A RESIDENTIAL home for vulnerable children had “the worst aspects of a prison” until recently, according to the chief executive of a local care organisation.
Jersey Cares head Susie Richardson said she fully supported a multi-million pound increase in funding earmarked for Children’s Services in the government’s proposed Budget.
The government plans to provide an extra £7.6 million of funding next year, on top of a further £12 million to fund new and improved residential care facilities, such as Greenfields, for the Island’s looked-after children.
The proposed increase will raise the total expenditure for Children’s Services to £58 million, if politicians agree.
Greenfields provides secure accommodation aged ten to 17, who may be on remand or the subject of secure-accommodation orders made by the Royal Court.
Ahead of the 2026-2029 Budget debate on 9 December, Ms Richardson said in a submission to the Children, Education and Home Affairs panel, that Jersey Cares has “significant concerns” about the current state of Greenfields.
She said the facility “has neither been a place where people feel at home nor safe”.
Ms Richardson wrote: “Based on our meetings with young people and published reviews, we have significant concerns about conditions at Greenfields.
“Until recently, it felt like the worst aspects of a prison—without the safety benefits—due to the building’s fabric and certain internal processes.”
A former prison governor, Ms Richardson went on to explain her satisfaction that the improvement plan aimed to provide “proper” outdoor and learning spaces for children “confined in a closed home”.
The £12m of funding is broken down into £2.3m next year, £2.1m in 2027, £2.9m in 2028, and £4.7 in 2029.
The initial funding will also deliver a new residential care facility in the north of St Helier next year and enable other improvements to be made at Oakside House.
Praising the proposed funding boost, Ms Richardson said these planned projects were “critical to addressing persistent shortcomings for children in care”.
She added: “As a provider of Independent Advocacy for children in care and care leavers, [Jersey Cares] fully support the proposed increase in revenue and capital funding for children’s services.
“Provided there is robust oversight of spending and delivery of outcomes, these
projects … are likely to have a positive impact on Islanders and Island life in the short,
medium, and long term, committing to a strategic and sustainable solution over
the next five years.”
Separately, planning permission was granted in September to change the three-bedroom staff accommodation Oakside House at Greenfields into an emergency refuge unit which could house up to two children and one carer.
In 2017, the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry recommended that Greenfields be demolished as part of its highly critical report on the Island’s care system dating back to 1945.
