This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Mental Welfare Commission re-appointment
26/06/2003
A part-time commissioner has been re-appointed to the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland.
The re-appointment of Mrs Margaret Ross (45) has been made by Her Majesty The Queen on the recommendation of the First Minister, Jack McConnell.
Mrs Ross is a Senior Lecturer at Aberdeen University and a practising solicitor. She is also a Reporter, Curator and Safeguarder in proceedings involving children in various Sheriff Courts in Scotland, and a member of the Law Society of Scotland, the Society of Advocates in Aberdeen and the Aberdeen Bar Association. The re-appointment is for 4 years. Mrs Ross has not been involved in any political activity within the last 5 years, and does not hold any other ministerial appointment.
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland protects people with mental disorders who are unable 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.
The Health Minister Malcom Chisholm said:
"I welcome this re-appointment, and value the experience, commitment, professional experience and expertise this Commissioner has brought to the Mental Welfare Commission. I am sure Mrs Ross will continue to assist the Commission with the diversity of its important work."
Part-time Commissioners are expected to devote around 22 to 24 days a year to the work of the Commission. They paid a salary of #2000 per year for 15 days annual commitment plus #183 for each additional day worked.
The Ministerial public 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 appointments process.
The Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland (MWC) is an independent statutory body, first established under the provisions of the Mental Health (Scotland) Act 1960. The current statutory provisions conferring the MWC's constitution and membership are contained in the 1984 Act. Members, including the Chairman, are appointed by the Crown on the recommendation of the First Minister.
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. Part-time Commissioners are expected to devote around 22 to 24 days a year to the work of the Commission.
Mrs Ross was formally re-appointed on 25 April 2003.