Thank you for your interest in joining the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. If you haven't decided whether or not to apply yet there is one question you are probably asking yourself and which, from my own experience, your friends and family will ask you if you do apply: "Why on earth would you want to get involved in Child Maintenance?" Let me give you my answer.

In Great Britain over 3 million children do not live with both their parents. Almost everyone agrees in principle that both parents retain responsibility for their children, including financial responsibility, but in practice many parents not living with their children avoid their responsibility. They convince themselves that for some reason the general principle does not apply to them.

Since 1993 Government has tried to address this problem through the Child Support Agency - part of the Department for Work and Pensions - but both the policy it administers and its operational performance have been controversial, heavily criticised and at best partially successful.

The Commission now being established has the opportunity to solve the problem. With much broader responsibilities than the Agency it replaces it will not simply enforce a pre-determined policy but will:

• Develop and advise Ministers on policy;
• Promote parental responsibility and seek to change attitudes;
• Encourage and support parents in making their own arrangements;
• Calculate Maintenance and enforce it where necessary;
• Operate at arms length from Government enabling it to innovate and provide services how and through the mechanisms it chooses.

If you think children are important and so is their support by both parents; if you think that private arrangements are preferable but the State has a role to play if necessary; if you think that what really matters about public services is not how, but how well they are delivered; if you have the skills, experience and desire to make a difference; and if you enjoy challenge, complex problems, hard work and ultimately success - then this is probably the job for you and I look forward to meeting you soon.

Best wishes,

 

Stephen Geraghty