Chair of the Jersey Care Commission:
Job description
On this page
On this page:
- Section 1 - Background information on Jersey and the Commission
- Section 2 - Role description and personal specification for Chair
- Section 3 - Appointment process and how to apply
- Appendix 1 - Additional Information on the Island of Jersey
Section 1: Background information on Jersey and the Commission
Section 1 - Background information on Jersey and the Commission
The Jersey Care Commission
In July 2014 the States of Jersey approved a Law governing the regulation of health and social care services in the Island: The Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014 (“the Law”)
One of the key features of the Law is the establishment of an independent Care Commission. The Commission is responsible for the overall assurance of the safety and quality of health and social care in Jersey.
The Commission, which is accountable to the Minister for the Environment, is a non-departmental public body operating independently of government and consisting of a board of Commissioners together with a team of executive officers. It is supported by the Cabinet Office and is funded partially through registration fees and partly by the States of Jersey.
The Law came into force in January 2019, when care homes, home care and day care services for adults were made subject to independent regulation and annual inspection by the Care Commission
In April 2022, the States Assembly approved Regulations to further extend the scope of the Law to cover social work and mental health services provided to children and young people. These came into force in January 2023. The Care Commission has now conducted its first full independent inspections of Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Children’s Services.
Establishing regulation of previously unregulated environments across Jersey’s health and social care sector is a sizeable and complex task. Implementing regulation across the whole sector overnight would overwhelm both the regulator and the regulated entities. It is for this reason that Regulations under the Law have been and, it is proposed, will continue to be brought for debate in the Assembly in phases.
In December 2022, the States Assembly approved funding to regulate hospital, ambulance and government provided mental health services. This is on course to be implemented in 2025. Proposed future phases of work include adult social care services and primary medical and dental services.
The Commission also has responsibility for the registration of health and social care professionals, the regulation of piercing and tattooing activities and the designation and inspection of Yellow Fever Centres.
In addition to the Chair, there are 6 other Commissioners. The composition of the Commission reflects a range of skills and expertise including a proven capability in the delivery of social care, expertise in the delivery of health care and experience of using or caring for a user of health or social care. As Regulations for other services are phased in, the Law provides for the number of Commissioners to be increased up to a maximum of eight.
The Commission Chair
The Minister for the Environment wishes to appoint a Chair of the Commission
The appointment process for the Chair of the Commission is set out in Schedule 2 of the Law. This enables the Minister for the Environment, after consulting with the Council of Ministers, to select and appoint the Chair.
Once appointed, the Chair will be expected to lead the selection and nomination of other Commissioners supported by the Jersey Appointments Commission.
The Chair provides leadership and direction for the Commission to ensure the quality of regulated services and effective performance management of the organisation.
Vision and values
The Commission’s vision is to provide independent assurance, promoting best practice and improving health and social care outcomes for the people of Jersey.
The Commission’s work is founded on the core values of:
- A person centred approach – to put the needs and the voices of people using health and social care services at the heart of everything it does
- Integrity – to be objective and impartial in its dealings with people and organisations
- Openness and accountability – to act fairly and transparently, and be responsible for its actions
- Efficiency and excellence – strive to continually improve and provide the best possible quality and value from its work
- Engagement – work together with, and seek the views of, those using, providing, funding and planning health and social care services in developing all aspects of its work.
The team
The team at present includes:
- Board of Commissioners, Chair and Commissioners x6
- Chief Inspector
- Deputy Chief Inspector
- Pharmacist Inspector
- Regulation Officers x10
- Head of Business and Performance
- Specialist Data and Engagement Insights Analyst (Vacant)
- Business Support Team Leader
- Business Support Team Administrator x 3
- Functional Support
- Communications Support
- Principal Standards Officer
- Deputy Chief Inspector
- Chief Inspector
The Government of Jersey provides human resources, finance and IT expertise to support the Commission.
Section 2: Role description and personal specification for Chair
Section 2 - Role description and personal specification for Chair
The Chair will provide leadership and direction to the Commission in order to ensure the quality of regulated services in Jersey and deliver improved outcomes for service users. The Chair will also work to ensure the effective operation and performance of the Commission.
Role description
The Chair of the Commission will be required to:
- in chairing the meetings of the Commission to set the agenda, style and tone of discussions to promote effective decision making and constructive debate
- listen sensitively to the views of others both inside and outside of the Commission
- provide leadership by maintaining a focus on strategy and performance. It is not the role of the Chair and Board members to have detailed involvement in the day-to-day management of the organisation
- work in partnership with the senior executive officer to achieve the aims of the Commission. This includes providing challenge to the senior executive officer whilst respecting executive responsibility and ensuring that the senior officer’s performance is formally reviewed on an annual basis
- assemble an effective and complementary Board of Commissioners and encourage members to work together as a team
- in overseeing any organisational change, ensure this is done sensitively, effectively and in partnership
- ensure that the Commission delivers its key duties which include to:
- ensure that services are regulated and inspected in accordance with the Law, in order that all services users and their families benefit from good quality services that meet their needs
- oversee a regulatory regime which supports continuous improvement, as opposed to one which focusses purely on compliance monitoring
- provide strategic direction including setting and monitoring operational objectives for the Commission taking into consideration the context and needs of the Island
- set and maintain the values for the organisation and ensure that its obligations to all stakeholders, including people who use services, are understood and met
- ensure that resources are allocated to strategic objectives
- ensure governance arrangements for the Commission’s executive function are effective and kept under review
- ensure the highest levels of probity and integrity are upheld in the way the Commission carries out its functions
- promote best practice across the sectors it oversees.
Personal specification
Essential criteria
- Leadership – experience of providing leadership at a senior level, with an ability to chair and lead a high profile organisation
- Strategy and change – experience of determining strategy and delivering positive change
- Experience of and/or familiarity with inspection or regulation regimes
- Health or social care experience – direct experience of providing and/or regulating care within the health or social care sector with a particular focus on improving outcomes for service users
- Decision making – ability to examine and review complex information and make informed decisions
- Performance and quality assurance – experience of overseeing or reviewing the quality of an organisation’s services or performance
- Challenge and influencing – ability to challenge constructively and influence decisions within the Board, the team or external stakeholders
- Communication and engagement– ability to communicate effectively and engage with external partners and stakeholders
Desirable criteria
- Skills and knowledge gained from promoting equal opportunity and diversity issues
- Knowledge and understanding of operating within a small or island community
- Understanding of continuous improvement techniques, such as LEAN
Disqualification from appointment
The following people are disqualified for appointment as Chair of the Commissioners:
- Members of the States of Jersey, the States of Guernsey or the Isle of Man Tynwald
- Any person who is working or has worked as an employee or pursuant to a contract for services in any administration of the States of Jersey for which the Minister for Health and Social Services is responsible
- Any person who is working or has worked whether as an employee or pursuant to a contract for services for any public authority providing health or social services in Guernsey or the Isle of Man
- Any person who has, or has had, any other interest in the provision of health or social care in Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, whether that interest is or was financial, or as an officer, member, trustee, employee or associate or otherwise
- Anyone who has received a prison sentence or suspended sentence in the last five years
- Anyone who is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order or interim order
- Anyone who has been dismissed (without being reinstated) by reason of misconduct from any paid employment where that dismissal has not been subject or a finding of unfair dismissal by a tribunal or court
- Anyone who is under a disqualification order under the Companies (Jersey) Law 1991 or equivalent legislation in other jurisdictions
Conflicts of interest
The Chair will be required to declare any private interests which may, or may be perceived, to conflict with the role and responsibilities as the Chair of the Jersey Care Commission.
Contracted days and remuneration
The Chair will be contracted to undertake a minimum of 30 days per annum (a minimum of 10 days being spent in Jersey), at £650 per day for a three-year term. It is anticipated that this will include chairing a minimum of 4 Commission meetings per year.
The daily fee for the Chair will be £650 per day, non-pensionable. The Chair will be entitled to be reimbursed for any reasonable expenses incurred in the course of carrying out his or her duties, including travel to and from the island, hotel and subsistence costs.
Location
Commission meetings will take place in Jersey. This does not preclude home-based work in between Commission meetings.
Length of appointment
The term of appointment shall be for three years in the first instance, subject to formal review at 6 months. Appointment may be renewed subject to evidence of effective performance and to satisfying the requirements of the person specification at the time of re-appointment.
Section 3: Appointment Process and How To Apply
Section 3 - Appointment process and how to apply
The Jersey Care Commission is established under the Regulation of Care (Jersey) Law 2014 (referred to as the 2014 Law) to regulate health and social care providers in Jersey.
Given the profile and importance of these positions, the appointment process is to be overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission.
Making an application
To make an application for the position of Chair please send your CV together with a supporting letter to resourcing@gov.je
Please also ensure that you are not disqualified from being the Chair and/or Commission. Information about disqualification is set out in the role descriptions and personal specifications below.
Please note this position is now closed for further applications. It is anticipated that interviews will take place week commencing 14th October 2024.
For further information or to arrange an informal discussion about the role please contact Chief Inspector Becky Sherrington via b.sherrington@carecommission.je
Supporting letter
Your supporting letter is your opportunity to demonstrate how you meet each of the criteria set out in the person specification. How you choose to present the information is up to you, however you should aim to provide specific and detailed examples that demonstrate how your knowledge and experience matches the criteria. You can draw on examples from your working life, through your participation with a private, public, voluntary or community organisation, and/or other areas of your personal life. You should consider such issues as where your skills knowledge and experience was gained, the length and breadth of your experience and most importantly how you applied your skills, knowledge and experience in practical situations. It will be beneficial to the selection panel if you can be clear which particular evidence you provide relates to which criteria.
If you have any business or personal interests that might be relevant to the work of the Commission and which could lead or to actual, or perceived, conflicts of interest if you were to be appointed, please give details in your supporting letter.
Fit and proper person assessment
Prior to appointment you will be expected to demonstrate that you are a fit and proper person to take up this high-profile public position. This will be assessed throughout the appointment process and will include gathering appropriate information and evidence to verify fitness. This will include:
- Verification and evaluation of information you provide in relation to the skills and knowledge required by the role from application documentation and at interview
- If successful, obtaining references and an appropriate criminal record disclosure
- Confirmation that your conduct to date has been compatible with the role by confirming you understand the work of the Commission and the nature of the appointment, and that you are not aware of committing any offence or performing any act incompatible with the position
- Confirmation that you have no inappropriate or unmanageable conflicts of interest
- Confirmation that you are not disqualified on any grounds from being appointed
- By virtue of submitting an application you are declaring that the information you provide is to the best of your knowledge and belief, true and complete.
We actively look to recruit people from different backgrounds, with diverse perspectives. This creates a richer, more varied environment, where you’re exposed to new ideas, new ways of thinking and new opportunities, so you can develop an exciting and rewarding career.
Interviews
If you are shortlisted, interviews will take place in Jersey. Shortlisted applicants can claim for reasonable expenses including travel, accommodation and subsistence.
It is anticipated that the Interview Panel will include representatives from:
- the Jersey Appointments Commission
- the Cabinet Office
- an experienced regulator
- independent representatives of health and social care in Jersey
Appendix 1
Appendix 1
Additional information on the island of Jersey
Jersey is the largest of the Channel Islands with an area of 45 sq. miles (120 km2) and is situated 14 miles off the north-west coast of France and 85 miles from the English coast. It has a population of just over 100,000 people.
Jersey is a Crown Dependency and as such is not part of the UK. The Island is not represented in the UK parliament, whose Acts only extend to Jersey if expressly agreed by the Island that they should do so. As a self-governing Crown Dependency it has it own financial, legal and judicial systems.
The Island's parliament is the States Assembly, which consists of 49 elected members from a mix of island-wide and parish-based constituencies. This number comprises 37 Deputies and 12 Constables (Connétables). The Constables are the civil heads of Jersey's 12 parishes, and oversee the Parish Assemblies, at which all ratepayers and voters are entitled to express an opinion. Income to maintain local services such as lighting, rubbish collection and welfare projects is derived from rates paid by property owners. The Assembly is presided over by the Bailiff, who is also head of the Royal Court. The role combines in effect three roles - President or Speaker of the States, Head of the judiciary and Civic head. The Bailiff is assisted as Head of the judiciary by a Deputy Bailiff and the 12 elected Jurats - judges of fact.
The Assembly comprises the Bailiff, the Lieutenant-Governor, the Connétables (Constables), Deputies, the Dean of Jersey, the Attorney-General and the Solicitor-General. They all have the right to speak in the Assembly, but only the 49 elected members (Connétables and Deputies) have the right to vote.
The States of Jersey Law 2005 introduced a ministerial system of government. Executive powers are exercised by a Chief Minister and 12 other ministers, known collectively as the Council of Ministers, responsible to the States Assembly.
The Chief Minister is elected from amongst the elected members of the States. Ministers are then proposed both by the Chief Minister and any other elected member, the final decision being made by the States assembly.
