JERSEY’S former prison governor has been appointed as the new chief executive of an independent organisation which works alongside Islanders with experience of the care system.
Susie Richardson was yesterday announced as chief executive for Jersey Cares, six months after resigning from her role at HMP La Moye citing “frustration” with government processes and policies preventing improvement.
After a 24-year career in the criminal-justice system, Ms Richardson is replacing Jersey Cares founder Carly Glover, who spent seven years in the role and who will now act as an adviser for the charity, which offers advocacy, activities and opportunities to Islanders with experience of the care system.
A statement from the charity noted Ms Richardson’s “collaborative approach to leadership” and “proven track record” of delivery.
“Susie brings a wealth of experience in working with people from a range of different backgrounds in both voluntary and professional capacities,” it said.
Ms Richardson received a long-service medal from Government House in September.
The charity added: “Susie is a relentless advocate for openness and transparency and is committed to ensuring that Jersey Cares supports this approach for children and adults for whom the state is, or has been, the ‘parent’.”
Ms Richardson commented: “A big part of my work over the last 24 years has been to have ‘a voice’ for those who are locked up, some of whom will never have had a legitimate voice or loyal advocate giving them a voice.
“Having a voice in the world has come to be one of the things that I value above all else. I know that when I am ‘not heard’, I become angry, frustrated, anxious, and stressed. It brings out the worst in me and this has given me real insight into experiences of people who may always, or often, feel unheard or misunderstood.”
Ms Glover said she was “so pleased” with Ms Richardson’s appointment.
She added: “I couldn’t overstate the kindness and concern of such a wide range of people locally towards children in care. Jersey Cares, as a locally rooted and supported organisation, trusted by many with lived experience of care and connected to expert peers elsewhere, has been and can continue to be a catalyst for high ambitions for children in care and for these to be realised.”
Ms Richardson was formerly deputy governor of Winchester Prison and was appointed to her role in Jersey in 2021 to bring prison services up to date.
During her time, she led a group of colleagues – from La Moye Prison and from the Probation Service – to Norway to learn from jails with some of the best rehabilitation results in the world. She also began a campaign of public engagement and gave inmates more responsibility in prison council meetings to make real changes to their inside environment and to give them a voice.
However, she resigned after three-and-a-half years citing a “fear” of issues she raised not being “gripped” sufficiently.
