Chairperson chosen for social care body

The first chairperson of the Social Care Institute for
Excellence (Scie) has been named as Jane Campbell, currently
co-director of the National Centre for Independent Living,

Announcing the appointment, health minister Jacqui Smith said:
“We are determined to improve the quality of social care provision
and tackle current variations in care across the country. Social
services provide crucial support and care for many people across
the country and the highest possible standards must be set in all
areas at all times. Scie is key to achieving this goal.”

Campbell is a commissioner on the Disability Rights Commission
and a governor of the National Institute for Social Work. Following
the announcement she commented: “I hope my appointment will send
out a clear message to everyone involved in social care that
service users will not only be welcomed to help shape service
delivery but will be expected to participate at every level.

“Social care has been the Cinderella public service for far too
long. There is excellent practice out there and it is up to Scie to
turn that practice into accessible ‘know how’, so that all
stakeholders can benefit and move forward.”

Scie will be established by the Department of Health and the
National Assembly for Wales by autumn this year. The appointments
process for the chief executive and the board members is currently
under way.