Appointment of Non-Executive Members to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council
Date published:
Health Minister, Mike Nesbitt has announced the appointment of three Non-Executive Members to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
Bria Mongan has been appointed as the Non-Executive (Registrant) Member, Carol Diffin has been appointed as the Non-Executive (Stakeholder) Member and Denise Hunt has been appointed as the Non-Executive (Lay) Member. All three appointments commenced on 19 May 2025 and will end on a date not later than 18 May 2029.
Northern Ireland Social Care Council Non-Executive Member positions require a time commitment of a minimum of two days per month and attract a remuneration of £7,404 per annum.
These appointments are made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.
The Social Care Council’s purpose is to raise standards in the social care workforce by registering social workers, social care workers and social work students, setting standards for their conduct and practice and supporting their professional development.
The Social Care Council’s Board Members are appointed in accordance with Schedule 1 of the Health & Personal Social Services Act (Northern Ireland) 2001. The Board is made up of a Chair and 8 Non-Executive Members. The Members represent a wide range of interests in the field of social care. Board membership is split equally between Lay, Stakeholder and Registrant Members.
Notes to editors:
- Ms Bria Mongan OBE has extensive experience working across the HSC, serving as an Executive Director of Social Work and Children’s Services and previously as Director of Mental Health, Learning Disability and Prisoner Healthcare. Ms Mongan holds a Master’s degree in Social Work and has held responsibility for all issues relating to Social Work policy, workforce, professional standards and Directed Statutory Functions. Ms Mongan was awarded an OBE in recognition for services to Social Work and healthcare for prisoners. Currently, Ms Mongan is an Associate Consultant with the HSC Leadership Centre and undertakes work as an independent Social Work Consultant. She also holds another public appointment with the Department of Justice as a Board Member on the Probation Board for Northern Ireland (PBNI). The appointment attracts remuneration of £5050 per annum with a time commitment of a minimum of 25 days per annum.
- Mrs Carol Diffin has over 40 years’ experience working in the statutory Health and Social Care sector. She qualified as a social worker in 1984 and has worked primarily in statutory Children’s Services across Belfast HSC Trust (BHSCT), Southern HSC Trust (SHSCT) and in the Northen Ireland Guardian Ad Litem Agency, now known asThe Children’s Court Guardian Agency for Northern Ireland since 6 March 2023. Throughout her career she has held a number of senior management positions, including Director of Children’s Community Services/Executive Director of Social Work in the BHSCT from September 2018 until September 2022. Mrs Diffin holds another public appointment with the Department of Health as a Non-Executive Director with the Northern Health and Social Care Trust (NHSCT). This appointment attracts remuneration of £9327 per annum with a time commitment of 1 day per week
- Ms Denise Hunt BEM is a qualified barrister with over 25 years post qualification experience of Practice. In 2011 she assumed ownership and management of the Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough until her retirement in 2024. In the 2021 Queens Honours list she was awarded the BEM for services to the hospitality sector. Ms Hunt is a graduate of Queens University Belfast and obtained a Master’s in law from the London School of Economics. Ms Hunt holds another public appointment with the Department of Justice as a Board Member on the Probation Board for Northern Ireland. The appointment attracts remuneration of £5050 per annum with a time commitment of a minimum of 25 days per annum
- Appointments to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council are made with the approval of the Health Minister.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. All the appointees have declared that they have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
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