Childrens Services: Care Commission Report: Assessment update request

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A decision made on 5 September 2019

Ministerial decision reference : MD-C-2019-0108
Decision summary title: Independent Inspection of Children’s Services – Article 38 Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014
Decision summary author	Assistant Director- Policy and Ministerial Support – Health and Social Services	Is the decision summary public or exempt?		Public
Report title: Independent Inspection of Children’s Services – Article 38 Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014
Report author or name of person giving report	Assistant Director- Policy and Ministerial Support – Health and Social Services	Is the report public or exempt?		Public
Decision and reason for the decision In 2018, the Care Commission, at the request of the Chief Minister, prepared a Report in respect of Children’s Services. The Chief Minister requested, in accordance with Article 38 of the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014, a further report from the Care Commission on Children’s Services that offers an updated assessment by an external independent agency. This further report should address the concerns expressed in the report entitled ‘Making a Difference Driving Improvement’ (September 2018), which set out the findings and recommendations of the first Ofsted-led inspection of social work services for children and young people in Jersey. The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry recommended independent inspection arrangements of children’s services that will have the confidence of children, staff and the wider public. In order to provide independent oversight, the Chief Minister has once again requested the Jersey Care Commission, which is itself an arms-length body, to lead on commissioning independent inspectors to undertake the necessary work. This will include the Care Commission determining relevant matters, including scope, timeframe and schedule for inspections, as well as the external inspection agency to be used.
Resource implications: There will be additional resources required during 2019 to enable the Care Commission to contract independent external inspectors to complete the required inspections, which will be requested once the scope has been determined by the Commission.
Action required Chief Minister to write to the Care Commission to request the required report.
Signature			Position Senator John Le Fondre Chief Minister
Date signed			Effective date of the decision

Childrens Services: Care Commission Report: Assessment update request

Independent Inspection of Children’s Services – Article 38 Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014

In 2018, the Care Commission, at the request of the Chief Minister, prepared a report in respect of Children’s Services. The Chief Minister requested, in accordance with Article 38 of the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014, a further report from the Care Commission on Children’s Services that offers an updated assessment by an external independent agency. This further report should address the concerns expressed in the report entitled ‘Making a Difference Driving Improvement’ (September 2018), which set out the findings and recommendations of the first Ofsted-led inspection of social work services for children and young people in Jersey.

The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry recommended independent inspection arrangements of children’s services that will have the confidence of children, staff and the wider public. In order to provide independent oversight, the Chief Minister has once again requested the Jersey Care Commission, which is itself an arms-length body, to lead on commissioning independent inspectors to undertake the necessary work. This will include the Care Commission determining relevant matters, including scope, timeframe and schedule for inspections, as well as the external inspection agency to be used.