Comments
Digital copy of the First Witness Statement of Philip John Dennett to the Inquiry providing an account of his experiences as an employee of the States of Jersey working in various positions for Children's Services and the Children's Executive. [Some details redacted].
| Reference | ZC/D/AW2/B3/32/WS000628 |
| Date | 6 August 2015 |
| Scope and Content | Provides background information regarding his educational qualifications and professional experience including his experience as a social worker prior to moving to Jersey in 1989. Describes moving to Jersey with his partner in January 1989 and appointment to the position of Senior Residential Child Care Officer as Heathfield on 1 July 1989 following a successful application. Refers to the placement of children in Heathfield who were subject to a care order, noting that young people on remand were also occasionally placed in Heathfield. Comments on the introduction of preventative community based work at Heathfield six months after his arrival, detailing his role in leading and developing the project following the departure of Emile Springate. Outlines responsibilities associated with his role, includes comments about resources available to the project, details reporting arrangements to Anton Skinner, and describes the purpose of the project and work with other agencies including schools and the police. Describes challenges of the community based work at Heathfield, particularly associated with the division of Heathfield into two distinct components: a residential component and a preventative and community based component. Includes comments about the number of children in care in Jersey, outlining the aims of the preventative policy. Includes remarks about the work done by community based preventative projects at Heathfield and comments about improved multi-agency work. Includes comments about a police investigation into allegations made against a member of staff at Heathfield in 1991, detailing his involvement in the matter and action taken by him when the matter was brought to his attention. Refers to subsequent assumption of responsibility for the preventative work at Heathfield following the staff member's suspension, and describes changes at Heathfield following the investigation, referring to the departure of the staff member and other changes implemented. Describes giving a statement to the States of Jersey Police during Operation Rectangle, commenting on comments made by him about the above mentioned in this statement. Describes working under a particular structure at Heathfield, referring to changes to the management structure and the development of a supervision structure, referring to concerns about the behaviour and attitude of a female member of staff. Includes comments about the relationship between residential staff and fieldwork staff, referring to the Key Worker and Social Worker systems in operation at Heathfield. Includes reflections on Heathfield, commenting on his experiences of working at Heathfield. Details developments within the arena of child protection in the late 1980s and 1990s, particular in relation to the response to child abuse, commenting on the establishment of the Child Protection Team, introduction of the At Risk Register and introduction of the Jersey Child Protection Committee. Also includes comments about fostering, describing changes to fostering services and problems associated with fostering in Jersey regarding social policy issues and difficulties recruiting foster parents. Describes changes within Children's Services in the late 1990s, referring to his departure from Heathfield to become Resource Manager for Residential/Respite Services with responsibility for overseeing all residential units including La Chasse, Heathfield, La Préférence, Aviemore and St Mark's [Hostel]. Comments on the transition from Education to Health and Social Services and the physical relocation of all Children's Services out of the Education Department as well as significant staffing changes, mentioning role of Marnie Baudains. Refers to several initiatives and developments during this period with regards to the development of legislation, establishment of the Jersey Child Protection Committee, introduction of formal assessment processes and a placement panel, improvements to case conferences, a new management structure and the introduction of infrastructure for IT development. Describes dealing with internal complaints and allegations against, referring to: an incident in 2000 involving a child in care and a member of staff at La Préférence; a complaint made against another member of Children's Services staff in 2001; a police investigation regarding an incident at La Préférence in 2004 involving two members of Children's Services staff; and an incident in 2000. Includes comments about the political positioning of Children's Services as part of the Education Department and then as part of Health and Social Services Department, commenting on impact on investment, resources and development. Includes comments about interaction between agencies, particularly in relation to multi-agency working. Comments on recommendations contained in a report by Dr Kathie Bull in March 2003, particularly in respect of practices at Les Chênes, the establishment of the Children's Executive and the establishment of Greenfields. Includes comments about Les Chênes and Greenfields, referring to the appointment of Simon Bellwood, the Grand Prix system, complaints made by Simon Bellwood, and the work of the Board of Visitors. Also details his involvement the implementation of other developments following the Kathie Bull report, mentioning the development of the Youth Action Team and Multi Agency Support Teams in secondary schools, staff development and staff training and work undertaken by the parishes. Includes comments about issues regarding the funding of the recommendations, and details of a task of prioritising the recommendations. Includes an explanation of the Children's Executive and the Corporate Parenting structure, referring to problems with this structure in the early years due to significant disagreement across the political framework and subsequent impact on Children's Services, particularly in respect of negative press coverage. Includes comments about a Serious Case Review by Dr Mark Jones in 2007, allegations by Simon Bellwood about Greenfields and remarks about a police investigation into allegations against a member of staff in residential services in August 2006. Comments on recommendations of a report by Andrew Williamson regarding child protection arrangements in Jersey and details his involvement in the development of an Implementation Plan to oversee its recommendations, referring to issues associated with funding and budget constraints. Comments on further developments within Children's Services management following a report by Alan Breckon in July 2009. Also describes the management of the Children's Service following the Williamson Report, mentioning Stuart Brook, referring to his decision to apply for voluntary redundancy in 2010 and commenting on his appointment as Director for Children's Service in September 2011. Refers to inspections of Children's Services conducted by the Scottish Care Inspectorate in 2012 and 2013 and the development of a new management action plan for Children's Services in March 2014. Finishes with comments about a report by the Health, Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel in June 2014 into the services operated by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), detailing his decision to leave the Children's Service after being informed of plans for reorganisation within the management team as a result of this report. Includes comments about findings and recommendations contained in the ministerial response to the CAMHS report. Finishes with concluding remarks about his experiences of working in Children's Services, reflecting on his achievements and work done by the Service during his career. [For Exhibits PD1 to PD29 as referred to in this Witness Statement, see C/D/AW2/A7/39/WD007345/1 to C/D/AW2/A7/39/WD007345/29]. |
| Names | Baudains, Marnie Bellwood, Simon Blackwell, Grant Brace, Sarah Breckon, Alan, Senator Brook, Stuart Bull, Kathie, Dr Clifford, Michaela Climbié, Victoria Cutland, Mike Dennett, Phil Dodds, Linda Etienne, John Herrod, Anne Hill, Bob, Deputy Hurford, Wendy Jones, Mark, Dr Jouault, Richard Kinnard, Wendy Laming, Lord William Herbert Le Marquand, Ian Le Sueur, Tony Lundy, Mario Lusby, Lynne Mallet, Andrew Pike, Chay Purgel, Sarah Richardson, Sue Rogers, Chris Skinner, Anton Springate, Emile Syvret, Stuart, Senator Thoburn, June Underwood, Terry Vautier, Pauline Vibert, Mike, Senator Williamson, Andrew Woods, Robert Aviemore Board of Visitors Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Child Protection Team Children's Executive Children's Policy Group Children's Services Community and Social Services Education Committee Education Department Educational Psychology Service Greenfields Centre Haut de la Garenne Health and Social Services Health Social Security and Housing Scrutiny Panel Heathfield Children's Home Home Affairs Jersey Child Protection Committee Jersey Evening Post Jersey Family Court Advisory Service La Chasse Centre La Préférence Children's Home Lacey Advocates Leeds University Les Chênes Residential School Les Chênes School Advisory Sub-Committee Mental Health Services Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub Ofsted Operation Rectangle Probation Service Scottish Care Inspectorate Social Security Department South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education St James' School St Mark's Hostel States of Jersey States of Jersey Police Trustee Savings Bank Youth Action Team |
| Keywords | abuse | allegations | assault | child abuse | childcare | Children | children's homes | children's services | complaints | evidence | fostering | Grand Prix system | IJCI | inquiries | investigations | Managers | physical abuse | Police | restraint | security | serious case reviews | sexual abuse | social workers | statements | Therapeutic Crisis Intervention | training | witness statements | witnesses | young offenders |
| Places | Bristol, Chepstow, Cardiff, Gloucester, Greenfields, Haut de la Garenne, Heathfield, St Saviour, La Chasse, Les Chênes, Five Oaks, La Préférence, St Martin, 24, St Mark's Road, Warrington |
| Dimensions | 1 pdf file |
| Language | English |
| Level of description | File |
| Access restrictions | Closed for preservation - please consult digital copy |
Context:
Digital copy of the First Witness Statement of Philip John Dennett to the Inquiry providing an account of his experiences as an employee of the States of Jersey working in various positions for Children's Services and the Children's Executive. [Some details redacted].
ZC/D/AW2/B3/32/WS000628
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