Reappointment of the Chair to the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland

Health Minster Robin Swann, has announced the reappointment of Miss Bernie McNally as Chair of the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI).

Miss McNally’s reappointment will commence on 3 July 2021 to a date not later than 2 July 2025.

SBNI’s Chair position attracts an annual remuneration of £37,641 with a time commitment of 3 days per week.

This appointment has been made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland.

The SBNI was established in 2012 under the Safeguarding Board Act (NI) 2011. It is sponsored by the Department of Health and is a multi-agency partnership, which is independently chaired. SBNI members are drawn from key children’s agencies both statutory and voluntary. Members are required to work together to safeguard children in Northern Ireland and to promote their welfare.

Notes to editors: 

1. Miss Bernie McNally BSc, MSW, CQSW, MBA, graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 1985 as a professional social worker having previously completed a BSc in Psychology at University of Ulster. Since then Bernie has worked in the Northern Ireland Health & Social Care sector in a variety of practice and management positions, spanning both adult and children’s social services. In 2012 Bernie was seconded to Northern Ireland Cooperation Overseas to work in Croatia with the national government administrations on a number of child care projects.   Since her return to Northern Ireland, she has been working with the Department of Health as Chair of the team responsible for implementing the recommendations of Professor Kathleen Marshall’s report into child sexual exploitation in Northern Ireland. Bernie’s other interests include formerly serving as a non-executive Director on the Northern Ireland Hospice.  Bernie is a member of the British Association of Social Workers and is a registered social worker with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.  In 2011 Bernie was awarded the OBE for her services to public service.

2. Appointments to SBNI are made with the approval of the Health Minister.

3. All public 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. The appointee has declared that she has not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

4. The appointee has advised that she does not currently hold any other public appointments.
5. For media enquiries please contact DOH Press Office by email pressoffice@health-ni.gov.uk.
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7. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hours service for Media Enquiries Only between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The Duty Press Officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.

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