The Department of Health today announced the appointment of an Independent Chair of the Health and Social Care Pension Board (HSCPB)
The appointment of David Best, as Independent Chair of the Health and Social Care Pension Board, will start on 1 April 2018 for a maximum period of four years. The appointment carries a time commitment of 10-20 days per annum and attracts remuneration of £380 per day.
This appointment is made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for NI.
The Pension Board has an equal number of employer and member representatives and is overseen by an independent chair. Pension Board members are appointed after being nominated by HSC trades unions and employer organisations. Non employer/member representatives such as Department of Health officials and HSC Pension Service representatives attend Pension Board meetings in an observer capacity.
The role of the HSCPB is to provide scrutiny and assurance of the administration of the HSC Pension Scheme and to assist the Scheme Manager in securing compliance with all relevant pension law, regulations and directions – as well as the relevant Pension Regulator’s codes of practice. This role provides assurance in and governance of the scheme administration of the HSC Pension Schemes (both the new 2015 scheme and the old scheme consisting of the 1995 and 2008 sections).
Notes to editors:
- David Best graduated at Queens University in Belfast with a degree in Economics and Business Studies and subsequently received a Masters in Business Administration from Henley Management College/ Brunel University. He trained as a Chartered Accountant with one of the large firms in Belfast and worked for twelve years in the private sector, including overseas in South Africa and England. After his return to Northern Ireland, David worked at a senior level in the public sector for twenty-eight years in four large organisations. In 2012 he received an OBE for leadership shown in the provision of improved public sector services. The experience he brings to the work of the Health and Social Care Pensions Board includes: strategic management, change management, corporate governance and finance, including the delivery of improved effectiveness and efficiency in public services. David is married and has four grown up children. His hobbies include keeping fit and playing the saxophone.
- 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. Mr Best declared that he had not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.
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