Jersey Care Commission:Extend the Appointment of Commissioners

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A decision made 7 May 2020:

Ministerial decision reference: MD-C-2020-0037
Decision summary title: To extend the appointment of the Commissioners of the Jersey Care Commission for a further term of office
Decision summary author	Head of Governance, Department for Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance	Is the decision summary public or exempt?		Public
Report title: Decision to extend the appointment of the Commissioners of the Jersey Care Commission for a further term of office
Report author or name of person giving report	Head of Governance, Department for Strategic Policy, Planning and Performance	Is the report public or exempt?		Public
Decision and reason for the decision The Chief Minister decided to extend the appointment of the Commissioners of the Jersey Care Commission for a further term of office. In pursuance of Schedule 2, Section 3 of the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014 (the “2014 Law”), the Chair of the Jersey Care Commission has nominated three of the currently serving Commissioners for a further term of office. The Chief Minister is required by instrument in writing to appoint the persons so nominated as Commissioners and specify the term of appointment of each Commissioner, which shall be not less than 3 and not more than 5 years. A person may be appointed more than once. The Chief Minister approved a further term of office of three years for Alison Allam and Siân Walker-McAllister as Commissioners of the Jersey Care Commission, until 10 May 2023. The Chief Minister approved a further term of office of three years for Lisa Jacobs as a Commissioner of the Jersey Care Commission for a further three years until 30 June 2023. Further, the Chief Minister approved the extension of Ann Abraham until 10 November 2020; a total term of office of 3.5 years. In accordance with the requirements of the 2014 Law, this decision has been noted by the Jersey Appointments Commission.
Resource implications The Commissioners will receive £5,000 per annum, for full participation in the statutory functions of the Jersey Care Commission. The time commitment will be no less than 16 days per annum. As per P.95/2014, the costs associated with Care Commission are met partly from fee income.
Action required The Chair of the Jersey Care Commission to inform the Commissioners.
Signature			Position Senator John Le Fondré, Chief Minister

Date signed			Effective date of the decision

Jersey Care Commission: Commissioners - Extension of Appointment

Report to the States

Title: Decision to extend the appointment of the Commissioners of the Jersey Care Commission for a further term of office

Introduction

In 2017 the Chief Minister appointed Alison Allam, Siân Walker-McAllister, Lisa Jacobs and Ann Abraham to be Commissioners of the Health and Social Care Commission (the “Care Commission”) for an initial term of 3 years.

In pursuance of Schedule 2, Section 3 of the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014 (the “2014 Law”), the Chair of the Jersey Care Commission has nominated three of the currently serving Commissioners for a further term of office.

The Chief Minister is required by instrument in writing to appoint the persons so nominated as Commissioners and specify the term of appointment of each Commissioner, which shall be not less than 3 and not more than 5 years. A person may be appointed more than once.

The Chief Minister has approved a further term of office of three years for Alison Allam and Siân Walker-McAllister as Commissioners of the Jersey Care Commission, until 10 May 2023.

The Chief Minister has approved a further term of office of three years for Lisa Jacobs as a Commissioner of the Jersey Care Commission for a further three years until 30 June 2023.

Further, the Chief Minister has approved the extension of Ann Abraham until 10 November 2020; a total term of office of 3.5 years.

Background to the Care Commission

The 2014 Law provides for the establishment of the Care Commission. The functions of the Care Commission, which are conferred on it by the 2014 Law, include –

serving of improvement notices on registered health and social care providers or managers
preparation and publication of standards for compliance with requirements imposed by Regulations
carrying out inspections of any regulated activity at such interviews as specified in Regulations.

Matters relating to appointments of Commissioners

The Care Commission is established under Article 35 and Schedule 2 of the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014 (the “2014 Law”). Article 35 states –

“35 Establishment of Health and Social Care Commission

(1) There shall be a Health and Social Care Commission.

(2) The Commission shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession.

(3) The Commission shall consist of not less than 4 and not more than 8 Commissioners.

(4) The States may by Regulations amend, in paragraph (3), the minimum and maximum number of Commissioners.

(5) Schedule 2 has effect regarding the appointment of the Commissioners, the discharge of the functions of the Commission, and the resources and funding of the Commission.”.

Schedule 2, paragraph 2(2), of the 2014 Law requires that –

“(2) The Chief Minister shall, after consulting with the Council of Ministers –

(a) select and appoint, by instrument in writing, a person to be a Commissioner and the Chairman of the Commission; and

(b) decide the duration of that person’s appointment as a Commissioner and Chairman.”.

The 2014 Law further requires, under Schedule 2, paragraph 2(4), that –

“(4) The Chief Minister shall, at least 2 weeks before making the appointment under sub-paragraph (2), present to the States a notice of his or her selection and the intention to make the appointment.”.

When the Chairman has been appointed, he must then select and nominate not less than 3 and not more than 7 persons to be the other Commissioners. Article 35(3) of the 2014 Law prescribes that –

“(3) The Commission shall consist of not less than 4 and not more than 8 Commissioners.”.

In accordance with the requirements of the 2014 Law, the original selection process was overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission. The appointments conformed with the legal requirements of the 2014 Law with regard to skills, knowledge and experience (as set out in Schedule 2, paragraph 3(2)) and disqualifications for appointment (as set out in Schedule 2, paragraph 4). The Jesrey Appointments Commission was also consulted on the extension of Commissioners for a further term of office.

Financial and resource implications

The Commissioners will receive £5,000 per annum, for full participation in the statutory functions of the Jersey Care Commission. The time commitment will be no less than 16 days per annum.

As per P.95/2014, the costs associated with Care Commission are met partly from fee income.

Short biography:

Alison Allam

Dr Alison Allam is a health and social care researcher. Alison’s areas of interest are patient and public involvement and policy and practice developments for disabled and older people. Recent research using mixed methods approaches has focused on the lived experiences of adults with chronic illness.

Alison holds two Master’s degrees, in disability studies (Leeds University), and in social policy (University of York). In 2016, she completed a PhD in social policy and social work (University of York); her thesis focused on the meaning of independence for older people using support services.

Until April 2017, Alison was a member of NICE’s quality standards advisory committee. Currently, she is a panel member of several health, public health and social care research funding programmes including NIHR’s (National Institute of Health Research) Health Services and Delivery Research and the Research for Patient Benefit.

Alison grew up in Jersey, and currently lives in York, but often returns to visit family and friends.

Ann Abraham

Ann Abraham was Parliamentary Ombudsman for the UK and Health Service Ombudsman for England from 2002 to 2011. During her time as Ombudsman she published a number of high profile reports that identified failings in health and social care including the care of older people and people with learning disabilities.

From 2004 to 2017 Ann was Chair of Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, which provides community and mental health services across Dorset.

Ann’s earlier career was spent in local and central government in England. She was Chief Executive of the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux (now Citizens Advice) from 1991 to 1997 and Legal Services Ombudsman for England and Wales from 1997 to 2002. Ann served on the Committee on Standards in Public Life from 2000 to 2002.

Ann was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law by the University of Winchester in 2012 and an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by the University of Bournemouth in 2018.

Ann is currently a Trustee of the Dorset Mental Health Forum and a Pro-Chancellor with Bournemouth University.

Lisa Jacobs

Lisa Jacobs was born in Jersey and has lived all her life in the Island. Lisa is a mother of two boys and is a carer for her eldest son, a teenager with complex needs.

Lisa knows from first-hand experience that families encounter a whole range of barriers when trying to secure the best possible care for their loved ones. Consequently, she is actively involved in initiatives that support individuals with special needs and their families, including being a former committee member of SNAP; the Special Needs Advisory Panel and the Education Department’s Parent Carer Forum Jersey.

Lisa is passionate about improving both local health and social care services for all islanders as Care is vital for everyone. As a local Commissioner, Lisa ensures the Commission understands daily life from a carer’s perspective, what the needs and expectations are from services providers and more importantly she ensures the voices of local services users, carers and their families are heard.

Siân Walker-McAllister

Siân Walker-McAllister works as an Independent Chair of two Safeguarding Adults Boards for Lambeth in London and for Devon. She is also the Independent Chair of the Bath & NE Somerset Community Safety & Safeguarding Partnership.

A former Director of Health and Social Care in the UK, Siân has over 40 years’ experience of working in social care in London, the South-West of England and in Wales, for local authorities and the supported housing sector. Siân has worked across Children’s and Adults’ social care and also has a wealth of experience in non-executive director roles within local authorities, the NHS, Housing Associations and the Voluntary Sector.

A registered Social Worker, Siân is driven by a passion for ensuring all services to people needing care and support are person-centred, easy to access and importantly promote independence, while ensuring people are safe.