Reappointment of Two Lay Members to the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland

Health Minster, Robin Swann MLA, has announced the reappointment of two Lay Members to the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI).

Mr Gerard Guckian and Mr Simon Rogers’ reappointments as Non- Executive (Lay) Members commenced on 26 February 2022 and will end on a date not later than 25 February 2026.  

The Non-Executive Member position attracts an annual remuneration of 
£6,842 with a time commitment of 2 days per month.

These appointments are 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. The Chair is supported by up to 3 Lay Members.  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. Mr Gerard Guckian is a solicitor in private practice with over 35 years of experience. He is a partner in a firm in Derry/Londonderry, Guckian Flanagan Solicitors with a varied practice in family law and the law relating to children, conveyancing, litigation and probate. He has had considerable experience of leadership in Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland as a former Chairman of Altnagelvin Hospital Health and Social Services Trust (2004-2006) and former Chairman of the Western Health and Social Care Trust (2006-2016). Mr Guckian currently holds one other public appointment as a Non-Executive Member of the NI Social Care Council, where he chairs the Audit and Risk Committee, this appointment is from 1 May 2018 to 30 April 2022 (renewal pending). The remuneration is £6,842 per annum, for a time commitment of 2 days per month, he is also a trustee of Foyle Hospice.

2. Mr Simon Rogers is being re-appointed to the SBNI for a second term. He is a former Senior Civil Servant.  He spent over thirty years working in a range of posts in the justice arena.  These included as Head of Protection and Organised Crime Division in the Department of Justice for five years. Prior to that, he was Principal Secretary to three Lord Chief Justices of Northern Ireland spanning a period of nine years. Mr Rogers does not currently hold any other public appointments.

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

4. 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.  The two appointees have declared that they have not engaged in any political activity in the last five years.

5. For media enquiries please contact DoH Press Office by e-mail               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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