Pressure grows on States to 'be more transparent'

Chris Green has called for a better independent system to deal with complaints against the States

A former senior politician says a family's fight for information after a relative was abused in care, proves a need to improve safeguarding systems.

Chris Green, former President of the Scrutiny Committee said the plight of Julia le Pelley was "outrageous".

He has called for a better independent system to deal with complaints against the States.

Health and Social Care President Al Brouard said there was already an "established and robust" process.

Mrs Le Pelley's brother Richard was physically abused by three care staff in 2023.

The staff were later sacked, but Ms Le Pelley said her battle to get information left her feeling "like you're fighting a losing battle."

Deputies will debate setting up an independent body from the States to deal with complaints on Wednesday.

Mr Green urged States members to back plans for the new body, in light of this incident.

He said: "When genuine complaints are made about conduct of this sort, there should be clarity and transparency.

"I was really quite upset reading what had happened, about how doors were closed and there was no great sense of access to information.

"My heart went out to the family. The States should be a paragon of openness in these situations."

Catherine Hall used the current complaints process more than a decade ago and said the system needs to be simplified

About 15 years ago Catherine Hall submitted a complaint against the States which she said took four years to get a resolution on.

"The issue was around a child with different educational needs and determining what they need", she said.

She made the complaint against one department within the States and said she ended up being passed between teams, before eventually having it dealt with by officials in Jersey.

"The process left me immensely frustrated, as indeed those within the States were too."

She has urged deputies to back plans for a new body to deal with complaints: "I think it is an excellent idea."

The complicated way these complaints are dealt with was something Mr Green agreed needs to be streamlined.

He said: "Complaints against multiple departments of the States can be very difficult.

"The whole things needs to be made much less difficult, the States needs to put itself in the shoes of people complaining with genuine grievances and needs to have a lot more empathy."

Former Chief Minister Gavin St Pier has called for greater independent oversight of Health and Social Care and an effort to be made to become more transparent.

He described the abuse committed against a man with autism as "shocking" and the way his sister was treated by HSC as "disappointing" as she sought greater transparency.

"The States as a whole, and HSC are not particularly unique or different, adopting a defensive and protective position.

"There is a fear of how to handle complaints because of the consequences of what arises from them and it informs the behaviours and responses."

He criticised the redactions in Julia's case from HSC: "There was no possible justification for what was taken out. All it does is point to a culture which is far far too protective.

"The reality is most complainants just want to make sure it doesn't happen again to someone else. They want an acknowledgement of the problem and to know it will be addressed.

"I'm afraid the States does not approach complaints in that way."

He recently criticised a decision not to publish a report looking at the island's paediatric health services.