“CRITICAL” refurbishments of the Island’s secure children’s unit – due to be completed later this year – are “progressing in accordance with the plan”, according to the Children’s Minister.
Constable Richard Vibert said that the work, which was scheduled to take place over 2025 and 2026, was being carefully monitored to ensure any delays are mitigated “where possible”.
Plans for a “long-term refurbishment” of the Greenfields facility emerged last year, with funding also set aside to enable “initial improvements” and carry out “essential works”.
This includes refurbished bedrooms and secure doors, upgraded security facilities and extended family space, as well as upgrading the external recreational space.
In an update this week, Mr Vibert said: “The critical refurbishment work to Greenfields was scheduled to take place over 2025 and 2026.
“This work is progressing in accordance with the plan and is not therefore yet complete as it is not scheduled for completion until later in 2026.”
The minister continued: “The critical refurbishment work to take place in phase one of the Greenfields plan involves large scale refurbishment of a complex secure facility.
“It requires specialist equipment such as doors, windows and security equipment that need to be made specifically for a secure unit and therefore have long lead in times.”
But Mr Vibert noted that refurbishment of the site’s external courtyard area had been completed and that internal works were due to start “imminently”, adding that “all equipment has been made and shipped to the Island”.
“We are mindful of the need to progress this work with pace to ensure that we have the best facilities to care for young people.
“Planning is carefully overseen by the improvement board to ensure it remains on track, and any delays are mitigated where possible.
“However, as you might expect, as with any secure facility, the completion of refurbishment work is dependent on balancing the needs of the young people in the home against the safety planning around the essential work that needs to take place.”
