Permanent Secretaries’ Stocktake (PSS) - Friday 13 February 2026 Minutes

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Levi

Permanent Secretaries’ Stocktake (PSS) meeting minutes held on Friday 13 February 2026 at 09:00 in the Executive room, Stormont Castle. The agenda covers welcome and apologies, approval of prior minutes, and staffing updates including Grade 3 and Grade 5 competitions supported by an SCS dashboard. Key discussion items include the Chief Digital Officer role, development of digital roles to 2028, and DfE Matrix futures and foresight. A department-by-department tour de table reports progress, risks, and actions, concluding at 11:30.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryLetters

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time1 min

AccessFree to download

1. Welcome and Apologies

2. Minutes 23 January 2026

3. Staffing: Grade 5 and Grade 3 competitions

4. Chief Digital Officer

4.1 Development of digital roles to 2028

4.2 Summary of ‘NICS Digital’ and Chief Digital Officer role

4.3 Chief Digital Officer – Job Description

5. DfE Matrix Futures and Foresight

6. Tour de Table

6.1 DfI

6.2 DfC

6.3 TEO

6.4 OLC

6.5 DoH

6.6 DE

6.7 DoF

6.8 DfE

6.9 DAERA

6.10 DSO

6.11 DoJ

6.12 HOCS

7. AOB

PERMANENT SECRETARIES’ STOCKTAKE (PSS) Friday 13 February 2026, 09:00am Executive room, Stormont Castle In attendance: Jayne Brady/HOCS (Chair) Sean Holland Louise Crilly Gareth Johnston Mike Farrar(virtually) Declan McGeown Neil Gibson David Malcolm Katrina Godfrey Emer Morelli Alex Gordon Ian Snowden Janet Smyth (Secretariat) 1. Welcome and Apologies Apologies received from Hugh Widdis and Moira Doherty. Sean Holland and Gareth Johnston deputised respectively. HoCS thanked Katrina Godfrey who is looking at new ways of working for the PSS. PSS will continue with its current format until this work is concluded. 2. Minutes 23 January 2026 The minutes of the meeting of 23 January 2026 to issue for clearance at 20 February 2026 meeting. 3. Staffing: Grade 5 and Grade 3 competitions NG provided an updated on planning for a Grade 3 and Grade 5 competition. NG presented the Senior Civil Service (SCS) quarterly update tracker/ dashboard. The dashboard is designed to provide a quarterly overview update on SCS staff in post , recruitment competitions underway, temporary promotions; staff moves , leavers and new entrants. PSS members agreed this information is helpful and provides the opportunity to take collective responsibility in managing the SCS cadre. Action: NG to provide a timeframe in relation to approach and delivery for the Grade 3 competition. 4. Chief Digital Officer Following an action from January NICS Board, IS provided 3 papers for discussion in relation to a Chief Digital Officer role. 4.1 Development of digital roles to 2028 IS presented a graphic of each of the Digital Services , responsibilities and linkages. 4.2 Summary of ‘NICS Digital’ and Chief Digital Officer role IS provided a summary outline of proposed responsibilities for a Chief Digital Officer role and the organisation that they will lead (provisionally named NICS Digital) . IS discussed how the role will relate to others working in this space and how it might evolve following delivery of the Integr8 programme. 4.3 Chief Digital Officer – Job Description IS explained that the Chief Digital Officer is the NICS principal leader of digital enabled transformation, responsible for reshaping operating models, driving data driven decision-making, and coordinating NICS wide change to deliver modern, efficient and user-centred public services. PSS agreed this work would be crucial to move forward with providing a sustainable public service. 5. DfE Matrix Futures and Foresight IS presented on the purpose and impact of Matrix (a NI Science Industry Panel convened to advise government and inform academia and industry on the commercial exploitation of research and development , science, and technology in NI) and referenced foresight research carried out in the past year which included a recent report on AI and the Future of work. IS suggested this is an opportunity to showcase and raise awareness of the work of the industry led panel and opportunities across Departments to make use of this resource. 6. Tour de Table 6.1 DfI DMcG reported that 9 people had already lost their lives on the roads in 2026 and that the Translink CEO competition is ongoing. 6.2 DfC EM provided an update on Social Housing and Casement Park. 6.3 TEO GJ advised that the Principal Information Officer competition was completed with notifications issued to successful candidates. GJ provided an update on plans to unveil the HIA memorial at Parliament Buildings; EVAWAG and Race equality. 6.4 OLC AG commented on matters relating to legislative planning. 6.5 DoH MF referred to strategic operational planning guidance and working across government; GP pay position and; a case of Hemorrhagic fever. 6.6 DE DM provided an update on the DE budget position. 6.7 DoF NG referred to the Peace Plus Programme Paper and requested that Permanent Secretaries seek departmental expenditure that might be considered for inclusio

FAQs

Who chaired the PSS meeting and who provided apologies?

The Chair was Jayne Brady (HOCS). Apologies were received from Hugh Widdis and Moira Doherty.

What was discussed under Staffing for Grade 5 and Grade 3 competitions?

Planning for both Grade 3 and Grade 5 competitions was discussed, alongside an SCS quarterly update tracker/dashboard covering staff in post, recruitment competitions, temporary promotions, staff moves, leavers, and new entrants.

What key topics were covered regarding the Chief Digital Officer role?

The discussion included development of digital roles to 2028, a summary of ‘NICS Digital’ responsibilities and how the role relates to other digital work, and a job description describing leadership for digital-enabled transformation and coordinated change across NICS.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Levi