The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry this week heard from members of political committees responsible for Jersey care homes.
There will now be a break from public hearings to prepare for the next phase of the inquiry, which is due to start in early October.
Next month, the final phase of public hearings will begin with the inquiry due to hear evidence relating to the 2008 police investigation into historical abuse at Haut de la Garenne – codenamed Operation Rectangle.
Once that stage is complete, members of the public will be asked to give their views on the current state of Jersey’s child care system.
Frances Oldham QC, chair of the inquiry, said: ‘In October, the inquiry will begin hearings in relation to phase two. At that stage we will look at the decisions taken in relation to the timing of the police investigation and subsequent decisions to prosecute alleged abusers.
‘Did those responsible for deciding which cases to prosecute take a professional approach? Was that process free form political or other interference at any level?’
To date, the inquiry has heard from witnesses who were young residents, people working within the Jersey care system including some accused of carrying out abuse and members of political bodies overseeing the running of the Island’s care homes.
Mrs Oldham said: ‘We will examine whether the child care system since the war was adequate. What went wrong? Has the system changed for the better and what is the way forward?
‘As part of that process the panel will invite views and recommendations from the community at large about the future of Jersey’s children – details will shortly be published on the website.
‘Let us have your views on what needs to change. What are the barriers to change in Jersey? What could you or your agency contribute to that process? We want to ensure that Jersey has a high quality and cohesive care system for its children and your contribution will assist us.’
The inquiry is due to release its findings by the end of next year.
A FORMER member of the board of governors for a school and remand centre has admitted to the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry that he had no understanding of the needs of children placed in the home under care orders.
Ron Maclean, who sat on the board for Les Chênes for around six years in the late 90s and early 2000s, told the inquiry that he had very few concerns about the home but added that he was not an expert in child care.
He referred to the children at the centre as ‘little villains’ in statements he made to the inquiry although yesterday admitted that that was an ‘unfortunate phrase’ which he wished he had not used.
When asked by inquiry counsel Patrick Sadd whether it could be said that he had no understanding of the needs of the children in care, Mr Maclean replied: ‘I must say yes’.
He said that when he was appointed to the board he did not realise that the primary function of Les Chênes was to act as a school rather than simply a remand centre and that the board would rely on the principal of the school to tell them if there were any issues.
Les Chênes was often used as a remand centre for young offenders although children on welfare orders – when children are removed from their family home due to concerns over their safety – were sometimes placed there too.
Mr Maclean admitted that children on welfare orders were not given enough consideration by the board.
‘We certainly would have been concerned for the residents if we thought there was something going wrong.
‘We relied on the principal to tell us if the needs of the residents were being met. If he didn’t tell us there was something wrong, we didn’t know there was something wrong.
‘I’m sure he was asked if there were any problems but if we were told everything was fine, then we had to accept that.’
Earlier in the hearing, Frances Oldham, chair of the inquiry, confirmed that the panel will meet with States lawyers next week to discuss the late disclosure of documents. Last month, Mrs Oldham criticised States departments, including the Law Officers’ Department, for failing to provide requested documents in time. The States and the Law Officers’ Department both denied this was the case.
The inquiry is due to resume public hearings into Operation Rectangle in early October.
