This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Mental Health Welfare Commissioners
13/03/2003
Four commissioners have been re-appointed to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.
The re-appointments have been made by Her Majesty The Queen on the recommendation of First Minister Jack McConnell.
Professor Juliet Cheetham OBE (63) has been re-appointed as full-time social work commissioner.
Professor Cheetham has had a wide and varied career in social work and related issues. This post is currently remunerated at the Commission's scale of between £47,056 and £51,015 and the re-appointment is for two years as from the August 23, 2002. Professor Cheetham has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years.
Mr Malcolm Murray (58) has been re-appointed as part-time commissioner in accountancy. He has a wide-ranging career within the finance function of NHS Management. Mr Murray's re-ppointment is for four years as from August 1, 2002 and he has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years.
Mr Tom Keenan (50) has been re-appointed as a part-time commissioner in social work. He has extensive experience in the field of mental health and in social work management. Mr Keenan's re-appointment is for two years as from October 1, 2002 and he has not been involved in any political activity within the last five years.
Dr Joseph Morrow (48) has been re-appointed as part-time Commissioner with a particular interest in voluntary sector issues. He is a trained conciliator with the health service and is a priest with Scottish Episcopal Church. He has extensive of experience in voluntary work. Dr Morrow's re-appointment is for four years as from October 1, 2002. Dr Morrow has declared involvement with the Scottish Labour Party.
Part-time Commissioners are paid a salary of £2,000 per year for 15 days annual commitment plus £183 for each additional day worked.
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland protects mentally disordered people who are not able to look after their own interests. It enquires into cases of alleged ill treatment or deficiency of care or treatment and visits patients in hospital or subject to guardianship orders. The Commission has statutory duties under the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1984 and the Adults with Incapacity (Scotland) Act 2000.
None of the re-appointees have held any other ministerial appointments.
Minister for Health and Community Care Malcolm Chisholm said:
"I welcome these re-appointments, and value the experience, commitment, professional experience and expertise each Commissioner has brought to the Mental Welfare Commission. I am sure they will continue to assist the Commission with the growing volume and diversity of its work."
The appointments were made in accordance with the Code of Practice issued by the Office of the Commissioner of Public Appointments (OCPA). This confirms full compliance with the OCPA Code of Practice at each stage of the process.
The MWC has 22 commissioners, 17 of which are part-time. Membership is currently drawn from the fields of psychiatry, general practice, social work, nursing, clinical psychology, law, voluntary sector, accountancy, occupational therapy, minority ethnic interest, and service user representation.