The charity’s managing director, Shaun Findlay, and chairwoman of the Jersey Care Federation, Cheryl Kenealy, have both said that the underlying issue of the lack of local care workers needs to be tackled by the States as a ‘top priority’.
Les Amis has announced that, due to a lack of available and qualified staff, they will cease to operate their community outreach and short-breaks services from the end of this month.
Mr Findlay said the decision had been a last resort.
‘This is not a decision which we have made lightly, but it was necessary in order for us to maintain the high quality of care that we pride ourselves on,’ he said.
‘We do not want to let families down by trying to provide a service we do not have sufficient staff to deliver. We have to not only think of those that use our services, but also of our staff, who have become increasingly stretched by shortages.
‘Les Amis is not the only operator in the care sector which will be facing these difficult decisions and we feel now is the time to speak publicly about what will shortly become a crisis,’ he added. ‘The government needs to make this situation their top priority as without an adequate care service for the Island’s ageing population, care is going to be compromised.’
Ms Kenealy echoed Mr Findlay’s call for action from the States.
‘It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Jersey is in this position as we were aware that the demands on the sector were going to increase, yet the government’s approach has not changed,’ she said.
‘Regulation of the industry has increased, which we welcomed, but there were no benefits or additional support to manage the impact.
‘Now we are struggling to find individuals willing to enter the sector and it’s time we put solid plans in place to address the issue and protect our future position. Attracting new employees into the care sector must become a priority for the Island, otherwise our most vulnerable people will suffer.’
A spokeswoman from the States press office said that they ‘were aware of the people affected by Les Amis’ decision’.
‘The closure of these services affects a small number of children and 12 adults,’ she said. ‘Adult social workers in Community Services will be working closely with the 12 adults affected, and their families, to ensure different care packages are put in place after 31 March. Social workers from the adult social work team in community services will be working with families to ensure people affected by this closure will continue to be supported with as little disruption as possible. Social workers from the complex-needs team in CYPES [Children, Young People, Education and Skills] will work with the affected children and their families.
‘The care given to individuals, and meeting the needs of those individuals, are the prime concerns of both Community Services and CYPES.’
The announcement from Les Amis has come in a week where the States’ director general for children, Mark Rogers, has sent an open letter explaining the need for a major recruitment campaign, entitled ‘Let’s be honest’, which seeks to address the shortage of social workers in the Island.
In addition to this campaign, the States has also said that it is supporting a programme to encourage new recruits in the care sector.
‘To help address Jersey’s need for more care professionals, a government skills programme is supporting entry-level training of new recruits to the sector – this could be career-changers, retirees or new entrants to the job market,’ a press office spokeswoman said. ‘We will continue to work with the Jersey Care Federation to support the recruitment and training of new carers to support the Island’s need.’
