Social Development Focus of New Ministry

In early May, the PACT Government created the Ministry of Investment, Innovation and Social Development (MIISD). Its “Social Development” pillar includes the Needs Assessment Unit, the Department of Children and Family Services, the Sunrise Adult Training Centre, Children and Youth Services (CAYS) Foundation, the Housing Repairs Committee and the Adoption Board. 

The Hon. Minister for Investment, Innovation and Social Development André Ebanks explained the underlying rationale of the new “social development” focus of a Government ministry:

“The PACT Government is committed to re-imagining social development. We intend to deliver on a decade of reforms that were not prioritised previously. The unfortunate reality is that Cayman’s most vulnerable and disadvantaged people have been sidelined and frustrated by unduly burdensome bureaucracy, outdated policies and procedures and IT systems.”

The Minister explained that the new Ministry pillar of “Social Development” reflects the Government’s commitment to addressing both short term and long term challenges, including the serious deficiencies that were identified many years ago but have gone unaddressed.

Parliamentary Secretary for Social Development Heather Bodden likewise noted that “The newly constituted Ministry puts social development front and center of our Government’s reform agenda. Those who are eligible for Government assistance and services deserve to be served with efficient and modern processes.”

Re-imagining social development firstly means developing a coordinated strategy to solve  deep-rooted, longstanding problems with modern solutions, as recommended by the Office of the Auditor General in the follow-up on past PAC Recommendations Report dated August 2021.

To begin to address the recommendations of such report comprehensively, the PACT Government has grouped the relevant departments and units within a Ministry whose remit is also investment and innovation.  The PACT Government is committed to delivering streamlined and transparent processes that underpin government’s social assistance and services, both in internal management and in delivery.   

Commenting further, Minister Ebanks said, “I am very optimistic that the entire Ministry team, departments, and units will utilise their expertise, enthusiasm and innovative thinking to bring about meaningful and measurable changes within the critical subject of social development in the Cayman Islands.”

Some highlights of the Ministry’s work in social development between May and August 2021 include:

• Consolidation of multiple reports about Cayman’s social development programs, to inform overall strategy and identify key priorities.
• Conducting a broad review and audit which identified an urgent need to update and/or create a swathe of legislation, regulation and policy to improve social services for Cayman’s most vulnerable people.
• Ongoing budget work to ensure that sufficient financial resources are allocated by Government to support continuous and improved services by the entities that provide social services.
• Actively supporting ongoing and future public activities of DCFS and Sunrise Adult Training Center. 
• Liaising with the Governor’s office to complete the UN’s Rights of the Child report, as a British Overseas Territory.

The Ministry also has been involved in operational improvements, examples of which include:

• Initial meetings with each department and unit to understand challenges and desired improvements, as well as site visits to key residential care facilities, taking immediate action where possible and embarking on longer term planning where needed, for instance, to progress a purpose-built Sunrise Adult Training Center.
• Reviewing and reforming HR processes and policies across departments, with the objective of transforming these areas to support staff and address key personnel concerns --- ultimately to improve service delivery to clients, and the continuum of care.  
• Reappointed the Housing Repair Committee which has been expired since 31 December 2019.

The Ministry hosted a strategic offsite day dedicated to social development

A full day session was held with Minister Ebanks, Ministry and Department staff at the EY wavespace™. This session enabled a high level focus on ‘social development’ to create strategic priorities and alignment for the next four years. 

The Ministry is supporting the rollout of digital infrastructure for the Needs Assessment Unit

During June and July, the Ministry’s eGovernment Unit spent extensive time working alongside the Needs Assessment Unit staff and created a series of recommendations for improving their workflow processes and interactions with members of the public who seek assistance. A plan was proposed and agreed with Minister Ebanks to create and launch a dedicated NAU website for clients to obtain necessary information and use a digital application for assistance. This and other work is well underway with launch targeted this year.