Health staff to be relocated to make space for other key workers

Friday 20 October 2023

A total of 45 Health workers are being moved out of their Government-subsidised accommodation to make space for a new accommodation service which will house key workers across all sectors.

The Health Minister said that moving the Health staff out of their accommodation to free up properties for other key workers will “create a fairer system for all”.

The “inequity” in the allocation of key worker accommodation had been a “long-standing point of contention” within the Health and Community department, added Deputy Karen Wilson.

Pictured: The Health Minister said that the “inequity” in the allocation of key worker accommodation had been a “long-standing point of contention”.

This week, the Government announced that people recruited into essential roles – including teachers, nurses and mental health workers – would be offered one-, two- or three-bed Government-owned or leased properties at rates typically below those in the private sector.

But to make room, 45 Health workers – who are permanent residents in Jersey and have been living in subsidised Government accommodation for more than a year – are being moved out. They have been consulted and will receive assistance to move into the private sector, the Government has said.

The Government has engaged a relocation company to help current occupants find new homes, is contributing up to £1,000 to the cost of moving, and has given licenses to colleagues who didn’t have them to widen their pool of available properties.

It has also emerged that some workers were given accommodation “outside of usual policy", staying in temporary accommodation longer than was intended.

Chief People and Transformation Officer, Mark Grimley said: “The previous policies for accommodation were inconsistent. This is why we have created this new service, to ensure fairness and clarity within the approach.

“We are aware some people were provided accommodation outside of usual policy. This accommodation should have only been allocated as a transitional arrangement on a discretionary basis.”

When asked for clarification about which workers are being referred to and what is meant by “outside of usual policy”, Mr Grimley clarified: “The usual policy was that permanent colleagues in defined roles would only be given temporary accommodation until they found a place in the private sector.

"In some cases, this was not followed up at the end of the temporary period meaning some people stayed on.”

Pictured: The Government has engaged a relocation company to help the Health staff find new homes, and is contributing up to £1,000 to the cost of moving.

The new scheme has been described as a way for workers to settle in and the Government said it would also address recruitment and retention issues.

Addressing the issue of “the inequity of key-worker accommodation” was welcome, Deputy Wilson said.

She added: “This has been raised through staff forums on a number of occasions and I am pleased to see progress on this.

“By this new system of accommodation management, we are now able to provide for those new key workers we are currently recruiting.

"Ensuring we have accommodation ready for them and a seamless arrival to the island is an important part of forming a long-term commitment from people.

“This is part of our financial recovery plan, to reduce the number of agency, bank and locum workers, and replace with permanent employees.”