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Ministerial Response - Scruitiny Review of the Government Plan 2021 -2024 - 12 February 2021

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STATES OF JERSEY

SCRUTINY REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT PLAN: 2021- 2024 - CHILDREN'S, EDUCATION AND HOME AFFAIRS PANEL (S.R.11/2020): JOINT MINISTERIAL RESPONSE

Presented to the States on 12th February 2021 by the Minister for Home Affairs

STATES GREFFE

2020  S.R.11 Res.

SCRUTINY REVIEW OF THE GOVERNMENT PLAN 2021- 2024 (S.R.11/2020): JOINT MINISTERIAL RESPONSE OF THE CHILDREN'S, EDUCATION AND HOME AFFAIRS PANEL

Ministerial Response to:  S.R.11/2020 Ministerial Response required  12th January 2021

by:

Review title:  Scrutiny Review of the Government Plan

2021-2024

Scrutiny Panel:  Children, Education and Home Affairs

Scrutiny Panel

INTRODUCTION

Minister  for  Children  and  Housing's  and  Acting  Minister  for  Education Introduction:

I would like to thank the panel for their review into the Government Plan 2021-2024, the review was undertaken to meet the deadlines which were necessary due to Covid 19. Although I was not Minister of either portfolio during the review, I really appreciate the work that was undertaken and look forward to meeting with the panels in the future to discuss their recommendations and show them the progress the department has made

and maintaining the positive relationship we have with the panel. Minister for Home Affairs' introduction:

I am grateful to the Panel for their thorough review of the Government Plan 2021-2024. It was a significant piece of work, which was completed to tight deadlines.

I am proud that the services under my ministerial remit continue to underpin the success of all the Government's common strategic policies, by ensuring Jersey remains a safe place to live and work. The year 2020 saw great challenges and disruptions across the whole of government and this is reflected in the plan. JHA services truly went above and beyond to keep islanders safe, and maintain critical services, under the most difficult of circumstances. I am pleased that JHA services have been able to commit to helping Government achieve necessary savings by committing to make £765,000 in efficiencies and rebalancing measures. These have been carefully considered to ensure we can find savings where possible, without impacting upon the high-quality services Islanders have come to expect. The impact of Covid has also caused unavoidable delays to some vitally important projects, such as the development of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) and the Youth Justice Strategy. I look forward to sharing further details with the Panel as these projects come to fruition in the coming year and know they will

receive robust and thoughtful scrutiny.

FINDINGS

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

1

Work is ongoing between the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills and the Future Economy Group to lead the development of a post-16 strategy to support the future economy programme.

Further information as to the work and outcomes of this programme is required.

MED

It  is  recommended  that  the  Panel  invite officers  from  the  department  for  Young People, Further and Higher Education and Skills, and Economy, to provide a dedicated briefing on the Future Economy Programme and the Post 16 strategy.

2

The preferred option for a new Higher Education funding scheme is due to be brought forward for debate on Quarter one 2022 with a view to phasing in the scheme for September 2023.

MED

Noted.

3

The Jersey Premium funding for 2021 has been reduced by £159,000, even though the funding has been extended to students aged between 16 and 19 years of age. The Panel holds serious concerns over this decision given the current climate and longer-term impact on learning that has been caused by COVID-19, especially for vulnerable children and young people.

MED

This  proposal  was  amended  during  the Government Plan debate.

4

The work to bring forward an Early Years policy has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the Officers with responsibility being redeployed. It is, however, expected that the final policy recommendations will be completed prior to the Government Plan debate.

MED

Noted. The Early Years Policy Development board  draft  report  is  currently  being considered by the CM and subsequently be presented to the CoM at a later date.

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

5

The Government funding received, and the income generated through the hot meals service will keep the pilot scheme for the Primary Schools meal project running until July 2021.

MED

Noted.

6

A skills oversight group, comprised of industry leaders is proposed to be formed and Local Market Intelligence Reports are intended to be shared with them that present the various data sets in relation to skills requirements in Jersey.

MED

Noted.

7

The total number of applications to the EU Settlement Scheme (as of 16th November 2020) is 13,800. This is just over 6,000 less than the initial estimate of EU Citizens residing in Jersey. There will be a grace period' for applications up to the end of June 2021 for which two caseworkers are due to remain in post to support.

MHA

Correct.

8

The Legal Aid Scheme continues to operate in a shadow system' managed by the Law Society until the Access to Justice (Jersey) Law 2019 comes in to force. Until such time as the Regulations underpinning this Law are brought forward (to contain the proposed scheme and details of its operation) the shadow system will continue.

CM

The Legal Aid Scheme presently in operation is  that  which  was  approved  by  the  Law Society  of  Jersey  in  September  2005  and amended in June 2010. The existing Legal Aid  Guidelines  can  be  read  at: https://www.legalaid.je/pdfs /Legal%20Aid%20Guidelines%20final%20v

To that end, there is not a shadow system' currently in operation, although it is intended that the current scheme will be replaced by a revised scheme made under the Access to Justice (Jersey) Law 2019. Prior to the 2019 Law  being  brought  into  effect  (by  an Appointed  Day  Act),  the  Legal  Aid Guidelines  Committee  (established  under Article 6 of the Law) have been operating in

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

 

 

shadow  form,  the  Chief  Minister  will  be briefed on the details shortly

9

The selection of a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system for the Combined Control Room has been deferred until 2021 due to budget constraints arising from the COVID-19 response. Work to investigate the options for the future of the Emergency Call Handling Service has been accelerated in light of a number of failures in the 999 service in 2020

MHA

Correct.

10

Whilst it is acknowledged that the Ambulance Service electronic patient records and Health and Community Services Patient Records are separate projects, the Panel continues to hold concerns over the future integration of the two systems (once they have been finalised) and cannot give assurances over this at this stage.

MHA

Noted.

11

The Children and Families Hub has been expedited as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and has been operational since March 2020 rather than the planned start date of September 2020. Legislative provision to underpin the support for children in need is due to be contained in the proposed omnibus amendment to the Children (Jersey) Law 2002 to be lodged in early 2021.

MCH

Noted.

12

There has been a delay in the commencement of the work on the Youth Justice Strategy due

MCH/

MHA

Correct.

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

to the COVID-19 pandemic and Officers being redeployed to support the response. There is also uncertainty on the future funding requirements for the programme until such time as there is further progress in policy areas relating to it.

 

Work that will support the strategy resumed in the autumn 2020 as a result of responding to the needs  of a cohort of young people particularly  affected  by  the  lockdown. Officials  across  Government, the  judiciary and Honorary and States Police have been working  on  proposals  for  an  integrated service that links to the early help service already  in  place  and  under  continued development.  This  work  is  due  to  be presented to the Ministers for Children and Home  Affairs  in  February  for  their consideration.

13

Substantial work has been undertaken to bring forward multi-agency safeguarding training for the children's workforce, however, there has been a significant impact on the take-up of training due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is noted, however, that online training has been developed which has given agencies greater access to training.

MCH

Noted.

14

The Panel is concerned that no funding has been allocated to the Citizen's Panel addressing the legacy issues of the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry in 2021, especially in light of the recent controversy in respect of the Care Memorial. There is therefore uncertainty over its future operation and clarity over this is required.

MCH

A business case is currently being developed to secure an integrated package of funding to support the conclusion of the Citizens Panel process and progression of the Legacy Project during 2021. This includes:

Continued facilitation of the Citizens Panel until early July 2021.

A  package  of  mental  health support  for Panel members running to the end of 2021.

Funding  for  internet  enabled  devices  to allow  the  Panel  to  be  convened  digitally given  the  ongoing  disruption  caused  by Covid-19

Creation of a grant-funded post located in the voluntary  sector  to  scope  and  pilot  peer- support and independent advocacy services for survivors of abuse in care.

15

A service specification for the new service to provide support

 

 

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

to children with complex needs is currently being developed, to include the relevant staffing levels. This is also taking into account the new Children and Families Hub and the work taking place to Redesign the CAMHS service.

 

 

16

There is a lack of clarity over how the funding for the Antenatal Service and support for children with complex needs is apportioned between the two projects. This is also not clear within the Government Plan due to the projects being included in the overall total for the P.82 Children's Services Early Intervention programme.

MCH

The  funding  for  the  ante-natal  universal service of the Babysteps programme is within the main contract with Family Nursing and Home Care held by Health and Community Services Department. There is no reduction to the resource. The allocation for children with complex needs is across all ranges and will be able to support additional need at an ante- natal stage if required.

17

Work is ongoing in respect of the redesign of the Children and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) in order to identify the preferred model and funding requirement. The Panel can therefore give no assurance at this stage as to whether the funding identified in the Government Plan 2021- 24 is sufficient to meet these outcomes at this stage.

MCH

Discussions are continuing between the Departments for CYPES and HCS to confirm the level of funding that can be made available for 2021 and this is being undertaken in conjunction with the continuing work to finalise the design of the new model. Priorities for implementation are increasing the duty team and triage, early intervention and increased management capacity.

 By the end of Q1 we expect to be able to publish  a  Children  and  Young  People emotional  wellbeing  and  mental  health strategy which will be shared with Scrutiny and will require approval from CoM.

18

Further details of the services being colocated in the Sexual Assault Referral

Centre (SARC) Child's House Model and confirmation of the final siting of the centre are required before the Panel can make a more definitive judgement on the funding

MHA

Noted. The Minister looks forward to sharing further details with the Panel as the project advances.

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

allocation for the project in the Government Plan 2021-24.

 

 

19

The Education Reform Programme is an ambitious project which will take time to fully implement and embed. There is an outline of the funding breakdown, however, this is predominately required to reduce the current deficit within the education system in general.

MED

Noted. The funding in year one does, indeed, address the structural funding issue, which is the  immediate  priority  for  remediation. However, in year one, and thereafter, there is also  initial  and  increasing  investment  for service enhancement that is comparable in quantum by 2023.

20

A research project to identify the scope of the project (Youth Service English as an additional language) is due to be undertaken and reported back on in 2021. Until such time as this is completed the Panel cannot give assurances as to the level of funding identified in the Government Plan 202124.

MED

Noted.

21

The Panel has found that further evidence and a review of the effectiveness of the Covid-19 schools catch up programme is required before assurances can be given over funding levels. The Panel would also raise concern that the programme only covers students from Year 1 upwards and does not address early years.

MED

Noted.

22

Given the fluid nature of the Covid-19 pandemic and uncertainty over the level of resource required to tackle it, the Panel cannot at this stage given an assurance over the level of funding identified for the first 6-months of 2021 (£30 million). It is clear, however, that

MHA

Noted.

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

considerable work has been undertaken, and continues to be undertaken by public sector workers in order to implement the test and trace programme to keep Islanders safe. The Panel would, however, caution that a significant increase in cases could render the programme unviable within the current resourcing levels identified in the Government Plan 2021-24.

 

 

23

The funding for the new Firearms Range for the States of Jersey Police is due to come from the Criminal Offences Confiscation Fund. Further details of the proposed siting and specification of the proposed range are required by the Panel before it can state whether the funding allocated is sufficient or excessive.

MHA

Noted.

24

There is evidence to suggest that the requirement for a Public Service Ombudsman is urgent and it should be brought forward as soon as possible. There are, however, practical limitations on this being able to take place until 2022 and therefore the operational start of the project has been deferred until that time. The Panel contend that it would be possible to achieve the aim of establishing the role if funding for the office remained in place and only considered to be an efficiency if the Law drafting process cannot bring the Office into being until Q4 2021.

CM

The Panel may be aware that this project did not  progress  to  law-drafting  in  2020  as originally  intended  as  officers  were redeployed  to  emergency  Covid-19  work. Therefore a delay of 12 months was incurred. Work on legislative drafting has now begun, with  a  provisional  timetable  of  draft legislation being lodged by Q4 2021, with a debate in Q1 2022. Subject to the decision of

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

 

 

the  Assembly,  this  would  allow  for recruitment  of  a  shadow  board  and  the Ombudsman, and the establishment of the office of the Public Services Ombudsman, in 2022 in line with the reinstated funding now available.

25

The Panel holds concerns over the proposed changes to a pop- up therapeutic unit for young people in residential care with complex needs rather than a full-time unit. The term

pop-up unit' is also misleading as it does not relate to a specific provision, rather a wraparound service for children already in existing residential homes. The decision to make this change has come from a needs assessment which the Panel has been informed is yet to be completed. Concerns have also been raised by key stakeholders about the rationale for this change, the independence of it and whether consultation with young people has taken place. The Panel would therefore question how this decision could have been made without

this outcome.

MCH

The Panel's concerns are acknowledged and the Director for Children's Safeguarding and Care will take them into account as the model for therapeutic support is developed further.

It is agreed that the description of the forthcoming service as "pop up" does not best described the approach proposed.

Further details will be published in the Children and Young People emotional wellbeing and mental health strategy. Strategic planning is being undertaken by the department and key stakeholders will be included in the specification design of this service.

No final decisions have been taken in this very important workstream.

26

The proposed rebalancing initiative in relation to the Care Leavers offer appears to overlook the concerns and issues that have been raised directly by service users and appears to go against the Government priority of putting children first. There is also concern that the whilst demand may be currently low, there is evidence to suggest this may be down to the lack of

MCH

This matter has been addressed by the Stares Assembly and the proposed approach to the rebalancing has been amended.

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

promotion of the service and demand may sharply rise now that the personal adviser roles are in place. This will require regular review in order to ensure that care leavers are not being denied access to funding to assist them directly.

 

 

27

It is expected that the main impact of the rebalancing initiative to maintain a 1% vacancy rate within the States of Jersey Police Force over the next four years will be found from back office roles and functions and not front-line services. The States of Jersey Police are currently undertaking a staff review to identify where services can be changed. The Panel cannot give any assurance over the ability to meet this target until such time as the staff review is

complete.

MHA

Noted.

28

Concerns have been raised in general about the closure to the public of the One Front Door' offices at La Motte

Street, on which the digital transformation of GST and Customs Service rebalancing programme is heavily reliant in terms of realising its overall savings.

MHA

Noted.

29

The rebalancing measure to implement the electronic rostering system within the emergency services is still in the scoping stage, however, a saving of £50,000 has been identified against it.

The Panel would question how this level of saving has been

MHA

Noted. It has been an aim of government to implement electronic rostering for a number of years. A government wide business case was drafted in 2016, outlining high level benefits, which was then refined by the former Constitutional and Community Affairs department. These pieces of work formed the basis for the current project. It has been estimated that efficiencies can be found from savings such as reduced error

 

 

Findings

Minister

Comments

 

identified when the project is still being scoped.

 

and fraud, incorrect shift payments being made and decommissioning current systems.

30

The rebalancing measure to restructure the intelligence administration function within the States of Jersey Police is reliant upon a process change that would mitigate the need to replace posts. Further details of the process change are required to give full assurance about the identified savings as well as whether they will have a knock-on effect on other areas of operation.

MHA

Noted.

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

1

The Minister for Education should provide further information to the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel in respect of the outcomes of the work between the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills and the Future Economy Group. This should include an overview of the key performance indicators and specific outcomes for the programme, governance arrangements of the programme and membership of the future economy group by end of first quarter

2021.

MED

Accept.

Please refer to key finding 1

It is recommended that the Panel invite officers from Young People, Further and Higher Education and Skills, and Economy, to provide a dedicated briefing on the Future Economy Programme and the Post 16 strategy.

At the Panel's discretion

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

2

The Minister for Education should ensure that details of the proposed schemes being considered for to fund Higher Education are shared with the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel at an early stage and that proper consultation is undertaken on all options being considered prior to a preferred option being identified. We recommend that this project is brought forward to quarter four 2021 with a view to the debate taking place at the earliest opportunity in January 2022, to ensure that any decision can be taken in good time before purdah prior to the 2022 election.

MED

Accept

It is recommended that the Panel invite relevant officers to present the latest project plan and discuss timescales and the timing of scrutiny (and other) engagement.

Any review would go through the normal  government  consultation route. This would include a Green Paper and White Paper stage.

At the Panel's discretion

3

The Minister for Education should reverse the decision to reduce the funding for the Jersey Premium in 2021 and subsequent years. Given the body of evidence that outlines the impact of COVID- 19 on learning for vulnerable children, including the Departments own report on learning at home, this appears to be a retrograde decision.

The Panel has lodged an amendment to the

MED

N/A

This matter was addressed in the States  Assembly's  debate  on  the Government Plan.

N/A

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

 

Government Plan in order to raise the budget to the original allocation for 2021 (£815,000).

 

 

 

 

4

The Minister for Education should provide details of the final policy recommendations arising from the work of the Early Years Policy Development Board as soon as practicable after they are finalised.

MED

Accept

Please refer back to finding 4

At the Panel's

discretion

5

The Minister for Education should ensure that a review is conducted prior to the end of the pilot scheme for the Primary School Meals programme in July 2021. This review should set out the future operation of any scheme and identify the relevant funding for inclusion in the next iteration of the Government Plan. Given the success of the scheme to date, the Panel is of the view that this should be extended to all States funded primary schools.

MED

Reject

As a result of the debate by the States  Assembly  of  the Government  Plan  it  was  agreed that the school meals pilot would be  extended  for  the  duration  of 2021. A revised plan for the pilot will  be  produced,  including  the timing of the evaluation and the Minister will bring this to the Panel for its consideration. The success of  this  scheme  cannot  be  fully assessed until the pilot has  been completed.

February 2021.

6

The Minister for Education should provide details of the proposed membership of the Skills Oversight Group and also the proposed governance arrangements for the operation of the group. This should be provided to the Panel prior to the

MED

Accept

The  work  on  developing  the

governance of the Future Economy

Programme  and  the  Skills

Oversight Group is continuing and

the panel will be informed formally

in  advance  of  the  group  being

established.  The  joint  ministerial

meeting  between  CYPES  and

Economy is to be arranged in Q1 21.  

To be confirmed

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

 

group being formally established.

 

 

 

 

7

The Minister for Home Affairs should, by the end of December 2020, identify and bring forward proposals in order to target hard to reach' groups of EU citizens in order to ensure they are informed of and given all the relevant information and support in order to complete the application (if they so wish).

MHA

Accept

Officers  are actively working on targeting  hard  to  reach'  and vulnerable EU Citizens to ensure they are aware of the requirement to apply to the Settlement Scheme and receive appropriate support to do so.

In process

8

The Chief Minister, should outline the proposed timescale for bringing forward the proposed new scheme for the Legal Aid system, as enabled by the Access to Justice (Jersey) Law 2019. Details of the final scheme and timetable should be provided to the Legal Aid Review Panel as a matter of urgency.

CM

Accept

The Chief Minister will be writing to Scrutiny setting out a timetable for the implementation of a revised scheme.

 

9

The Minister for Home Affairs should provide further information to the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel about the outcome of the investigations to onboard the Emergency Call Handling Service by the end of quarter one 2021.The Panel believes that financial penalties for any future failure in the provision

MHA

Accept

The Minister expects to be able to provide  the  panel  with  a substantive  update  at  the  end  of Q1, after  further discussion with the Jersey Competition Regulatory Authority.

End of Q1

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

 

of service should be written into any service level agreements going forward.

 

 

 

 

10

The Minister for Home Affairs should review the preferred system for the ambulance electronic records once the Health and Community Services Patient Record system is operational to ensure that integration between the two systems is possible.

MHA

Partially accept

The ambulance e-PRF project is still in the discovery phase based on  working  with  South  West Ambulance  Service  Trust (SWAST) and looking directly to a supplier for indicative costs.

We have received advice from the SWAST supplier that their systems integrate  with  most  modern systems. Any new EPRF system must  have  the  functionality  and scalability to integrate with other GoJ IT systems and data sources, and  therefore  the M&D  design authority  are  asking  the  relevant questions about different supplier systems  and  how  they  integrate, and any solution will be discussed with  GoJ  Commercial  Services prior to procurement. At this stage the  final  suppliers  have  not  yet been determined and therefore its not possible to give full assurances

on future integration.

 

11

The Minister for Children and Housing should provide further details of the operation and data up to the end of November 2020 of the impact of the Children and Families Hub. This should also set out the governance arrangements for the Hub. Within those details the voice of the child should be included.

MCH

Accept

It  is  proposed  that  the  data  is provided as part of the quarterly monitoring  cycle  for  the Government  Plan  and  the Departmental

Operational Business Plan.

Could  the  panel  provide  further clarity on the meaning on what it means  by  the  governance arrangements for the Hub.

Quarterly through-out 2021.

12

The Minister for Home Affairs should provide

MHA

Accept

The Minister would be happy to update  the  Panel  regarding  the

End of Q1

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

 

the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel with quarterly updates on the progress of the implementation of the recommendations arising from the Youth Justice Review. These updates should also include a timeline of planned actions and key milestones for the project.

 

 

progress  of  the  Youth  Justice Strategy on a quarterly basis.

2021.

13

The Minister for Children and Housing should consider maintaining the online training developed during the COVID-19 pandemic going forward in order to broaden access to training for the children's workforce.

MCH

Accept

Given the ongoing impact of CV19 on  working  arrangement  online learning options will continue to be made available.

Ongoing. To be reviewed monthly as

part of

business continuity planning.

14

The Minister for Children and Housing should, as a matter of urgency, clarify the future of the Jersey Citizen's Panel and, should this be set to continue, provide the necessary funding to enable it to continue its work.

MCH

Accept

The  facilitated  Citizens  Panel process is expected to conclude in July 2021 after more than three years of work following the Care Inquiry.  Responsibility  for  the completion  of  the  outstanding elements of the Citizens Panel's Legacy Project will be passed to key partners in Government and the  Voluntary  and  Community Sector. Any future funding will be sought via the 2022 Government Plan.

As  per  Finding  14  above,  a business  case  is  currently  being developed  to  support  the continuation  of  the  Panel  and progression of the Legacy Project during 2021.

February 2021

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

15

The Minister for Children and Housing should make available to the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel, details of the service specification for children with complex needs as soon as it is completed.

MCH

Accept

This work is taking place with a strong  interface  to  the implementation of early help, the CAMHS redesign and in particular the  redesign  of  the neurodevelopmental pathway.

March 2021  

16

The Minister for Home Affairs should, by the end of quarter two 2021, provide the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel with the full details of the service specification of the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC). This should also include details of the services being co-located and the siting of the service

MHA

Accept

 A  scorecard  has  now  been completed and 3 sites identified for the possible siting of the SARC. In addition, a floorplan brief has been completed  which  details  the services  that  will  be  co-located there. A briefing at the end of Q2 should be achievable.

End of Q2 2021.

17

The Minister for Education should ensure that the progress of the Education Reform Programme is evaluated and monitored on a termly basis to ensure it is improving outcomes for children and young people. The programme should also be linked to emerging strategies and programmes for early years

MED

Partial

Accept

A  detailed  implementation  plan (including  the  arrangements  for evaluation) will be produced and this  will  set  out  key  actions, timelines and intended impact. The ERP implementation plan will be aligned to the recommendations of (and implementation plan for) the Early  Years  Policy  Development Board.

Quarter 1 2021.

18

The Minister for Home Affairs should provide the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel with monthly updates on the operation of the

MHA

Accept

The Minister would be pleased to provide  these  updates  and  will instruct Officers accordingly.

Monthly updates to start from

February.

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

 

programme as the COVID-19 response progresses to ensure there are sufficient funds available and to provide an overview of the spend to date.

 

 

 

 

19

The Minister for Home Affairs should provide the Panel with an update on the progress identifying a site for the new Firearms Range for the States of Jersey once this has been completed. The Minister should also provide the Panel with detailed service specifications for the range prior to any further action being taken in respect of its development. As funding for this project is being found from the Criminal Offences Confiscation Fund, the Panel believes that this should not be accounted for in the Government

Plan.

MHA

Accept

The  Minister  looks  forward  to sharing  further  details  with  the Panel at the appropriate stage in the  development  of  the  project. Once a site has been identified the Panel will be informed.

 

20

The Chief Minister should ensure that the legislation to underpin the Public Service

Ombudsman is lodged by quarter three 2021 with a view to the office becoming operational in shadow form by 1st January 2022.

CM

 

The Panel may be aware that this project  did  not  progress  to  law- drafting  in  2020  as  originally intended  as  officers  were redeployed to emergency Covid-19 work.  Therefore  a  delay  of  12 months  was  incurred.  Work  on legislative drafting has now begun, with  a  provisional  timetable  of draft legislation being lodged by Q4 2021, with a debate in Q1 2022. Subject  to  the  decision  of  the Assembly,  this  would  allow  for recruitment of a shadow board and

 

 

 

Recommendations

To

Accept/ Reject

Comments

Target date of action/ completion

 

 

 

 

the  Ombudsman,  and  the establishment of the office of the Public  Services  Ombudsman,  in 2022  in  line  with  the  reinstated funding now available.

 

21

The Minister for Children and Housing should pause the rebalancing measure that would create a pop- up therapeutic assessment unit for young people in care until the needs assessment is fully completed and full consultation has taken place with key stakeholders.

MCH

Reject

The  Panel's  feedback  will  be taken  into  account  and  its concerns  addressed  through  the ongoing development work.

Please refer to finding 25.

Reject

22

The Minister for Children and Housing should not take forward the proposed rebalancing initiative in relation to the Care Leavers Offer and should seek to make the efficiency saving from within other budgets. Further work should also be undertaken, through the personal advisers, as a matter of urgency to promote access to this programme amongst care leavers. The Panel has made an amendment to the Government Plan

accordingly.

MCH

Accept

Guided  by  the  Care  Leavers Outcomes Board, the promotion of the  Care  Leavers  Offer  will continue throughout 2021.

Ongoing.

23

The Minister for Home Affairs should provide the outcomes of the staff

MHA

Accept

The Minister absolutely concurs that any changes to staffing levels must not negatively impact the level of service available to the

The consultatio n is due to close on 22

 

 

Recommendations

To

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Target date of action/ completion

 

review to the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel as soon as it is completed. The Minister should also provide quarterly updates to the Panel on the staffing levels within the States of Jersey Police which details any impacts on particular service areas arising from vacancies. The Panel is of the view that the Minister should ensure any changes to staffing levels do not negatively impact the level of service available

to the public.

 

 

public and will be pleased to brief the Panel once the Staff Review has been implemented.

January, the feedback received will affect the timeline for implementa tion. It is therefore difficult to provide a date for

completion at this time.

24

The Minister for Home Affairs should keep the operation of the GST and Customs Service rebalancing measure under review to ensure that the closure of the One Front Door' initiative is not impacting the publics access to the services. This should be undertaken on a monthly basis.

MHA

Accept

This will be kept under review.

 

25

The Minister for Home Affairs should provide the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel with the final outcome of the scoping project for the implementation of an electronic rostering system for the emergency services. This should include

MHA

Accept

The Minister will be happy to share the details with the Panel once the scoping project is complete.

End of Q1

 

 

Recommendations

To

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Comments

Target date of action/ completion

 

the final identified savings as a result its implementation

 

 

 

 

26

The Minister for Home Affairs should provide the Children, Education and Home Affairs Panel with details of the process change within the intelligence administration function of the States of Jersey Police as soon as it is implemented. This should also include an assessment of any impact on other areas of operation within the Police Service.

MHA

Accept

The Minister will be happy to share those details with the Panel once the changes are implemented.

 

CONCLUSION

Minister  for  Children  and  Housing's  and  Acting  Minister  for  Education Conclusion: I welcome the Panel's findings and recommendations and thank them for the amendments to the Government Plan.

Minister  for  Home  Affairs'  Conclusion:  I  welcome  the  Panel's  findings  and recommendations and I am pleased to have been able to accept the majority of the recommendations made. I look forward to working closely with the Panel for another year.