JERSEY’S small size and its high cost of living could be a ‘barrier’ to increasing the number of foster carers, according to a social work expert.
Sean Pontin, who was previously head of children’s social work, spoke to the JEP following a recent report from the Jersey Care Commission, which – having received a number of anonymous tip-offs – discovered failings in multiple unregistered children’s homes.
They found that three children’s homes were not fit for purpose and were operating outside the law, with problems relating to fire safety, storage of medication, the requirement to follow care plans for children and inadequately trained staff working excessive hours.
In a letter responding to the commission, Children’s and Education Minister Inna Gardiner said that there was ‘significant work being undertaken’ to ensure that the government could provide ‘loving homes’ for children, and that, since March, two more homes, which could care for up to four children, had become available.
Foster recruitment was under way, she added, with eight assessments expected to be presented to appropriate panels over the summer.
Mr Pontin said that while the foster team worked ‘as hard as they can’, it was ‘realistic’ to acknowledge that ‘the small nature of Jersey is perhaps a preclusive barrier to growing those numbers’.
He added: ‘I don’t know what the answer is, but perhaps it’s time to acknowledge that because of those barriers, it is as big as it can get and can’t be grown anymore.’
Problems experienced in the UK, he said, were felt far more ‘intensely’ in Jersey.
Mr Pontin said: ‘There is a different economy and a different geographical set-up. If you have a child or young person removed from a situation, in Jersey it can never be very far away.
‘With expensive house prices in Jersey and smaller homes, with smaller living spaces, it is certainly more difficult to open your home to children.’
He added: ‘We don’t have the same regulations as the UK with foster kids having to have their own bedrooms, because how many people have a spare room knocking around?
‘It’s best practice in the UK, whereas it’s something people would aspire to here and is not always the case. Decisions have to be made that aren’t ideal. When you’re talking about setting up children’s homes, would you be prepared to have a child you know little about sharing a room with your own child?’
Last year, the government confirmed that it had the lowest number of foster carers in a decade, with only 21, and put out an urgent call for people to come forward.
Following that campaign, 11 started their training and were expected to be ready to foster by May.
