“Your Connaught board has gone from a Board of Independent individuals with a wealth of experience to a Board which looks a lot more like a business board then a board who will represent the needs and concerns of the people of Alderney [and] who have lived, worked and contributed all of their lives – in my opinion it is a very sad day for Alderney,” said Ms Benfield in a letter to the Alderney Journal.
“It appears from the press release that [neither] Mr Vooght or any of P&F have [any] regard or respect for the previous board, he could not even bring himself to say ‘thank you’ for all the volunteers whose collective wealth of experience has been totally disregarded.”
The States of Alderney recently announced the appointment of Will Pierce and States member Kevin Gentle as two new Board members. They join Judy Craske, the only remaining Board member to stay in post.
It came as three members of the board – Dr Nigel Roberts, Jo Jordan, and James Dent – were not re-appointed to the Board, leading to one former member, Dr Roberts, saying: “I trust the move to a non-independent governance model does not put the Connaught’s charitable status into question.”
Ms Benfield was asked to continue on the Board but chose not to in light of how the reshuffle had taken place. A fifth Board member – Care Home Manager, Liz Bowskill – was also not re-appointed, after she did not sign a Willingness to Serve in time.
Ms Benfield has since argued this doesn’t make sense, as she had also not signed the ‘Willingness to Serve’ document – due to outstanding questions – but was reappointed anyway.
Below is an excerpt from Ms Benfield’s statement about the situation:
“Two weeks ago three of the board members were invited to a meeting with the Connaught board States liaison, along with other States representatives.
“At this meeting it transpired the purpose was to inform us that the [three] uninvited Directors would not be reappointed, the reason given was ‘skill set’ – we were also informed that it had been reported to P&F that we were not supportive of the Alderney Care Board plan for the integration of services. This is not true, we as a board have worked with the head of the Alderney Care Board, including extra meetings at his convenience as he is usually only in Alderney one or two days a week.
“The three named Directors were informed they were sacked/surplus to requirement at the following board meeting – again they were told that they did not have the ‘skill set’.One… has 35 years’ experience in Health and Social care, one who has experience in Law, one who has both business and political experience?”
Pictured: The two new appointments to the Connaught Care Home Board – Kevin Gentle (right) and Will Pierce (left).
A spokesperson for the States of Alderney has since told Express that they wouldn’t be replying to specific claims within Ms Benfield’s letter.
“While they [States of Alderney] didn’t necessarily agree or disagree with all the comments made by Barbara Benfield, they do not intend to address individual points at this time. While the States was disappointed that Ms. Benfield, who has been a valued member of the Board, had decided to tender her resignation, the political priority is to serve and protect the Island’s vulnerable residents effectively,” the spokesperson said.
“The States recognises the input of the previous Board and their valuable contribution to the operation of the Connaught. It is the wish of the States of Alderney that the highest possible level of care is provided, and we would hope that she continues to represent an organisation that is crucial to the wellbeing of the whole community, which is the ethos of the Care Strategy.
“Ms. Benfield is central to this and we are hoping that we can persuade her to remain in her post as we reset the approach to care across the Island.”