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If the old adage about 'what gets measured gets managed' is true, then buckle-up Jersey, the detail of your life is about to be 'assisted' by the government.
It's all part of a new 'Performance Framework' for the island, which is supposed to measure islanders' progress towards what officials describe as "sustainable wellbeing" rather than using GVA or GDP as a measure for how Jersey is doing.
They say delivering "sustainable wellbeing" is about long-term progress, and is "now central to the way in which the Government makes decisions and designs public services".
The new Framework is based on a set of 20 aspirations (described as 'storyboards'), which can be found online and include aspects of local life, such as children being able to grow up safely, islanders being able to access good quality health services and people being able to afford a decent standard of living - using the 'Future Jersey' consultation program as a guide to what people see as important for their island.
They are grouped into three sections:
In detail, each aspiration then includes a set of actual measurements, which will be used to gauge progress.
Pictured: One of the 'storyboards' with the measurements used to assess progress.
Progress against each of those measures is available for islanders to look at online - but at this stage, no targets as to what the government actually wants to achieve on each one, or for what a 'good' result might be, are being set.
"It cannot be delivered by one person or one organisation, it is a shared responsibility and requires all of us to work together. Healthy lifestyles are also personal choices," a statement accompanying the launch read.
"Government has an important role to play in setting the policy direction and delivering services that are contributing to creating the conditions for positive progress."
Pictured: Detailed aspects of life in Jersey are to be measured.
It continued: "At this first stage of its development, the performance framework focuses on Island-wide outcomes and the indicators that provide a view of how Jersey is doing. Later on, the Government will start to add performance measures for public services, which show how its activities and actions contribute to improving those Island-wide outcomes."
The Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, commented: “Sustainable wellbeing means thinking about what’s right in the long-term for future generations. When looking at the big strategic picture we have to factor in many different needs, such as providing affordable homes, supporting people with mental health needs and protecting and evolving our economy.
“The Jersey Performance Framework will act as the barometer of Jersey’s sustainable wellbeing. It provides an accessible tool for all of us to see how well Jersey is doing across a wide range of social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing.”
Pictured: Chief Minister, Senator John Le Fondré, announcing 2020 as a 'year of action'.
Dr Anuschka Muller, Director of Strategic Planning and Performance, added: “We measure sustainable wellbeing across a number of Island-wide outcomes. Outcomes are broad statements of aims across community, economic and environmental wellbeing.
“Jersey’s Performance Framework now brings together all these outcomes and indicators in one central place, so that it’s easier to see how Jersey is doing across all aspects of life. It is our Island’s sustainable wellbeing performance framework.”
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