The consultation is the first project launched by the new Children’s Commissioner appointed in the wake of the damning Independent Jersey Care Inquiry report.
The role is designed to support and champion children’s rights and bridge the gap between the Island’s young people and government.
As part of the consultation, questions have been specifically tailored to three different age groups – three to seven, seven to 11 and 11 to 18.
They include asking whether they feel adults listen to children enough, what they like and dislike about school and whether they feel safe at school.
Deborah McMillan took on the role of Children’s Commissioner earlier this year and has been tasked with developing the legal framework for her job as well as setting the key priorities for her to focus on.
As well as the surveys, Mrs McMillan and her team will also be meeting groups of children to get further input, while there is a further consultation aimed at adults who work with young people.
After the consultation is completed on Friday 16 March, a strategic plan outlining the aim of the Children’s Commissioner’s Office for the next three years will be published.
Mrs McMillan’s appointment as Children’s Commissioner marked the first major step towards implementing the inquiry’s eight core recommendations.
The commissioner has also launched a competition for children to design the logo for her office, with the winner receiving £200 worth of vouchers and each school that takes part receiving learning resources.
Mrs McMillan said: ‘We want to make sure that the areas we focus on are the areas that are of the greatest concern to children and young people – especially those children and young people who might not normally have a voice, or have an opportunity to have a say on issues that affect them.
‘We need them to tell us what we should be prioritising.
‘We also want to make sure that our office reflects input from children and young people in all areas of our work – so we want children to design our logo for us. I have already spoken to some schoolchildren about this competition during my school visits and they were very excited, so I’m hoping we get a really good response.’
The winning logo design will be included on all Children’s Commissioner publicity materials.
lThe consultation surveys are available online from 19 February – 16 March and can be accessed via the following links:
*smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ages3-7/
*smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ages7-11/
*smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ages11-18/
*smartsurvey.co.uk/s/adultsprofessionals/
Surveys are also available in Polish and Portuguese, and can be accessed by contacting the Children’s Commissioner’s Office.
*The logo competition is open to all children aged 18 years and under. The closing date for entries is Friday 9 March. Designs should be sent to: The Office of the Children’s Commissioner, 2nd Floor 23 Hill Street, St Helier JE2 4UA or by email to D.McMillan@gov.je.
