10 January 2018
Head and Members Reappointed to National Confidential Forum
The Minister for Mental Healthtoday announced the reappointment of Dr Rachel Happer as Head and Anni Farrington and James Malcolm as Members of the National Confidential Forum.
CHAIR
Dr Rachel Happerhas held the Head position of the Forum for two years. Building on the strong foundation of the previous Head, Rachel has brought the Forum forward to a place that is trusted by participants, continually focused on reaching more people, and firmly embedded in the words of those who share their experiences. She is proud to lead a committed team who place the well-being of individuals at the centre of all choices and decision making. Participants are well-supported before, during and after their time at the Forum. Going forward she hopes to build on the communication and outreach to ensure more know about the opportunity to have their voices heard.
Rachel has brought her 14 years in clinical practice with survivors of trauma to the work of the Forum, with the Forum always aspiring to be more trauma-informed in its set-up, delivery and support. Over the past two years Rachel has built strong, trusted relationships with those with care experience and worked hard to create clarity among the landscape of initiatives available for those in care in the past and present. Having worked with many young people who have been looked after and accommodated, Rachel remains committed to deliver on the statutory responsibilities of the Forum, to affect care in the future. This commitment also extends to those whose lives have been affected by a care experience that was not as it should have been. She takes this reappointment on with commitment and passion.
MEMBERS
Anni Farrington qualified as a Mental Health Nurse and Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist then spent over 30 years in clinical practice. She worked with and taught others how to work with people with a wide range of mental health problems, including those suffered as the aftermath of abuse. After working in academia, she became a Mental Health Commissioner where she worked with service users on the design, development and overview management of psychological service, mental health day services and care of people with dementia services.
James Malcolmoriginally trained as a mental health and general nurse who, prior to retiring at the end of 2008, was Deputy Director of the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland. He has had very wide contact with people who have experienced care in mental health hospital and residential care in Scotland and has been involved in many activities promoting a rights based approach to care. He participated in and chaired a number of the Commission’s major inquiries, and was a member of the group that reviewed the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and of the Maclean Committee on serious violent and sexual offenders. Before his time at the Commission James worked in various clinical and management roles at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and the State Hospital, Scotland’s high security hospital. In addition to bringing these skills and experience to the role, he currently works part-time as the clinical adviser to Healthcare Improvement Scotland’s Suicide Reporting and Learning System, provides expert reports and acts as an independent lead for adverse event reviews being undertaken by Health Boards.
REAPPOINTMENTS
Thereappointments will be for one year. Dr Happer and Mrs Farrington’sterms will run from 1st February 2018 to 31st March 2019. Mr Malcolm’s term will run from 14th March 2018 to 31stMarch 2019.
Thereappointments are regulated by the Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.
REMUNERATION
Thereappointments arepart-time. The Head position attracts a remuneration of £348.87 per day for a time commitment of four days per week. The Member positions attract a remuneration of £244.82 per day for a time commitment of two days per week.
OTHER MINISTERIAL APPOINTMENTS
Dr Happer, Mrs Farrington and Mr Malcolm do not hold any other ministerial public appointments.
POLITICAL ACTIVITY
All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.
Dr Happerand Mr Malcolmhave had no political activity within the last five years.
Mrs Farrington has previously been Treasurer for her local SNP branch and canvassed in the last general election.
BACKGROUND
The National Confidential Forum (the Forum) was set up as part of the Victims and Witnesses (Scotland) Act 2014. The Scottish Government has legislated for and funded the Forum to show the importance given to the experiences of adults who were in institutional care as children. However, the Forum operates independently from the government.
The Forum is part of the Survivor Scotland Strategy. The Survivor Scotland Strategy aims to make sure that help and advice is there for anyone who is an adult survivor-that is anyone who was harmed as a child and is now over 16.