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WQ.5/2023
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR CHILDREN AND EDUCATION BY DEPUTY C.D . CURTIS OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 16th JANUARY 2023 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 23rd JANUARY 2023
Question
Will the Minister advise –
- whether she will engage with the Jersey Care Commission to clarify why the requirements imposed on standards for child contact centres should exceed those in place in the UK for unsupervised contact; and
- whether, in light of the recently publicised impact on Milli’s Child Contact Centre (the “Centre”), what support, if any, she or her department are considering for the Centre, or similar centres, to ensure the continuation of their services?
Answer
- As the Minister for Children and Education is responsible for services that are regulated and inspected by the Jersey Care commission (JCC), it would not be appropriate for the Minister to become actively involved in discussion with the JCC about standards that are in place. The Minister notes that the JCC undertook a process of consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including Milli’s Separated Family Centre and that the manager of Milli’s provided feedback in response to the consultation and met with representatives of the Commission to set out their concerns. All of these concerns were considered in detail by the JCC and an amended set of draft Standards relating to child contact centres was provided.
The JCC would be happy to meet with Deputy Curtis to provide clarification on how their standards compare with those of the National Association of Child Contact Centres, who accredit and inspect about 350 child contact services throughout England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Guernsey.
- The Minister notes the commitment of the Jersey Care Commission to continue to work with Milli’s Separated Family Centre to support them in their understanding of the requirements and to ensure that they can continue to function. The Minister is aware that any child contact centres will have 6 months to register and will be inspected within 12 months and it is usual practice for the JCC to help organisations with registration when requested. The JCC intention is to always work collaboratively with regulated services.
Child Contact Centres provide a much-needed service and the absence of any centre in Jersey would have a detrimental impact on families and children. If required, I will liaise with the Minister for Home Affairs and the Jersey Family Court Advisory Service, to see if another provider is willing to set up a registered service.