It will have overall responsibility for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties.The three States committees whose services were criticised in the report have agreed to implement some of the major recommendations and are still considering others, including the closure of the Island’s children’s homes.Meanwhile, Dr Bull, a former Ofsted inspector, is being kept on until December to oversee the implementation of the recommendations.The decisions were taken at a meeting yesterday of Health and Social Services, Education, Sport and Culture and Home Affairs.Health president Senator Stuart Syv-ret said that a ‘tremendous’ amount of work had been undertaken since the Bull report was published in January.
According to the committees, the task ahead represents ‘the most ambitious corporate partnership the States has yet contemplated’.A number of recommendations have already been put into practice, including the establishment of a referral panel to ensure that the needs of any child coming into contact with the care or judicial services are properly assessed and they are appropriately placed.The policy on exclusions from schools – identified by Dr Bull as being linked to juvenile crime – has been rethought and made more consistent.Steps have also been taken to beef up security at the children’s homes and to reduce overcrowding.’By States of Jersey standards this a very cohesive process; everybody understands the importance of it,’ said Senator Syvret.The new Children’s Executive will oversee all issues relating to children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, ‘ringfencing’ resources which are currently spread across various departments.The recruitment of its first director will begin soon – the job will be advertised locally and nationally – with the hope that the successful candidate will start work no later than next January.There are still a large number of potentially contentious recommendations on the table, and they will be discussed a full-day workshop involving the three committees and their officers on 24 July.They include Dr Bull’s recommendation for a ‘multi-purpose’ campus where all children’s services will be located.
The former JCG site on Rouge Bouillon has been suggested as a possible site, but there is considerable opposition to the principle.The closure of the children’s homes is another controversial proposal, but it is clear that a viable alternative needs to be in place before that can happen.
Dr Bull has suggested a professional fostering service, but the recruitment and training required means that Heathfield and La Préférence may still have up to two years left.The three committees plan to present a report to the States on progress so far in July with a full debate on their strategy to follow in the autumn.
