Chief Minister John Le Fondré has signed a ministerial decision authorising amendments to the Control of Housing and Work Law to encourage recruitment and retention of staff in sectors that typically have had difficulties attracting workers.
The changes – which come at a time when there are numerous nursing and social work posts being advertised – mean that organisations who employ registered people aged 16 to 26 who are the child of a midwife, nurse or social worker or who are the child of a co-habiting partner of such a member of staff will not require a licence for them. Prior to the changes, such individuals were restricted in the job market unless an employer could make a case for a licence for them.
The report accompanying the ministerial decision says that an increasing number of people from outside Jersey have been offered a job in the sectors but have not taken them because of a concern about their children finding work.
It says: ‘Subject to conditions, the employment of such a person will be disregarded for the purpose of determining the maximum number of registered persons who may work for an undertaking.
‘Evidence suggests that an increasing number of people from outside the Island, who have been offered employment in essential local service areas such as Children’s Social Services, are not accepting these offers due to the lack of certainty about the ability of their children (who are not in compulsory education) to gain suitable employment in Jersey. The amendment to the order is intended to provide a solution to this issue.’
Earlier this year a freedom of information request revealed that 50% of registered social workers in post in Jersey are agency staff, costing the States almost £2 million a year. As of February there were 24 social worker posts filled by agency staff compared to 23 permanent employees. If those posts were filled by permanent staff the cost would be £1,505,040, including overheads such as employer pension and social security contributions.
The States also announced that they are to launch a major recruitment drive to try to increase the number of permanent social workers to reduce the reliance on temporary and agency staff, with the measures to include a new local degree course at Highlands College. Staff from the Children, Young People, Education and Skills Department were also due to attend recruitment fairs in the UK in the next few months to try to attract permanent staff.
Current vacancies being advertised on gov.je include social workers, bank-registered nurses, midwives and operating department practitioners, a staff nurse for Corbière Ward, senior staff nurses and a junior sister for Rayner Ward, a senior staff nurse for Robin Ward and two staff nurses for the emergency department.
