Details

The Independent Jersey Care Inquiry was set up to establish individual and systemic failings in the Island's care system over many years and to find answers for people who suffered abuse as children.

The Process
The Inquiry held public hearings and private sessions

Governing Legislation
The Inquiry was established by resolution of the States of Jersey on 6 November 2012.

Public Hearings
The hearings, mainly public, covered three phases:

• Phase 1: Evidence from former residents of care homes and foster placements. Evidence from staff and others working in the care sector and from alleged abusers.
• Phase 2: Evidence relating to policing, investigations of abuse and decisions on prosecution.
• Phase 3: Consultations and discussions about the future of child care services in Jersey.

The Inquiry sat for 149 days of hearings and consultations.

Witnesses
Over 200 witnesses gave evidence directly. In addition, the Inquiry considered the evidence of over 450 former residents of, and those otherwise connected to, Jersey's care system, and processed and considered around 136,000 documents. The Inquiry also undertook over 100 consultations and meetings with agencies and members of the public in Jersey and with child care experts.

Institutions
The Report examined the type and nature of the several children's homes and fostering services in Jersey, with a particular focus on the period after 1960.

Findings
The findings are presented as 10 fundamental failings in Jersey's care system. They concern matters such as failure to prioritise welfare of children, deficiencies in social policy and service delivery, "small island" culture, and management issues.

Recommendations
The Commissioners made 8 high-level recommendations. These include the appointment of a Commissioner for Children, and a Children's Rights Officer to give children a voice; that services be open to full and open scrutiny through inspections; the building of a sustainable workforce within Children's Services; that legislative and policy processes be improved, and that the Jersey youth justice system be moved to a welfare-based model; that members of the States Assembly formally take on the role of "corporate parent"; the eradication of negative perceptions of the "Jersey Way"; and concerning archival and inquiry legacy issues.

Cost
£14,994,857 (2014 - Feb 2017)

Inquiry Panel

• Cameron, Sandy
• Leslie, Alyson