25 November 2016
Recruitment is underway for two independent members to join a newly formed panel that will decide the place of detention for anyone aged 17 or under who is remanded in custody or sentenced.
The Children & Young People’s Placement Panel must ensure that the best interests of children and young people are the paramount consideration when making a placement decision. Young offenders can be detained in Greenfields Secure Children’s Home or the Young Offenders Institute at HMP La Moye, or they can be transferred to a suitable facility in the UK.
The Panel will consist of five or six members. The two independent members, who will work on a voluntary basis, must have a proven track record of working with children and young people.
The Home Affairs Minister, Deputy Kristina Moore, is responsible for overseeing the appointments and for ensuring that there is a mix of members. This should include: representatives from the Probation Service, the Education Department, and the Health and Social Services Department; independent members who work for, or have worked for, organisations that provide services or support to children aged 17 or under. This could include paid staff or volunteers from a relevant charity, community organisation or commercial organisation.
Panel members will be appointed for a three-year term and will be expected to participate in Panel meetings and training or information sessions. Meetings will be held whenever a child is remanded in custody or given a custodial sentence.
Deputy Moore said “This new panel will have a central role in deciding where young offenders are placed. The role of the panel is crucial, as it will not only have to consider the best interests of the offender but also those of other children detained or accommodated in the same facility.”
The closing date for applications is 11 December 2016.
Job details for Children and Young Persons Placement Panel: Independent Members
gov.je