31 July 2023
The Government has published the Crisis Resilience Improvement Plan (CRIP), which
was a recommendation of the Independent COVID-19 Review, and the Health Protection Review (HPR). This follows a comprehensive review conducted following the COVID-19
pandemic and recent major incidents that have challenged the Island’s resilience.
Crisis Resilience Improvement Plan (CRIP)
Suzanne Wylie, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Public Service, said: “Jersey has had its
resilience tested in recent years. Reviewing our response to these challenges, learning from
them and building that learning into our future planning arrangements is essential. This
Improvement Plan has been developed following the independent review of the Island’s
response to COVID-19, but also includes some early learning from more recent incidents.”
The Emergency Planning and Public Health teams have worked together, drawing on
activity underway and completed in their areas which is relevant to ‘crisis resilience
improvement’. Within the plan is a detailed response to each Independent COVID
Review recommendation, setting out what has been achieved so far and what is
planned for each action, alongside reflections on the recent major incidents, and the
development of the new Community Risk Register and Civil Contingences Law.
Minister for Home Affairs, Deputy Helen Miles, commented: “The Crisis Resilience
Improvement Plan is a multifaceted approach designed to learn from our experiences and
enhance our preparedness for future. We have responded to the recommendations of the
Independent COVID-19 Review, and identified key areas where improvements are needed
to ensure our resilience, reinforce our emergency response capabilities and enhance our
crisis communication strategies.”
Health Protection Review (HPR)
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, it was determined that a review of current health
protection practices in the Island was needed to understand the strengths and
weaknesses.
The HPR was conducted through a series of semi-structured interviews with colleagues
from across the Government, taking place between January and May 2022.
Interviewees were asked about strengths and limitations of their current practice as
well as ideas for development of their function and their experience of the system as a
whole.
The review found significant strengths in Jersey but also 30 recommendations for
improvement, including the need to develop a Health Protection Partnership to
provide support, co-ordination, and strategic direction for government departments,
and the need to update the Public Health Law from 1934.
Director of Public Health, Professor Peter Bradley, said: “It is good to see that we have
strengths in the way our health protection system operates. This review, along with the
CRIP, will help Public Health Jersey and the wider Government of Jersey understand
how we can better deliver services and focus on those areas that need improvement.”
gov.je