The official version of this document can be found via the PDF button.
The below content has been automatically generated from the original PDF and some formatting may have been lost, therefore it should not be relied upon to extract citations or propose amendments.
20.10.20
16 Deputy K.G. Pamplin of St. Saviour of the Minister for Social Security regarding
the Child Personal Care benefit (OQ.275/2020):
Is it the Minister's assessment that, with regards to recent cases of families with highly complex medical needs unable to qualify for support, the child personal care benefit is in need of review?
Deputy J.A. Martin of St. Helier (The Minister for Social Security):
I thank the Deputy for his question. Obviously the Deputy will understand that it is not appropriate for me to discuss any details of individual cases. There is a mix of support that Jersey is able to provide to children with highly complex medical needs. Their medical needs are co-ordinated through paediatric services delivered by the Health Department. As needed they also receive extra support with education and developmental needs through C.Y.P. (Children and Young People). For children who have personal care needs as well as medical needs direct financial support is provided through the benefit system in the form of the child personal care benefit. The child personal care benefit is based on a comprehensive assessment of personal care needs of the child and I do not consider that it is in need of a review.
[11:30]
4.16.1 Deputy K.G. Pamplin:
I thank the Minister for her answer. As we go through this process - and she is quite right of course not to discuss one family's need but there are others coming forward - as part of this will she look also at communication with her department, as I will provide evidence to her that I am seeing cases where communication to families waiting for responses is not as forthcoming as we would hope in terms of their mental health while they wait.
Deputy J.A. Martin:
Absolutely. Obviously I would like to help the Deputy and the families as much as possible and I am sorry if the communication is either not clear enough or definitely not getting to the families in time.