A “CRITICAL shortage” of residential homes, foster carers and qualified staff risks “poor long-term outcomes” for children in Jersey’s care system, a new report has warned.
The government’s latest Corporate Parenting Board Annual Report classifies the absence of key infrastructure across Jersey as posing a “Tier 1 risk” to children’s welfare – the highest level on the government’s corporate risk register.
In the report, it is further noted that a depleted care system might lead to “significant societal costs” for the Island more broadly.
However, it refers positively to a “strategic improvement plan” endorsed in July 2025 that aims to reshape Jersey’s residential care system.
The five-year-programme has already garnered an initial £7.5m investment with a further £12.6 million allocated for the years 2026-29.
One new facility opened in early 2025, while additional homes were scheduled for delivery at the end of last year.
It notes: “Residential capacity is increasing, and the fostering service now supports 29 foster homes and seven connected carers.
“Performance has improved significantly, with timely support visits to foster parents [and] governance of the fostering panel has been strengthened.”
While the recruitment of residential staff is described as “challenging”, the report says campaigns to fill the gap via “unqualified staff” and “block agency contracts” are under way.
The annual report further showed that, by the end of 2025, 96% of care leavers were living in what is deemed suitable accommodation, and more than half were living independently – an improvement on the previous year.
Education outcomes have also improved, with 62.3% of care leavers now in education, employment or training, up from 52.3%.
Health services have seen progress, with 77% of children in care receiving timely health assessments by April 2025, up from 59% the previous year.
However, the document concludes that further work is essential, stressing that “there remains much work to do” to improve outcomes for children in care and those leaving the system.
Children’s Minister Richard Vibert said: “Corporate parenting is much more than a legal duty.
“It is a shared promise that we will treat every child in our care with the same care, attention and ambition that we would want for our own children.”
