Programme manager to implement review findings

The job of turning around the Eastern Health Board's childcare services falls to Ms Brid Clarke who has just become the board…

The job of turning around the Eastern Health Board's childcare services falls to Ms Brid Clarke who has just become the board's first programme manager for children and families.

The move is part of a general reorganisation of the board by its new chief executive, Mr P.J. Fitzpatrick, and was in train before the review group produced its report.

She was a member of the review group whose members unanimously endorsed the findings in the report. She was also closely involved in union activities on behalf of social workers through Impact for many years.

She will now be expected to address implementation of the review group's recommendations. Some can be implemented without extra funding. Others, however, will require extra funding from the Department of Health - the report estimates that the board needs a 30 per cent rise in its childcare budget which would cost at least £11 million.