Children’s homes at bursting point

Wednesday 28th February 2007, 12:00AM GMT.

CHILDREN’S homes in Jersey are at bursting point and can take in no more troubled teenagers.

Heathfield is over capacity, and La Préférence is ‘absolutely overflowing’ with juveniles. The problem is so bad that a sunroom has been used as a bedroom at La Préférence for the past 18 months. The revelation was made in the Youth Court yesterday when a 13-year-old boy who wanted to be put into care was turned down because of the overcrowding. Childcare officer Stuart Hallam told the court that the child had been having problems at home. He said: ‘He wants to come to La Préférence, and his mother wants him to come. But I cannot put a body where a body won’t go.

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