Key player in social care
Convention goes global
Val de Souza took up the post of director of health and social care, South Lanarkshire in September 2016.
Val undertakes the executive lead role for social work resources for South Lanarkshire Council and combines this with the chief officer role of the Health and Social Care Partnership.
Before moving to South Lanarkshire, Val was head of shared social services and chief social work officer for Stirling and Clackmannanshire Councils for almost five years.
Her first job in social work was working in a multidisciplinary learning disability team headed by a clinical psychologist and employed by the Eastern Health Board in Dublin.
As director of health and social care, Val has responsibility for a budget of around £500m and 5000 staff (approximately 3000 social care and 2000 health staff ) within South Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership.
As a member of South Lanarkshire Council’s corporate management team and NHS Lanarkshire Board, Val is responsible for giving advice to politicians and providing reports to the social work and executive committees of the council and NHS Lanarkshire Health Board.
Val has responsibility for a budget of around £500million and 5000 staff
This year’s International Women’s Day event celebrated the role of Scottish Women during Covid-19.
The event, organised by the Scottish Women’s Convention and the Scottish Parliament was held on Monday in the Scottish Parliament’s ‘virtual chamber’.
The experiences of those working at the heart of tackling the pandemic, including Erin Moffat, a critical care nurse; Cynthia Osayamwen, a care assistant; Clare McInally, a trade unionist; Mary Boyd, a student nurse and Pam Duncan-Glancy, a disability, equality and human rights activist, were all heard.
The event was chaired by East Kilbride MSP Linda Fabiani, the deputy presiding officer.
She said: “Women have undoubtedly risen to the many challenges that Covid-19 has thrown at them, often juggling so many different priorities, at home, at work and in their communities.
“I am delighted that this event will allow us a virtual platform from which to celebrate and recognise their many achievements.
“This annual event is usually held in our debating chamber, with hundreds of women joining us in person.
“Whilst we can’t do that this year, we will continue to help support women, acknowledging the challenges they face and their collective hopes and aspirations for the future.”
Other speakers addressing the event included:
Monica Lennon MSP, Scottish Labour Party spokeswoman on economy and fair work;
Linda Bauld, professor of public health,
The University of Edinburgh;
■ Elaine C Smith, one of Scotland’s bestknown performers;
■ Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for social security and older people;
■ Alison Johnstone MSP, co-leader of the Scottish Green Party;
■ Caron Lindsay, Scottish Liberal Democrats spokeswoman for equalities.
■ Margaret Mitchell MSP, shadow minister for community safety.
Those attending will also hear a prerecorded video message from the First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon MSP.
Agnes Tolmie, chairwoman Scottish Women’s Convention, said: “This year our event was held online, which enabled us as an organisation to reach out to more women than ever before.
“That brought women together from different cultures and backgrounds across Scotland, and internationally, to celebrate all of their achievements during the current pandemic.
“The SWC have been showcasing women in Scotland’s contributions since January with daily nominations in the run up to this event and what it has highlighted is the far-ranging achievements of women during one of the most difficult periods in our history.
“Women make up more than 50 per cent of the Scottish population and have been hardest hit by Covid, but looking at the wonderful work women in Scotland have been doing, we thought we should use our event to celebrate them.
“It was a successful evening hearing of inspiring and motivational contributions, which highlighted women’s achievements during this time”