanent Disablement Payment Scheme

- Peace Plus

- New Victims Strategy

- Historical Institutional Abuse – Review of Redress and Apology

- Mother and Baby Institutions, Magdalene Laundries and Workhouses

- Changing needs of victims and survivors (age and gender profiles)

- Covid-19:  New ways of working across the world

Meeting ended at 1pm..

E     Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled to take place on Thursday 31^st March 2022.