Resources, Housing and Social Security Group (RHSSG) - Deputy Secretary

Heather is a qualified member of CIPFA (the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy) with over 20 years of post qualification financial management experience.

Heather was Director of Finance in the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency from 2003 to 2007 and Director of Housing with the Department for Social Development from 2007 to 2011. In May 2011 she was appointed to the post of Deputy Secretary of RHSSG (Resources Housing and Social Security Group) in the Department for Social Development.

As head of RHSSG, her responsibilities include:

The Group brings together the two vital social policy areas covering housing and social security, child support and pensions. It also negotiates and manages the allocation and control of resources across the Department and provides a range of corporate support services.

Current priorities include a major legislative programme bringing important changes to the housing, social security, child support and pension systems. Working with other departments and the Social Security and Child Maintenance & Enforcement Division within DSD, the group is facilitating the modernisation of benefit delivery.