Assistant Minister appointed to oversee children's mental health services

Monday 01 March 2021

A new Assistant Minister has been appointed to take responsibility for the pandemic-stretched Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

Deputy Trevor Pointon will be working alongside the newly-appointed Minister for Children and Education, Deputy Jeremy Maçon.

Many children are still facing months-long waits for help from the service, while figures released last month by the Youth Enquiry Service also attested to a huge surge in demand for wellbeing help among young people. There, 1,902 counselling appointments took place in 2020 compared to 1,341 the previous year.

Deputy Maçon has also appointed Deputy Scott Wickenden to assist with his Education portfolio.

Pictured: Scott Wickenden, who was already Assistant Chief Minister, has also been made an Assistant Education Minister.

Deputy Maҫon commented: “I am pleased to have confirmed the appointment of these two Deputies. The wellbeing of the island’s children is one of our main priorities and we must work hard to ensure that our young people do not suffer from the disruption to their education that Covid has brought about.”

Deputy Maçon's Minister role was created following the departures of the previous Children and Housing Minister and Education Minister, which led to a portfolio reshuffle by the Chief Minister. That shake-up also saw the creation of a Minister for Housing and Communities - a post given to Deputy Russell Labey.

Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, added: “The role of Minister for Children and Education is important and wide-ranging, and I am sure Deputy Maҫon will benefit from the experience and dedication of these two Assistant Ministers.”