THE new Council of Ministers has a ‘renewed sense of determination’ to learn from the findings of the Jersey Care Inquiry, the Chief Minister has said as she confirmed she would lead on ‘delivering on the findings’ of the 2017 report.
Deputy Kristina Moore said that responsibility for responding to the inquiry’s recommendations had been delegated away from the Chief Minister during the previous term of office but that she had ‘reversed this delegation’.
Last week, Professor Sandy Cameron – who was one of the three panel members conducting the inquiry – criticised the lack of progress made during the previous term of office in advancing the report’s recommendations.
The 2017 report laid bare a catalogue of failings within the Island’s care system, which had allowed decades of abuse to go unreported, and made eight core recommendations for the future provision of childcare in the Island.
Then Chief Minister Ian Gorst pledged to enact all of the inquiry panel’s recommendations. In a press conference on the day the report was released, the then Senator said: ‘The report warns that some children in our care “may still be at risk”. I will not rest until we have done all that we can do to change that. I accept every recommendation and pledge to build a new culture, one which puts children first every time. One child failed is one too many.’
Professor Cameron said that the same level of commitment to the inquiry’s findings did not seem to be present during the past four years under former Chief Minister John Le Fondré’s stewardship. Specifically, the inquiry panel member cited recommendations for the demolition of Greenfields and the need to build a build a sustainable workforce as not having been enacted.
Deputy Moore said: ‘Under the previous government, responsibilities for responding to the [Independent] Jersey Care Inquiry were delegated down by the Chief Minister. I have reversed this delegation and will be personally leading on a States-of-Jersey-wide commitment to delivering on the findings of the inquiry.
‘As a Council of Ministers, we have a renewed sense of determination to learn from the mistakes of the past and ensure that we deliver positive change.’
Assistant Children’s and Education Minister Louise Doublet added: ‘The inquiry identified long-standing, institutional shortcomings in the care provided for our most vulnerable children.
‘We have not, and will not, forget the findings of the inquiry. Supporting children and their families will be central to the work of this new government and we will continue to drive improvement to deliver the services that are sorely needed.’
