The Health Minister, , has announced the
appointment of a Non-Executive Chair and a Non-Executive Lay
Member to the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).
Sean Holland has been appointed as the Non-Executive Chair, with
Lisa Morrison appointed as a Non-Executive Lay Member. Both
appointments will commence on 1 September 2026 and will end on a
date not later than 31 August 2030.
The Non-Executive Chair position attracts remuneration of £20,358
per annum with a time commitment of 2 days per week. The
Non-Executive Member position attracts remuneration of £7,404 per
annum with a minimum time commitment of 2 days per month.
These appointments are made in accordance with the Code of
Practice issued by the Commissioner for Public Appointments for
Northern Ireland.
The Social Care Council's purpose is to raise standards in the
social care workforce by registering social workers, social care
practitioners and social work students, setting standards for
their conduct and practice and supporting their professional
development.
NISCC Board Members are appointed in accordance with Schedule 1
of the Health & Personal Social Services Act (Northern
Ireland) 2001. The Board is made up of a Chair and 8
Non-Executive Members. The Members represent a wide range of
interests in the field of social care. Board membership is split
equally between Lay, Stakeholder and Registrant Members.
Notes to Editors:
- Professor Sean Holland qualified as a Social Worker from
Ulster University in 1986 and has an LLM in medical law. He
worked in a variety of social work roles before joining the
Department of Health in 2002. Seán was appointed Chief Social
Worker in 2010 and was promoted to Deputy Secretary with
responsibility for the Social Services Policy Group in 2012. In
addition to his work in Northern Ireland, Seán has
undertaken work on social services in Europe, Central Asia and
the Middle East. He was Director of NI Co-operation Overseas, a
development non-profit agency, for ten years and has served as a
Trustee of the Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE). He is
currently Deputy Chair of TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, in
the Republic of Ireland. In January 2021, Seán was made a CBE and
in 2022, he joined the Department of Justice as Deputy Secretary
for Access to Justice. He has also served on advisory groups
including the Advisory Committee for the Nuffield-funded Child
Welfare Inequalities Project and is currently visiting Professor
in Social Work at Ulster University.
- Mrs Lisa Morrison is a self-employed trainer, consultant and
public speaker who draws on her lived and professional experience
to promote trauma-informed, rights-based health and social care.
She is passionate about breaking down barriers between those who
deliver and those who need services, and is committed to ensuring
people's experiences meaningfully influence practice. She has a
keen interest in staff wellbeing. Lisa worked as a campaign
organiser with Participation and Practice of Rights, advocating
for rights-based, trauma-informed mental health care. As an
associate trainer with 4 Mental Health in Wales, she delivers
suicide prevention education. Previously, as Lead Peer
Trainer at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust's Recovery
College, Lisa supported local and regional initiatives, including
embedding co-production within the Regional Towards Zero Suicide
Programme. Lisa holds an MSc in Co-production of Health and
Social Care Research and believes it is relationships that heal
and change lives.
- These appointments to the Northern Ireland Social Care
Council were made by the previous Health Minister, .
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity
plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner
for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the
political activity of appointees to be published. Both appointees
have declared that they have not engaged in any political
activity in the last five years.
