Director of Community and Adult Services

06 July 2018

The States of Jersey has appointed an Interim Director of Community and Adult Services to speed up the pace of improvement and bring together all elements of mental health services and social care for adults in Jersey, as part of the new Health and Community Services department.

Derek Law MBE, who has worked in social services in a wide range of permanent, interim and non-executive roles over a long and extensive career, is joining on an initial six-month contract.

Mr Law has a strong track record of improving outcomes for both children and adults, securing “excellent” ratings from the Care Quality Commission for the last five years of his leadership of North Yorkshire County Council Adult Services, where he also managed annual budgets worth £210 million.

Working closely with the Interim Director General for Health and Community Services, Anthony McKeever, and the Managing Director for Health and Community Services, Rob Sainsbury, Mr Law will ensure that there is a more joined-up and focused service for adult health and social care in the community, following the removal of Children’s Services from the department.

Anthony McKeever said: “Derek has vast experience of social care at every level, and an impressive record of achievement in several government and health authorities. He will provide much-needed impetus to the improvements we need to make as we modernise our health and community services.”

Mr Law was appointed to the interim role through a process agreed by the States Employment Board and Jersey Appointments Commission.

Mr Law was awarded an MBE in 2010 for services to and exceptional achievement in local government and in 2018 he was awarded the National Outstanding Contribution to Social Care accolade at the Great British Care Awards.

Mr Law said “I’m both delighted and privileged to be joining the Health and Community Services Department at this juncture. It is clear from my early days in Jersey that the service has many talented, dedicated and hard-working staff who are passionate about what they do. That is both encouraging and an opportunity for the journey upon which we are about to embark together.”