Les Amis care home development halted in Jersey

Les Amis said the Government of Jersey will no longer commission the services it was set to offer

A Jersey charity has halted plans for a specialist long-term nursing home for people with learning disabilities and dementia due to commissioning issues.

Planning approval for Les Amis to build the care home at Val Plaisant, St Helier was given in November 2022.

However, Les Amis said it now understood the government would not commission the services being offered.

The government said "no previous commitment for future commissioning had been given at this point".

The charity said without support, the plans were too much of a financial risk.

It said it had worked alongside the government to plan for the island's first long-term residential home with specialist nursing units.

Plans included providing care for 31 residents with Down's syndrome and other learning disabilities at the site.

Chair of Les Amis' Board of Directors Paul Routier said Jersey had an "unmet need for such facilities".

He said: "Les Amis will continue to work with Government of Jersey, partner agencies, staff and residents and families to determine and gather consensus around the appropriate facilities required for aging islanders with learning disabilities - for their right and access to quality care, quality of life and dignity in their final years, when they are most vulnerable."

Director of Mental Health and Adult Social Care Andy Weir said the government had not committed to giving future commissioning.

He said the government had been working alongside the charity to review a proposed service model for the "current and future needs" of islanders with learning disabilities.

He said: "It is important that we commission sustainable future models of care that will meet the needs of the population, and maximise the independence, involvement and choice of people who use services.

"We are very much committed to continuing this work in partnership with Les Amis to develop future provision of services, ensuring that these meet the specific health and social care needs for our learning disability population."

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