Audit of Children's Services report (FOI)

Request

In May/June 2015, a child social care consultant and former Ofsted inspector called Mary Varley conducted an audit of Jersey's Children's Services department, which has never been published.

At the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 the former Interim Head of Children's Services, Josephine Olsson, said Mary Varley's report was a "devastating" assessment of Children's Services.

The report has, apparently, never been published.

In line with other reports of its kind, such as Serious Case Reviews, would the States please, given the clear overriding public interest, release the Mary Varley report.

In line with Serious Case reviews, it would of course be necessary and acceptable for the States to redact the report to avoid identifying individuals.

Response

The former Interim Director for Children’s Services, Jo Olsson, commissioned a review of Children’s Services between May and July 2015. The review by Mary Varley included the examination of a small sample of cases representing approximately 3.5% of the total case-load at the time. The intention was to provide a snapshot covering the effectiveness of services at that point, when a draft improvement plan had already been brought in.

The recommendations made in the Varley Report provided a launchpad for further change. Progress is monitored closely by the Service Improvement Board, which is chaired by the Chief Minister, Senator Ian Gorst, and includes the Minister for Health and Social Services, Senator Andrew Green, among its members. This process has been underpinned by key permanent appointments made recently within Children’s Services, which will serve to drive the improvement agenda.

Download the Independent audit of the quality of front line practice and management - phase 1 (246kb)

Download the Independent audit of the quality of front line practice and management - phase 2 (245kb)

Download the Independent audit of the quality of front line practice and management - phase 3 (313kb)

Download the Independent audit of the quality of front line practice and management - phase 4 (319kb)

The reports have been redacted under Article 25 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 to remove information that could potentially lead to the identification of individuals.