Minutes of the VSS Board Meeting No 95

Board Meeting Type: Strategic Board Meeting      

Thursday 25 May 2023 at 10:00am

Europa Hotel

Board Members Present:

Oliver Wilkinson (OW)                  Chair

Patricia Haren (PH)                      Board Member

Bertha McDougall (BMcD)            Board Member

John Cahill (JC)                            Board Member

Sandra Horley (SH)                      Board Member

VSS Officers in Attendance:

Andrew Walker (AW) Interim Chief Executive Officer

Tara Lewsley (TL)                         Head of Corporate Services

Nicola Nugent (NN)                      Acting Head of Health and Wellbeing

Emma Dargan (ED)                      Acting Head of Service Development

Melissa McCartan (MM)                Business Support Officer (Minutes)   

A      Apologies

Apologies received from Sarah Knight, VSS Boardroom Apprentice.

B      Minutes of Previous Meeting

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved. 

C      Conflict of Interest

Chair asked all present to consider and declare any conflicts of interest.  No conflicts of interest were declared.

D        Board 22/23 Self-Assessment & Objective Planning

An external facilitator attended the Board meeting from 10:00am – 12:30pm to facilitate an assessment the effectiveness of the VSS Board during the 2022/23 period.  

The Board also collectively discussed and agreed their objectives for 2023/24.

AP1 – 25.05.23: Draft 2023/24 Board Objectives & Action Points and issue to VSS Board for agreement.

E        Relatives for Justice (RFJ) Presentation

The Chair welcomed Mark Thompson, Andrée Murphy, Jim McGivern, and Mike Lynch of RFJ to the VSS Board meeting and initiated introductions. 

RFJ delivered a presentation to the VSS Board and engaged in a Q&A session thereafter. Areas of discussion included the background of RFJ to now, services and support programmes provided, scope of need across the community and the increasing level of demand on Health and Wellbeing services.

The Chair thanked RFJ for their informative presentation and discussions.

RFJ left the meeting at 2.40pm.

F      CEO Exception Report – Verbal Update

AW provided the Board with an update on following key items:  

Budget Position

Indicative 23/24 budget has been confirmed. VSS will continue to carefully review to identify any savings.   The Board noted VSS remain in contact with TEO in relation to Peace Gap funding to seek solutions and facilitate the continuation of Peace Project activity between the Peace IV and Peace Plus programme.   The Board noted that this remains a significant risk to consider.

VSS Staffing Structure

AW provided an update on the staffing restructure, advising that an agreed process for the completion and approval of a business case to support the revised staffing structure is in place.

Victims Strategy

The Board noted updates in relation to the draft Victims Strategy. AW highlighted a Co-Design meeting is scheduled to take place on 8 June 2023 for sector wide engagement/ input.    

It was noted AW will keep Board informed on progress.

Legacy & Future Developments

The Board noted the recent appointment of Declan Morgan, Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission for Reconciliation, and Information Recovery (ICRIR).

AW advised the Board that the call for PEACE PLUS applications is due to open next week and preparation work remains ongoing within VSS. The Board noted community and voluntary sector partners have been selected and VSS are due to meet these partners on 1 June 2023 to commence partnership working for the PEACE Plus programme.

K      Date of Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Board is scheduled to take place on Thursday 22 June 2023.

Meeting closed at 3pm.