A COMMITMENT to improve standards for some of Jersey’s most vulnerable people has lain dormant for almost a decade, it has emerged.
The Health Minister confirmed that “no work has been undertaken” to develop or implement a Jersey Ethical Care Charter – despite politicians agreeing to the principle of the charter in 2017.
Deputy Tom Binet was responding to a written answer to a question from Deputy Geoff Southern, who asked what progress had been made since the States adopted his proposition in 2017, which set out a proposed charter aimed at improving conditions for homecare workers and the quality of care provided in people’s homes.
In response, Deputy Binet confirmed: “No work has been undertaken in relation to the development and implementation of a Jersey Ethical Care Charter since I became Minister for Health and Social Services due to other priorities.”
He added that issues around recruitment and retention in the health and care workforce – including in the domiciliary care sector, which was the focus of the charter – would instead be considered by the Health and Care Jersey Partnership Board at some point in the future.
“I look forward to receiving their recommendations on workforce matters,” he said.
The proposition to develop a local version of the UK Ethical Care Charter was backed by politicians in 2017.
The charter set out 11 core standards for homecare, including moving away from rushed, task-based visits, avoiding 15-minute calls, paying carers for travel time, limiting the use of zero-hour contracts, ensuring sick pay and training, and promoting continuity of care by allocating the same workers to clients wherever possible.
The proposition also asked ministers to require approved homecare providers to sign up to the charter and to bring forward legislation to make compliance a regulatory requirement.
In 2018, the Health Department launched a public consultation to gather views from care users, families, providers and workers on what should be included in the Jersey Ethical Care Charter.
Respondents were asked to comment on each of the proposed charter commitments – from fair pay and training to safeguarding procedures and continuity of care – and to suggest any additional protections.
