Independent review of Children's Homes

The Government of Jersey has invited the Independent Children’s Homes Association (ICHA) to review the Island’s residential children’s homes from next month. 

The organisation represents about 70% of all providers of residential care in England. 

 

The Chief Executive of the Independent Children’s Homes Association, Peter Sandiford, recently presented to the House of Commons Education Committee the impact of COVID-19 on education and Children’s Services. 

Mr Sandiford, who was in residential care for a period prior to being adopted, said: “I very much welcome this opportunity to share our knowledge and understanding of residential childcare with Jersey with the aim of jointly further developing their current services. 

“This is a unique opportunity both for ICHA and Jersey’s Children’s Services to plan together how best to meet the needs of  Jersey’s children and we are proud and humbled to be invited to be a part of this.”

There are eight children’s homes and two short break homes in Jersey and there are currently 26 children receiving short breaks and 21 children and young people who live in the residential homes.
 
Liz Cooper,the ICHA’s deputy chief executive will conduct the review of Jersey’s residential homes during August and September. 

Children’s Minister Senator Sam Mézec said: “I look forward to welcoming The Independent Children’s Homes Association to the Island next month as part of our commitment in ensuring that our services for children and young people will meet the highest standards.
 
“The decision to engage The Independent Children’s Homes Association is in-keeping with the intention to continue to improve services, with the help of independent experts, with no direct involvement in the delivery of care or support to children and young people in Jersey. They will visit all the individual children’s homes and we are inviting recommendations from them to help us to ensure that we give the best possible care to the children and the young people who live or have short breaks in the homes. 

"The service is open to further development and recognises that inviting an independent organisation like ICHA to complete this will be helpful in developing our service to ensure that the best possible standards are achieved.”