For discussion EC(96-97)39
on 6 November 1996

ITEM FOR ESTABLISHMENT SUBCOMMITTEE
OF FINANCE COMMITTEE

HEAD 37 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Subhead 003 Recoverable Salaries and Allowances

Members are invited to recommend to Finance Committee the retention of the following supernumerary post in the 1997-98 draft Estimates -

1 Principal Executive Officer
(D1) ($86,650 - $91,950)

PROBLEM

The Society for the Aid and Rehabilitation of Drug Abusers (SARDA) has not been able to find a suitable person to fill the post of Executive Director.

PROPOSAL

2. We propose to retain a supernumerary post of Principal Executive Officer (PEO) for one more year from 1 April 1997 to facilitate the continued secondment of a PEO to SARDA as Executive Director.

JUSTIFICATION

3. SARDA has not been able to find a suitable candidate to take up the post of Executive Director. The last two recruitment exercises conducted in 1993 and 1994 had not been fruitful. There is, as yet, no prospective candidate within the organisation ready to fill the post. Executive Director in 1995 and 1996 because Since it would be desirable to retain the secondment of an experienced civil servant at PEO level to provide the necessary continuity and leadership for overseeing various proposals which are in their critical stage of implementation or development, SARDA has not attempted to recruit its own Executive Director in 1995 and 1996.

4. SARDA now plans to conduct a recruitment exercise with a view to appointing its own Executive Director in mid-1997. As the recruitment process may not be completed before 1 April 1997 when the current supernumerary post is due to lapse, it is necessary to retain the supernumerary post to ensure the smooth operation of SARDA. The supernumerary post will lapse if a suitable candidate is recruited in 1997. the supernumerary post, an experienced civil servant at the PEO level can continue to be seconded to the organisation as Executive Director. An organisation chart of SARDA is at Enclosure 1 and the job description of its Executive Director is at Enclosure 2.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

5. The notional annual mid-point salary cost of this post is -


$

No. of Post

Supernumerary post

994,200

1

The full annual staff cost of the proposal, including salaries and staff on-cost, is $1,825,248.

6. We shall recover in full the full cost of this proposal, including staff on-costs, from SARDA.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

7. SARDA was unable to find a suitable candidate from the private sector to fill the post of Executive Director when it was established in 1982. A supernumerary PEO post has been created since May 1983 to facilitate the secondment of an experienced officer to the organisation. Subsequent attempts over the years to recruit an Executive Director had failed. As a result, we have to retain the supernumerary post on an annual basis.

CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH COMMENTS

8. The grading and ranking of the proposed post are appropriate having regard to its duties and level of responsibilities.

ADVICE OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORATE SALARIES AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE

9. As the PEO post is proposed on a supernumerary basis, its retention, if approved, will be reported to the Standing Committee on Directorate Salaries and Conditions of Service in accordance with the agreed procedure.

Security Branch
October 1996

Enclosure 2 to EC(96-97)39

Job Description -- Executive Director, SARDA

  1. To support and advise the Executive Committee of SARDA on the development of policies in relation to the treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers and on the implementation of these policies.
  2. To monitor and keep under review all programmes of service delivery and ensure that they are clinically, financially and operationally effective.
  3. To control and budget for the expenditure of funds from Government subventions and charitable organisations.
  4. To acquire, manage, develop and motivate the human resources of SARDA, comprising medical, nursing, social work and administrative staff.
  5. To see that SARDA has the necessary procedures, administrative arrangements, equipment and accommodation to carry out its tasks.
  6. To maintain effective net-working with the Department of Health, Social Welfare Department, Narcotics Division of Security Branch and other non-Government organisations involved in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug abusers.

Last Updated on 12 August 1999