Department for Work and Pensions
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Stephen Geraghty announced as first commissioner of the child maintenance and enforcement commission
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Peter Hain, today announced the appointment of Stephen Geraghty as Commissioner Designate of the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.
Stephen Geraghty brings extensive knowledge and experience from the private sector and from his current role as Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency (CSA), which has seen major improvements under his tenure.
Since taking over the CSA in 2005 he has already put many improvements in place resulting in the number of children in receipt of maintenance or with a maintenance arrangement in place rising by 129,000 to 674,000. The CSA is also on course to achieve its £970m target for maintenance collections by March 2008.
Having driven radical change at the CSA Stephen Geraghty's major challenge in the transition period will be realising the potential of the new legislation to secure more money for more children and ensuring that the freedom that comes from CMEC's independent status is fully exploited.
Peter Hain said:
"I am very pleased to announce the appointment of Stephen Geraghty as the Commissioner Designate of the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. He has a proven track record in improving the CSA's performance since his appointment in 2005. He has also been heavily involved in working with Sir David Henshaw in the policy review that led to the creation of the new commission and in developing the new legislation currently before Parliament. I believe his appointment - alongside that of Janet Paraskeva as the Chair Designate - will give the Commission an experienced and committed leadership well equipped for the vital task of tacking child poverty."
Janet Paraskeva who was appointed Chair Designate in November said:
"I very much look forward to working closely with Stephen - his knowledge, drive and experience will be invaluable in helping to tackle the challenges that the Commission will face."
Stephen Geraghty said:
"I am delighted to have been appointed as the first Commissioner of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. The Commission marks a new era in child maintenance. It gives us the operational freedom to develop new services to support parents to take more responsibility for their children. The passage of the child maintenance bill through Parliament will, at last, give us the policy framework needed to make a difference to more children. But the operational improvements we have made must continue to underpin the transition into the new Commission."
Notes to Editors
1. Stephen Geraghty has been the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency since 2005.
2. His previous roles include Managing Director of Green Flag Group and UK Insurance, Managing Director, Assistance Division of Direct Line Group and Managing Director of Direct Line Financial Services.
3. The Child Maintenance and Other Payments Bill was introduced into the House of Commons in June and has now completed its Commons stages. Stephen Geraghty's appointment commenced on 1 January 2008 and will be on a designate basis pending Parliamentary approval of the Bill.
4. Stephen Geraghty's appointment was made on merit following an open competition for the post.
5. In April 2006 the CSA launched a three year Operational Improvement Plan to transform service delivery to its clients. The plan, developed from a baseline that pinpointed the low point in the Agency's performance, reported at its halfway stage in September 2007. Tables below provide details of the Agency's progress against targets:
Maintenance Outcomes - Five Year Performance Trends Position
at end
September
2007
Performance 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 September
Measure Actual Actual Actual Target Plan 2007
Number of 537,000 597,000 642,000 720,000 790,000 674,000
children benefiting Quarter ending 31 March
Cases in 385,000 433,000 471,000 520,000 579,000 498,000
receipt of maintenance 'Maintenance Direct' or
collection service Quarter ending 31 March
Maintenance 59% 61% 62% 66% 69% 62%
Outcomes% of cases with a current liability receiving
maintenance in the Quarter ending 31 March
Maintenance £793m £830m £891m £970m £1080m £925m
collected or arrangedYear ending 31 March
Client Service - Five Year Performance Trends Position
at end
September
2007
Performance 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 September
Measure Actual Actual Actual Target Plan 2007
Application 30% 36% 53% 61% 61% 63% 65% 80% 80% 85% 74% (Jun
processing% 46% 67% 78% 85% 90% 07)83% (Apr
of new scheme 07) 87%
applications (Mar 07)
cleared by 31 March within:- 12 weeks (Dec intake)- 18 weeks (Oct
intake)- 26 weeks (Sep intake)
Uncleared new 225,900 221,200 155,900 140,000 90,000 128,000
scheme applications at 31 March
Telephony 1 min 59 26 Less Less (April -
Average 40 seconds seconds than 30 than 30 September)
answer time seconds 9% 3% seconds seconds 21 seconds
from queue 16% Less Less 2%
over the year than 5% than5% % of lost
calls in year to 31 March
Website http://www.dwp.gov.uk
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