Government of Jersey

Chief Executive Officer’s Chamber of Commerce speech (FOI)

Produced by the Freedom of Information office
Authored by States of Jersey and published on 14 September 2018.
Prepared internally, no external costs.

Request

Please can you supply me with the following information...

On 21 February 2018, the States of Jersey CEO Charlie Parker revealed some information regarding how some children live in Jersey in his guest speech at the Jersey Chamber lunch, this information included:

there were around 300 school children who came from families unable to give them breakfast or buy them school uniforms
about half that number were not properly taught on how to use a toilet
children are arriving at school covered in rat bites

Please can you tell me what reliable information he had in order to state these facts within his speech, and where he got this information from?

Can you also confirm what Charlie Parker has done to address these issues since raising them in February 2018?

Response

A and B

When the Chief Executive was speaking to the Chamber of Commerce, he summarised information from a variety of sources, including officials in the former Education Department and Social Services, and the Children’s Commissioner. The former Education Department’s figures show that more than 500 children attend school breakfast clubs – higher than the figures initially provided to Mr Parker. Some places are paid for by parents, and others are funded by charities or schools, but the department does not maintain a central list that distinguishes the two. As to the issue of toilet training, it is an issue that has been noted by some schools with nurseries attached.

A previous FOI request on rat bites can be found at the following link:

Chamber of Commerce lunch - discussion on child welfare (FOI)

Government is working hard to ensure that all children and young people in Jersey are provided with the best quality of care, protection and support. This includes the Chief Minister creating a new Ministry including responsibility for children, and a new Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills with a newly appointed Director General to lead the Department.

The below links provide some examples of the work that is taking place:

6 September 2018

Government launches Children’s Pledge

6 September 2018

An Inspection of The States of Jersey Children’s Social Work Service

18 July 2018

New plan to tackle failings in Jersey’s care for children and young people

3 July 2018

Senator Sam Mézec appointed as first Minister for Children and Housing

3 July 2018

Statement from the Children's Commissioner on first anniversary of Care Inquiry

1 May 2018