Jersey must ensure more protection for whistleblowers and allow
independent inspection of children's services, an inquiry has
concluded.
The Howard League for Penal Reform, which was invited to the
island last year after child protection concerns, today called for
Jersey to ensure custody was used "as a last resort".
The charity's year-long probe found Jersey's juvenile custody
rate - which is higher than in England and Wales - was
"unacceptable" given the island's size and lack of comparable
inner-city problems.
It also found children were placed alongside adults in the
island's only prison, La Moye, and called for this practice to
cease.
Evidence of abuse
Although young people at the island's secure children's home,
Greenfields, did not feel unsafe at the time of the inquiry, former
residents reported
"
highly credible evidence" of "abusive" experiences.
The Howard League report said: "Staff and young people told us
that practices going back many years have given cause for serious
concern. Particular concern was expressed in relation to practices
relating to isolation, single separation or solitary confinement
that could be regarded as abusive."
The organisation found that "a culture of fear and intimidation"
prevented some staff speaking out, although this view was not
shared by all. "Whatever the truth of these perceptions, we believe
that these kind of difficulties have serious consequences for the
care of children," the report said.
Solitary confinement
The charity confirmed that the use of solitary confinement under
an "unlawful" system known as grand prix had ceased.
The inquiry was sparked after
UK social worker Simon Bellwood, who was formerly employed as a
manager at Greenfields, raised concerns about the grand prix
system.
Today, the Howard League called for the island to ratify the
United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, appoint a
children's minister and replace the youth courts with a
Scottish-style hearings system. It also urged authorities to work
towards ending the use of custody for children.
The league also recommended an independent whistleblowing policy
to be drawn up, advocacy services for children and independent
inspection of children's establishments by a body similar to
Ofsted.
Stronger accountability
Andrew Neilson, the league's assistant director, said that,
although there was "much to commend" in Jersey's youth justice
system, action was needed to address welfare and safeguarding
concerns.
"The recent history of Greenfields secure care home suggests
that there is a very real risk of vulnerable children being
mistreated and that stronger accountability is required to prevent
future difficulties," he added.
Simon Bellwood, who went public with his concerns in
Community Care last year, welcomed the report. He said:
"It is great to finally read a truly independent report which
considers not only the systemic failures but also the issues faced
by vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families in
Jersey."
Suspensions and resignations
Bellwood added that he would expect the findings to lead to
suspensions and resignations within Jersey's civil service "so that
a thorough and truly independent investigation can be carried out
to get to the bottom of the issues" at Greenfields.
Jersey's assistant health and social services minister, Jim
Perchard, said all the report's recommendations had been
accepted.
He said: “We have started the process of signing up to the UN
Convention of the Rights of the Child, and are well on the way
towards implementing plans for a new whistle-blowing policy,
independent inspection, a lead minister for children and an
independent advocacy system. Some of the report’s recommendations
will require both professional and political debate, but they all
provide a helpful contribution to the development of Jersey’s
children’s services."
Timeline: Simon Bellwood case
August 2007
- Simon Bellwood goes public in Community Care over
concerns that children have been locked up in solitary confinement
at the Greeenfields secure unit. Bellwood reports he has been
sacked from his post as manager at the unit after criticising the
policy.
- The Jersey government commissions UK social work expert Andrew
Williamson to review children's services.
- The Howard League for Penal Reform is also invited by then
health and social services minister Stuart Syvret to
investigate.
March 2008
- Simon Bellwood settles in his employment tribunal for unfair
dismissal and an inquiry into his dismissal is promised.
July 2008
- Inquiry by employment law expert Robert Upex backs Bellwood's
unfair dismissal claim.
- Report by Andrew Williamson recommends an independent
inspection of Jersey's children's services.
November 2008
- Howard League report finds evidence backing Bellwood's claims
of former abusive practice at Greenfields and calls for an
independent inspection of services.
More information
Howard League for Penal
Reform
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