Health and Care Jersey Advisory Board and Partnership Board. (P.52/2025): amendment

STATES OF JERSEY

HEALTH AND CARE JERSEY ADVISORY BOARD AND PARTNERSHIP BOARD (P.52/2025): AMENDMENT

Lodged au Greffe on 22nd September 2025 by the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel Earliest date for debate: 30th September 2025

STATES GREFFE

2025  P.52 Amd.

HEALTH AND CARE JERSEY ADVISORY BOARD AND PARTNERSHIP

BOARD (P.52/2025): AMENDMENT

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1  PAGE 2, PARAGRAPH b –

After the words "accompanying the proposition" insert the words –

 ", except that in paragraph 1 after the words "It is a non-statutory Board (i.e., with no legal powers)." insert the words –

"These terms of reference are valid for a maximum 18-month period. At the end of  that  period  the  Minister,  following  review  of  the  Board's  activities, performance and membership, and with the agreement of the Assembly, must determine whether the Board should:

1. continue to operate under these terms of reference, or amended terms of reference, or
2. be disbanded. "

HEALTH AND SOCIAL SECURITY SRUTINY PANEL

Note:  After this amendment, the proposition would read as follows –

THE STATES are asked to decide whether they are of opinion to agree –

1. that the non-statutory Health and Community Services Advisory Board, established further to the Act of the States dated 14th June 2023, should continue to operate and provide improved governance and oversight for the services delivered by Health and Care Jersey;
2. that the Minister for Health and Social Services should establish a new non- statutory  Health  and  Care  Jersey  Partnership  Board  which  will  operate  in accordance  with  the  terms  of  reference  set  out  in  Part  2  of  the  report accompanying the proposition. It is a non-statutory Board (i.e., with no legal powers).

These terms of reference are valid for a maximum 18-month period. At the end of that period the Minister must determine, following review of the Board's activities,  performance  and  membership,  and  with  the  agreement  of  the Assembly, whether the Board should:

1. continue to operate under these terms of reference, or amended terms of reference, or
2. be disbanded. "

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P.52/2025 Amd.

REPORT

The purpose of this amendment is to limit the initial appointment of the Health and Care Partnership  Board  to  an  18-month  pilot  period.  The  Panel  is  not  persuaded  that sufficiently rigorous or systematic analysis has been undertaken to demonstrate that the creation of the Board is the most effective or necessary course of action, beyond reliance on assertions of "common sense." This approach therefore ensures that the Board is first tested in practice to determine whether it is genuinely fit for purpose. By doing so, the Panel seeks to mitigate risks, address potential governance concerns, and prevent exposure to unforeseen costs should the Board's structure or operation fail to meet its intended objectives.

The  proposed  18-month  timeframe  will  provide  the  Minister  and  Scrutiny  with sufficient opportunity to evaluate the Board's performance, while also allowing any outstanding processes and procedures to be properly developed and tested. Toward the end of this period, the Minister will be required to review the Board's activities and return to the Assembly to seek approval either to continue under the current terms of reference, to amend them, or, if necessary, to disband the Board.

The Panel intends to review the effectiveness of the Board throughout this pilot phase and to make recommendations for any improvements that may be necessary. This structured trial period allows for thorough evaluation and refinement, ensuring that any future decision to expand or formalise the Partnership Board rests on a solid foundation of robust governance, evidence-based decision-making, and alignment with the strategic needs of Health and Care Jersey.

The  Panel  believes  this  amendment  offers  reassurance  to  Members  who  may  be concerned about costs or the suitability of the proposed structure. By adopting a cautious and time-limited approach, the risks are significantly reduced, while ensuring that urgent  improvements  to  the  governance  and  oversight  of  the  Health  and  Care Department can progress without delay.

Financial and staffing implications

There are no additional financial or staffing implications, as these will be met within current department operations.

Children's Rights Impact Assessment

A Children's Rights Impact Assessment (CRIA) has been prepared in relation to this proposition and is available to read on the States Assembly website.

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P.52/2025 Amd.