The Appointments Committee of St Helens Council met on Monday 15 September 2025 to discuss the appointment of an Interim Director of Public Health, and the recruitment of a Director of Children and Young People's Services. The committee was also scheduled to confirm the minutes of a prior meeting. Some of the discussion was expected to take place after the exclusion of the public.

Director of Children and Young People's Services (DCS) Recruitment

The committee was scheduled to discuss the recruitment of a Director of Children and Young People's Services (DCS).

At a prior Appointments Committee meeting on 8 April 2025, the committee noted the outcome of the recent recruitment for a Director of Children's Services. At that meeting, the committee approved the appointment of Paula Swindlehurst as interim Director of Children's Services for up to 6 months, pending a second recruitment process, and also approved the salary for the role within the agreed Pay Policy 2024/25 arrangements.

Appointment of Interim Director of Public Health

The committee was scheduled to consider an urgent council decision regarding the appointment of an Interim Director of Public Health.

Exclusion of the Public

The agenda for the meeting recommended that the public be excluded during consideration of the Director of Children and Young People's Services (DCS) Recruitment, because it would involve the discussion of exempt information relating to an individual. This falls under Paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972¹.