Public appointment: members appointed to Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board

The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Humza Yousaf MSP today announced the appointments of Claire Holmes, Dr Greg Black and Kim Dams as Members of Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board.

Members

Claire Holmes

Claire Holmes studied history and sociology at Glasgow University and then qualified as a social worker in 1996; and has maintained her professional registration.  She has always been passionate about mental health services and gained her Mental Health Officer qualification in 1999.  Claire moved to Dumfries in 2002 after securing a team leader post for community mental health services in Stewartry and Wigtown. 

She has significant experience from managing integrated health and social care services for over 20 years.  Claire became an independent consultant/interim in 2012; and over the last 9 years, has focused on service improvement and establishing and leading major transformation programmes in mental health services across England. 

Claire is currently working with a number of NHS Trusts and independent providers in South Yorkshire and NHS England to change the way specialised mental health services are commissioned and delivered.  She has a strong improvement focus to deliver good quality services in the public sector in collaboration with others to ensure better quality outcomes for service, users and families; and will bring this ethos to this new role.

Dr Greg Black

Dr Black has a background in physics and engineering as well as project management, risk and assurance.  He has worked in the radioactive substances industry for a number of years including both the private and public sectors, most recently as a Senior Regulator and Advisor. 

Greg has experience of leading and delivering large and complex projects, managing risk and financial performance.  As a regulator he has experience of auditing on behalf of the public to ensure that organisations’ manage risks to the public and the environment and scrutinising their governance arrangements.

Kim Dams

Kim Dams' career covers the private and voluntary sector in a wide range of leadership roles, including in finance, risk, compliance and data management. Kim has extensive experience in good governance of boards, risk committees, finance committees and audit committees and has chaired several Board sub committees.

She brings experience in leading and overseeing organisational change, governance in fast developing organisations and of the operational delivery of customer services. 

Kim is passionate about rights-based, person-centred and value driven policies, focussing on people-led decision-making, community engagement, equality, human rights and the intersectionality of rural issues.

Appointments

The appointments will be for four years and will run from 1st November 2021 to 31st October 2025.

The appointments are regulated by the Ethical Standards Commissioner.

Remuneration

The appointment are part-time and attract a remuneration of £8,842 per annum for a time commitment of one day per week.

Other ministerial appointments

Claire Holmes, Dr Greg Black and Kim Dams do not hold any other public appointments.

Political activity

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.  However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity within the last five years (if there is any to be declared) to be made public.   

Kim Dams is Chair and Equality Officer for her local SNP branch; and is Equality Officer and Second Officers for the Constituency Association.  Kim has also acted as a polling agent and count agent at elections.

Claire Holmes and Dr Greg Black have had no political activity within the last five years.

Background

NHS Dumfries & Galloway is responsible for meeting the health needs of over 150,000 people living in the region, and works with partner organisations to provide a comprehensive range of primary, community-based and acute hospital services tailored for the whole population.