Pension Board

HSC Pension Board

The HSC Pension Board provides scrutiny and assurance of the administration of the HSC Pension Scheme.

Role of the Board

The HSC Pension Board’s role is to assist the Scheme Manager in securing compliance with all relevant pension law, regulations and directions – as well as the relevant Pension Regulator’s codes of practice.  This role is one of providing assurance in and governance of the scheme administration of the HSC Pension Schemes (both the new 2015 scheme and the old scheme consisting of the 1995 and 2008 sections).

Main responsibilities:

The Pension Board is responsible for assisting the Scheme Manager in:

• Providing overall assurance and governance of the HSC Pension Scheme administration;
• Assuring effective and efficient administration of the scheme;
• Seeking assurance that decisions made by the scheme administrator are fully legally compliant, including consideration of cases that have been referred to the     Pension Regulator and/or the Pension Ombudsman; recommending changes to processes training and / or guidance where necessary;
• Supporting continuous improvements;
• Assuring the scheme administrator supports employers to communicate the benefits of the HSC Pension Scheme through effective communication to members;
• Assuring the scheme administrator supports members with a range of tools to improve their understanding of their pension benefits and to inform their personal financial and career planning;
• Supporting effective implementation of the Employer Charter;
• Enabling data quality improvements to deliver CARE pension outcomes;
• Compliance with the Pension Regulator’s codes of practice;
• Fostering good working relationships with the Pension Regulator;
• Consideration of the annual report from the Pension Regulator, including any responses to recommendations;
• Producing an annual report outlining the work of the Board throughout the scheme year.

Membership

The Pension Board has an equal number of employer and member representatives and is overseen by an independent chair.

Pension Board members are appointed after being nominated by HSC trades unions and employer organisations.

Non employer/member representatives such as Department of Health officials and HSC Pension Service representatives attend Pension Board meetings in an observer capacity.

Employer Representatives:

Paul Cummings                    Chairperson

Geraldine McAleer              Western HSC Trust

Lesley Allen                            Northern Trust

Brona McAuley                     NIAS

Eimear McCauley                WHSCT

Gillian Somerville               Belfast Trust

Alan Stout                              NIGCHAIR

Member Representatives:

Dessie Lowry                        RCN

Terry Thomas                       NIPSA

Gerry Mackin                        BMA

Karen Murray                        RCM

Stephanie Greenwood        Unison

Brenda Stevenson                Unite