Chief Minister: child abuse in Jersey an "absolute scandal"

Tuesday 10 October 2017

"What we allowed to happen in our community is an absolute scandal and we all need to put our hands up" - Jersey's Chief Minister has promised a new Children's Commissioner will help to bring forward laws to protect the island's children, following the £23m Care Inquiry.

The appointment of a Children's Commissioner to protect the rights of children was one of the main recommendations of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry (IJCI) which was released in July - the move had earlier been proposed and rejected by the States Assembly.

At a Care of Children Review Panel hearing yesterday, the Chief Minister confirmed that there was a long list of candidates for the role, who will be shortlisted and face panel interviews in front of Tom Walker, Chief Officer of Community and Constitutional Affairs, the Chair of the Appointments Commission, another UK Children’s Commissioner, as well as representatives of "well regarded" children’s services at the end of the month.

Part of the selection process will see candidates asked to interact with young people, who will give feedback to the panel. They will then make a recommendation to the States Assembly for their approval. 

The hearing also heard that the role's scope could be wider than the job description initially laid out. The Chief Minister explained that the Commissioner could help resolve the issue of whether or not they should have ombudsman functions, which Senator Gorst said would be very useful. They could also bring forward regulations into the care of children.

Pictured: Responsibility for looking after and promoting the rights of the island's most vulnerable citizens could be shared across both islands in the new role, the Chief Officer of Community and Constitutional Affairs said.

"There has been a debate on whether we should have waited for the legislation to be in place before the appointment. I didn't want to wait because there was a potential that it would just put off the recruitment. We could be arguing about the legislation and there be would a delay. I thought let’s get somebody appointed and they can help bring in the legislation," he explained.

Deputy Sam Mézec, the Chairman of the Review Panel, asked if there were any functions currently undertaken by other bodies that the Commissioner would be taking over. The Chief Minister said it was a possibility, but added: "Until they have actually started looking at the legislation and children’s plan we can’t say."

The Commissioner, who will receive £100,000 a year, could also end up working in Guernsey. Tom Walker said that there had been discussions with the relevant committees and chief officers in Guernsey about the possibility of sharing the commissioner between the two islands. "At this stage we have left the door very widely open, it is a possibility and people who put themselves forward know it’s a possibility. It is up to Guernsey's officials to make the decision," he commented.

Senator Gorst, who will be meeting the Children's Commissioner for England and Wales next week, indicated that the work of the Commissioner might not be easy in the beginning, especially if they have to report complaints from the public or suggest legislation the Assembly doesn't agree with. "In the early stages, the relationship between the Children's Commissioner and the States Assembly will be uncomfortable and potentially difficult. But that is why we need a commissioner," he said.

Pictured: The Chief Minister claimed that it would be difficult to face up to the realities of what happened to children on the island, but that the Commissioner should help the island progress.

To ensure the true success of implementing changes, the Chief Minister said that government departments need to stop trying to find a guilty party. "What we allowed to happen in our community is an absolute scandal and we all need to put our hands up. It’s uncomfortable, it’s really difficult, but if we just keep blaming each other I might as well go do something else."