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1240/5(1807)
QUESTION TO BE ASKED OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE EDUCATION, SPORT AND CULTURE COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY 4th MARCH 2003
BY DEPUTY R. G. LE HÉRISSIER OF ST. SAVIOUR
Question
With reference to the recent report on Children and Young People's Services, and more specifically to the educational aspects contained in it, would the President indicate whether the follow-up action will identify where responsibility for the serious deficiencies lies, and if so, what action does the Committee propose to take?
Answer
The report referred to, entitled Review of the Principles, Practices and Provision for Children and Young People with Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties and Disorders in the Island of Jersey', was jointly commissioned by three Committees, namely, the former Education Committee, now the Education, Sport and Culture Committee, the Home Affairs Committee and the Health and Social Services Committee.
The author of the report, Dr. Kathie Bull, gave an introductory presentation of her findings to the three Committees, selected officers and others closely involved with the subject matter on 12th February 2003. Subsequently, the three Committee Presidents met on 19th February 2003, to consider the implications of the report and how work on its findings could be expedited. At that meeting, it was agreed that the Presidents would recommend to their respective Committees that they work together in order that this issue is dealt with in a corporate manner.
The Education, Sport and Culture Committee will consider the Report for the first time on Wednesday, 5th March 2003, when Dr. Bull will be in attendance. I understand that the other two commissioning Committees will also be meeting in the near future with Dr. Bull. It is then proposed that there will be a joint meeting of all three Committees, as a further stage in the consideration of the Report, when decisions will be taken on the actions to be pursed in relation to its conclusions and recommendations. A provisional action plan and timetable has been drawn up and this will be submitted to the three Committees for their approval. The President of the Health and Social Services Committee has outlined information regarding the action plan and timetable in his answer and therefore I do not intend to repeat it here.
In commissioning this comprehensive review by Dr. Bull, all three Committees involved and their advising officers recognised that the departmental delivery of services was not satisfactory and that deficiencies would be drawn out. The purpose of the review was to inform the Committees on the current situation and to identify where and how improvements could be made.
The Report has brought into focus serious deficiencies in the existing system and the issue is to be dealt with as a matter of priority by the Education, Sport and Culture Committee to improve the provision of services to children and young people with emotional and behavioural difficulties.