Executive proposed for children's services

Executive proposed for children's services

The executive would run services for the island's vulnerable youngsters

A Children's Executive could be set up to run services for Jersey's vulnerable young people.

The proposed move is a direct result of a report criticising the current provision of services.

Kathie Bull, from the UK's Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted), researched the report which dealt with various aspects of care and education of children on the island.

It criticised care homes and educational services, arguing there was a "silo mentality" among various departments, who worked on their own, with no regard to other States committees or departments.

Extra money

Since the report was made public, three committees responsible for services to children have reviewed their work.

Now Education, Health and Home Affairs have agreed to establish a Children's Executive led by a director of services.

The committees intend to bring a report on the organisation's scope, along with a request for any extra money it will need, to the States.

This money culd be crucial as the island's government is currently cutting spending to balance the books and though funding for the body will come from existing budgets, the executive is likely to need more resources.

Education, Sport and Culture President Senator Mike Vibert said it is time to offer better services rather than look at who is to blame for failings in care provision.

The island's Health President, Senator Stuart Syvret, said that Jersey's government is already dealing with the issues raised at a speed unheard of by States standards.