'Official channel' for young carers' voices backed

Members agreed independent advocacy services should be introduced by April 2026

Creating an "official channel" that the voices of young carers can to be heard through will continue to be explored after Tynwald members supported the move.

The commitment was made as politicians rejected or voted to change a range of recommendations outlined in the island's Children's Champion Kerry Sharpe's annual report.

Sharpe had called for improvements to accommodation for children in care, care leavers and vulnerable young people as well as an overall strategy for children with complex needs.

But Chief Minister Alfred Cannan said while those suggestions were "well-intentioned", they were "not feasible or sustainable" and so could not be supported.

During a debate on the document during February's Tynwald sitting, members backed three amendments made by the Council of Ministers, which included the "official channel" to hear young people's voices, and the introduction of an independent advocacy services from 1 April 2026.

Members also agreed improvements to the island's assessment home should be made, rather than move it from its current location, which Sharpe described as "being on an industrial estate".

The children's champion also argued the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) should inspect all accommodation for older children in care, in addition to residential homes and semi-independent homes.

But members instead supported an amendment that would see the government working to identify how assurances that independent accommodation for older children in care was suitable, with Tynwald due to be updated by October.

Solutions

A call to create a working group including health representatives, local authorities and charities to explore some of the issues was also rejected, however members did agree to re-establish a recently dissolved corporate parenting group, which would also hear the voices of young people in care.

Sharpe's recommendation that the Department of Education, Sport and Culture should continue to deliver the Childcare Strategy and explore approaches for supporting children with complex needs, including the consideration of a government-run complex needs nursery, was passed.

Cannan told the court ministers had rejected some of the original recommendations due to their "broader impact" and the "ever-increasing demand on public services" along with the responsibility to achieve long-term financial sustainability.

But the government would continue to "work on solutions that address the core issues raised in the report", he added.