Childcare services are improving, says expert

Friday 19th March 2010, 2:59PM GMT.

UK childcare expert Andrew Williamson faces the Scrutiny panel of St Martin Constable Silva Yates, Deputy Debbie De Sousa, Deputy Geoff Southern and St Lawrence Constable Deidre Mezbourian Picture: MATTHEW HOTTON (00916524)

SIGNIFICANT progress is being made to improve Jersey’s child protection services, UK childcare expert Andrew Williamson said yesterday.

He told the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny panel hearing, chaired by Deputy Geoff Southern, that fostering in the Island was proving to be a great success.

And that meant that fewer residential beds were needed in the long term, he added.
‘There will be some opportunity to look at children’s homes as the fostering service keeps developing,’ Mr Williamson said.

‘With the success of the prevention services, there could be an opportunity to reduce the number of beds in due course as fewer young people are coming through the system.’

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1
Tony B

March 19, 2010 at 3:32 pm

See previous articale?

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2
rico

March 19, 2010 at 4:09 pm

I can’t see what all the fuss is about. I mean it wasn’t as bad as made out before the report. Not in comparison to some places. People should stop knocking Jersey.

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3
gross misconduct

March 19, 2010 at 10:38 pm

And how much exactly is Andrew Williams being paid by the States of Jersey for his ‘support’?

Oh of course, we will never know because we don’t have a freedom of information law.

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4
Tony B

March 22, 2010 at 4:09 pm

GM.Freedom of information? Would you like your families details broadcast to all and sundry?

Any Child Protection work, especially where prosecution may be involved, must by it’s very nature remain confidential. Conspiracy theory is all very well, but what reason have you to think that Andrew William’s is anything but an honourable man doing an honurable job?

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