This content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost. Let us know if you find any major problems.
Text in this format is not official and should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments. Please see the PDF for the official version of the document.
WQ.67/2023
DRAFT
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT BY DEPUTY G.P. SOUTHERN OF ST. HELIER CENTRAL
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 20th FEBRUARY 2023 ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON MONDAY 27th FEBRUARY 2023
Question
“Following Oral Question 215/2021, and in the light of the current recruitment and retention difficulties experienced in the care sector, will the Minister indicate whether, in consultation with the Care Commissioner, he will prepare a report on the potential impact of the adoption of the terms and conditions contained in the Jersey Ethical Care Charter for Homecare, as agreed by the States through adoption of P.48/2017 but never delivered by previous Ministers?”
Answer
This Government, in liaison with the Privileges and Procedures Committee, will undertake an exercise to review outstanding Propositions from previous States Assembly decisions to determine how best to progress them or to return them to the Assembly.
In relation to the Ethical Care Charter, in November 2022, the Jersey Care Commission (JCC) produced a report on ‘Addressing challenges and risks in social care.’ Amongst other challenges, this report discussed the JCC’s findings on the issues that regulated care providers, including home care providers, are facing in recruiting and retaining care staff. The evidence relied on by the JCC was obtained in carrying out its usual regulatory and inspection responsibilities; from engagement events with the sector; and the results of a sector-wide survey of 120 care providers and adult social care managers.
The JCC made seven recommendations in the report, including recommendations that the Government should review some areas of policy that impact on the recruitment and retention of care workers.
As set out in the Minister for Health and Social Services’ 2023 Ministerial Plan, the Minister will commence work across the Council of Ministers to agree a whole-island workforce strategy which will set out how the Government will work to address barriers to recruitment and retention, including for the home care workforce.
While this important work is ongoing and as the JCC has recently produced a thorough report on the current issues affecting the care sector, I do not intend to request either that it directly undertakes or assists me to undertake any further reports to address these matters at this stage.