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WQ.247/2021
WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE CHAIR OF THE COMITÉ DES CONNÉTABLES BY SENATOR T.A. VALLOIS
QUESTION SUBMITTED ON MONDAY 24th MAY 2021
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 1st JUNE 2021
Question
Will the Chair advise –
- what training and or guidance on mental health awareness, if any, is offered to Parish officials (including administrative staff, volunteers and Honorary Police); and
- how the Parishes ensure compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (U.N.C.R.C.) in carrying out their functions?
Answer
- It is important that all Parish officials are aware of the well-being support and assistance, including in relation to mental health, which is available to them; poor mental health needs to be recognised and addressed as much as poor physical health.
It is also important that they understand and recognise how to deal with those who may be suffering from mental health issues and who they come across in the course of their official duties.
The training and/or guidance on mental health awareness varies across the Parishes and will take into account the specific role of the Parish official and whether any have had training in some other capacity e.g. a voluntary or professional role.
Training and/or guidance on mental health awareness offered across the parishes includes -
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders
• Mental Health Awareness and Stress Awareness training (in the form of eLearning)
• Mental health in the work place policy
• Honorary Police mental health awareness training including on the Capacity and Self-
determination law.
- The Comité des Connétable s received a presentation in January 2020, from officers of Community and Constitutional Affairs, on proposals for indirectly incorporating the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) into domestic legislation. As such, Connétable s are already aware of the need to take into account how decisions made in the parishes will impact on children and that Parishes must be mindful of the UNCRC as they carry out their functions. All Parish administrations do their utmost to respect and comply with the rights of every parishioner regardless of their age.
The services delivered by parishes to those under the age of 18 years (the UNCRC defines a child as those under the age of 18) are limited and will relate to the electoral register and to certain licences e.g. driving licences.
Parish functions/services relating to children varies across the Parishes but examples include –
• Nursery provision
• Support for youth service and other groups/organisations supporting children and young people including financial support
• Provision of parks and play equipment
• Support for twinning events which include children/families
• Links with Parish schools and support in the running of school elections ensuring children are aware of the importance of free and fair elections.
This part of the Senator's question is timely as the Comité has a further presentation on the draft Law at its next meeting in June 2021.