Barnardo’s is to use the money from the States over two years to improve local services and to make them more responsive to the needs of Islanders aged between five and 18 who are in residential care in or away from the Island.
The charity will recruit a project worker to lead the new work along with ‘participation champions’ across social work teams to encourage a different approach to their work.
Part of the project worker’s job will be to ensure that young people are included in the recruitment and induction of staff and involved in developing job descriptions.
It is also hoped they will play a part in staff evaluations and training.
A Children in Care Council will also be established under the scheme where children from residential and foster care will come together to represent other looked after children and young people.
Nick Cook, Barnardo’s team manager in Jersey, said: ‘We hope to work with up to a hundred children and young people each year through groups, online consultations and in children’s homes.
‘Their contributions will help to strengthen social work and make it more effective and responsive as a result of sharing their own views and experiences.’
Mr Cook said the scheme would also help young people understand why certain decisions had been made.
He added: ‘Barnardo’s has managed similar services elsewhere which have taught new skills to children and young people and boosted their self-esteem, giving them a louder voice and more choice when taking part in discussions which affect their life.’
Find out more about Barnardo’s Plan B here
James Clarke, Jersey’s head of service for looked after children, said Barnardo’s had a reputation of delivering an ‘excellent service to vulnerable children’.
He added: ‘The participation officer based in Barnardo’s will operate independently of social care managers and staff, but will work with all relevant professionals, particularly those such as the independent visitors and independent reviewing officers.
‘This will set in place a range of avenues for our looked after children to tell us when we get it right and also to appropriately and effectively raise issues when they think we could do better.’
To find out more call Barnardo’s Plan B on 510546 or email nick.cook@barnardos.org.uk
