Our strategic aims
To help people to achieve and maintain financial independence;
To provide well-targeted social benefits and support to those unable to fully support themselves;
To deliver excellent customer services.
Business Plan 2016
Financial independence
Our responsibilities:
A compulsory, contributory Social Security Insurance Scheme that receives contributions from employers, employees and general tax revenues. The scheme provides old age pensions and a range of working age benefits;
Back to Work services which provide targeted support to help people to obtain and maintain employment;
Discrimination legislation, which protects people from unfair or unequal treatment;
Employment legislation, which sets out minimum standards for good employment relations and protection in the workplace;
Health and Safety at work legislation, as well as the Health and Safety Inspectorate, to protect people in the workplace and others affected by working activities.
Projects for 2016:
Commence a major review of the Social Security Fund sustainability;
Support more customers with long-term health conditions into work;
Develop and gain approval for Age Discrimination regulations;
Begin the review of the first twelve months’ operation of Family Friendly legislation;
Seek approval for, and implement, revised regulations for the construction industry.
Social benefits
Our responsibilities:
Non-contributory means-tested benefits including Income Support;
A compulsory, contributory Health Insurance Fund (HIF) that receives contributions from employers and employees. The HIF supports the costs of GP visits and prescription drugs;
A compulsory, contributory Long Term Care scheme that receives contributions and provides a range of benefits for adults with long-term care needs.
Projects for 2016:
Review options for, and implement, improvements to the 65+ Health scheme;
Review options for, and implement if approved, a targeted Christmas Bonus scheme;
Investigate the policy and operational impacts of the re-introduction of a prescription charge;
Investigate options to support GP costs for those in low income groups.
Customer Service
Our responsibilities:
Provision of advice and guidance on benefits and contributions;
Administration of the Names and Addresses Register and the registration of individuals and businesses under the Control of Housing and Work Law.
Projects for 2016:
Review and develop online access to our services, supporting eGov and other Public Sector Reform initiatives;
Continue the development of our customer service excellence programme;
Enhance our capabilities to manage and analyse customer data;
Investigate opportunities to improve customer access to Government services.
States of Jersey Corporate Initiatives
Our responsibilities:
Delivery of agreed savings under the Medium-Term Financial Plan for 2016-19 (MTFP2);
Contribution to the development and implementation of States-wide strategies, Public Sector Reform, or other initiatives as required.
Projects for 2016:
Deliver MTFP2 savings as approved by the States in October 2015;
Design and deliver further non-benefit savings under MTFP2 for 2017 - 2019;
Support the development of a Health Charge as set out in MTFP2;
Support Work Force Modernisation initiatives;
Participate in eGov / Tax / SSD joint projects;
Provide an outplacement service for SoJ staff leaving under redundancy programmes;
Support inter-departmental work on sustainable primary health care and undertake pilot projects.