A nine-year-old, whose name was changed to Cameron in court papers to protect his identity, was removed from his mother’s care due to neglect and rehomed in the south-east of England earlier this year.
The Bailiff, Sir William Bailhache, said in the judgment, which was specifically related to Cameron’s care order, that there were ‘probably not enough Jersey resident foster carers’ available to take on children aged nine and above.
Despite initially looking for foster parents in Jersey for Cameron, including an Islandwide campaign specifically for him, the searches proved fruitless and the youngster had to be placed with carers in the UK.
As of July, there were 29 registered foster care families and 15 registered connected carer families – a carer family that is already a friend or relative of the looked-after child – in the Island, making a total of 44.
In the court papers Sir William says: ‘Cameron, who seems a delightful little boy, told us he wanted to go back to live with his mother.
‘We have had to think carefully because the wishes of the child are an important consideration but at the end of the day we reached the conclusion that at his age his wishes do not reflect what is in his best interests.’
Cameron’s brother was also rehomed in the UK, close to Cameron’s foster carers and they will have monthly contact with their mother.
Sir William added: ‘There will be those who think that to do this to a vulnerable child of eight or nine years old amounts to institutional cruelty. No other option has been put before the court.
‘There is no doubt that the child has suffered badly from the lack of care provided to him in his early years and there is no doubt that it was in his best interests that he be removed from the care of his mother. The mother herself agrees that that is so.’
Susan Devlin, managing director of Community and Social Services, admitted there were ‘particular shortages’ for certain children, including sibling groups and older children or teenagers.
She said: ‘We know that some children may have to be placed in the UK because we do not have the specialist care here in Jersey, but we do want to develop that. We also know that some children need the carer to be at home and available throughout the day.
‘In the last few years we have overhauled our system of fees and allowances to carers. Some carers are most suited to working with infants, while others offer care to teenagers.’
She urged Islanders to discuss whether they could become fosters carers with her department, as four recruitment events are due to be held next month.
‘Fostering a child will be one of the most rewarding things anyone can do when they support a child who may have been abused or neglected in developing and reaching their potential by providing a stable loving environment in which a child can thrive and grow,’ she said.
The pop-up recruitment events are being held as follows:
- Saturday 14 October 10 am to 4 pm, St Martin’s Parish Hall
- Friday 20 October 10 am to 4 pm, Jersey Library
- Saturday 21 October 10 am to 4 pm, Jersey Library
- Saturday 28 October 10 am to 4 pm, Communicare, St Brelade
Further information can be requested by emailing fosteringandadoption@health.gov.je.
