The NPM Central Team leads the day-to-day work associated with the UK NPM. This involves promoting a shared understanding of OPCAT among NPM bodies, encouraging collaboration and the sharing of information and good practice, and facilitating joint activities on issues of common concern, primarily through Task and Finish Groups. The NPM Central Team represents the NPM as a whole to Government and other UK stakeholders. Externally, the UK NPM Central Team liaises with the SPT, the Council of Europe’s Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), and other international human rights bodies. The Central Team also shares experience and expertise with NPMs in other states.
The primary responsibilities of the Central Team include:
- Setting the strategic direction of the UK NPM in consultation with the Steering Group and NPM bodies;
- Setting annual operating plans of the UK NPM in consultation with the Steering Group and NPM bodies;
- Setting and managing annual budgets of the UK NPM;
- Managing the website, media and social media relating to the UK NPM;
- Preparing the annual report and other publications;
- Drafting positions, reports and statements in consultation with the Steering Group and NPM bodies as appropriate;
- Representing the UK NPM at meetings with external stakeholders in consultation with the Chair and Steering Group;
- Other matters appropriate to the running of the UK NPM as decided by the Steering Group.
Currently, the UK NPM Central Team is made up of:
- Sam Gluckstein, Head of UK NPM;
- Jane Kilpatrick, NPM Secretariat Officer;
- Chelsea Keenan, NPM Secretariat Officer, Scotland;
- Vacancy, NPM Support Officer;
- Vacancy.