Fórsa has welcomed the news that a Chief Health and Social Care Professional Officer role has been created within the Department of Health.

The announcement follows an almost decade long union campaign calling for an independent, senior, and strategic leadership role to oversee all issues related to the second largest clinical workforce within the Irish health service.

National secretary Linda Kelly said that this was a “significant win” for Fórsa and our health and social care professional (HSCP) members.

“This is a hard fought and significant win for our Union and for our HSCP members who have campaigned alongside our staff and activists for the best part of the last decade. It is incredible to see this actually happening,” she said.

The new role will develop policy in relation to strategic workforce planning and advance practice for health and social care professionals. It will report through the Assistant Secretary for Primary Care division and will initially be based in the Strategic Workforce Planning Unit of the Department to support specialist policy development as a priority under Sláintecare.

Linda explained that while the role is warmly welcomed, there are still questions as to why it is not a permanent appointment.

“While the role is very much welcomed, we are naturally disappointed that it’s a three-year secondment and not a permanent appointment. Clarification is also required as to why HSCPs who are not regulated by CORU have been excluded,” she said.

The Department of Health is currently seeking expressions of interest for the role, and Fórsa will pursue engagement with the successful candidate once appointed.