Fund hires consultancy firm due to lack of Corporate Services Director

According to minutes of a meeting of the NTPF Board in March 2018, seen by <strong><em>MI</em></strong> through Freedom of Information legislation, Chief Executive Officer Mr Liam Sloyan advised the Board that in the absence of a Corporate Services Director, and in the context of the high level of recruitment, the NTPF has been obtaining recruitment advice and interview assistance from Mazars.

The firm, which specialises in audit and assurance, consultancy, corporate finance and tax, was initially the only responder to requests for quotations for human resources services.

However, the NTPF has since sought further quotations, which have now been received and considered.

In January, the Chief Executive advised the Board that the Corporate Services Director had resigned and that he would seek sanction for a replacement.

The Fund’s human resources working group had met to discuss potential mitigations while the recruitment process was ongoing.

Mr Sloyan had also advised the Board that outstanding matters in relation to seconded staff had been resolved and all seconded staff had either returned to work for the NTPF or resigned from the Fund.

It was noted that the recruitment of seven posts was underway and that sanction for a further five positions had been requested, including the post of ICT Director.

A spokesperson for the Department of Health confirmed to <strong><em>MI</em></strong> that sanction for the recruitment of a replacement Corporate Service Director at the Fund has been provided.