Question
The Committee noted the two ongoing vacancies within PSNI Communications Branch of Strategic Communications Director and Deputy Director. While the Committee welcomes the current recruitment competition for the Strategic Communications Director, please provide an explanation for the delay in PSNI progressing these two important appointments, which have been vacant for almost three years.
Answer
Recruitment to the communications leadership roles has been constrained by challenges in securing suitably qualified candidates through open competition. The 2024 campaign to appoint to the Director-level post concluded without an appointment. Four candidates were interviewed in July 2024 and although one candidate was initially assessed as appointable, they subsequently withdrew. In view of concerns regarding both the size and suitability of the external candidate pool, it was decided not to proceed immediately with a further external campaign.
In the interim, the Strategic Communication and Engagement function has continued to be delivered through agreed temporary governance arrangements. A Temporary Deputy Director of Communications (Grade 6) has undertaken the Director responsibilities with the endorsement of the Service Executive Team (SET), maintaining continuity of strategic leadership and operational delivery. SET is satisfied that these arrangements have mitigated any operational impact arising from the vacancies, and there is no evidence of material adverse effect on communications activity, public relations outputs, or public confidence attributable to the posts remaining unfilled.
This period has also enabled a review and refinement of the Job Description and Person Specification in advance of recommencing recruitment, with the objective of strengthening the selection process and attracting a broader and more suitable field of candidates. The Grade 5 Director post was advertised in June and interviews are currently underway. A separate campaign to recruit to the substantive Deputy Director post will follow in due course.
Peter Osborne