The Division of Social Affairs’ visioning and strategic goal |22 March 2022

Marie-Nella Leitner (right) is being rewarded for her ten years of service (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

New strategic goals to revitalise service delivery and boost staff development

With the ongoing transformation within the public sector, the division of social affairs within the Ministry of Employment and Social Affairs will have to re-adjust its structure and ways of delivering its service, while the staff will have to get acquainted to new work schedules, and also new ways of performing their duties efficiently.

Principal secretary for social affairs Linda William-Melanie mentioned the changes yesterday during the official presentation of the department’s new Visioning and Strategic Goal.

The presentation took place at the auditorium of the Seychelles Trading Company (STC) in the presence of Minister for Employment and Social Affairs Patricia Francourt, director for social services Beryl Laboudallon and social workers.

Mrs William-Melanie explained that the changes in the function are also in line with the vision of the department to create a harmonious society where individuals respect and uphold values and human dignity and contribute towards their wellbeing, economic and social stability.

Among the strategic goals of the new plan is an improved ethos of service delivery and budget control, with mechanisms to measure the level of service delivery at all levels and cost-cutting exercise.

Internal re-structuring and re-designing will include changes in management for better performance and results, while professionalising and specialisation of services will ensure continuous professional development.

Support services and programmes will also come into place to empower families and vulnerable adults, while the revision of the Children’s ACT will cater for revision of existing legislation and proposal for modern child protection law.

Another important component of the new plan is the introduction of integrated and crisis intervention services which will bring about extended flexible working hours to better respond to emerging needs.

The plan also makes provision for setting up residential programmes for at-risk youths through infrastructure development and care package for behaviour modification.

Also during yesterday’s ceremony, assistant social worker within the Child Protection Unit, Marie-Nella Leitner, was rewarded for ten years of service.

The Social Services division is a service oriented division that has the portfolio responsibility to promote the wellbeing of children, families and people living with disabilities through restoration of social functioning, empowerment, alleviation of social problems, improving the quality of life, and providing social services and mediation.

Roland Duval