Jersey's Children First

Jersey’s Children First is a standard practice model adopted across agencies, services and settings in the public, community and voluntary sectors in Jersey.

A multi-agency group, including parents, has developed a Jersey-specific model based on learning in other places which includes:

Every Child Matters, in England,Getting it Right for Every Child, in Scotlandthe Unified Approach to Assessing Children’s Needs, in Ireland 

It is designed for all those working with children from pre-birth to 19 with emerging or known additional or complex needs/disabilities, including Looked-After Children and those in need of protection. 

The approach has additional responsibilities for young people who have been in the care of the States of Jersey and young people in transition to adult services.

It is the vehicle for delivering the four outcomes of the forthcoming Children’s Plan for Jersey:

that all children in Jersey grow up safelylive healthy liveslearn and achieveare seen and heard

Services and agencies working with children and families are committed to improving outcomes for Jersey’s children, in particular those who are most vulnerable. This shared approach will enable agencies to work together effectively to ensure children and their families can access the right help, at the right time, from the right service.

Jersey’s Children First is sponsored by the Department for Children, Young People, Education and Skills and Health and Social Services. It is driven by the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry and the Community Ministerial Group’s discussion around the Troubled Families Programme.