Gov defends appointment of UK-based care model board

Friday 18 March 2022

The Government has defended the make-up of a board overseeing the development of Jersey's new health care system, with none of its members being based in the island, or having direct experience of how it works.

The three-member Independent Oversight Board (IOB) will review the delivery of the Jersey Care Model – a five-year plan designed to provide less care in hospital and more in islanders’ homes and the community.

The board meets for the first time today in the island. Last week, the Government announced that the final two members had been selected, joining chair Mike Greenwood, who was appointed last month.

Helen Keppel-Compton, who has 32 years’ experience within eCommerce, retail and governance, is a former director of online capability for Waitrose and a current trustee of The Children's Society.

Gérald Sampson has spent 24 years in business and a further 16 years in regulation. He is a former director at Arthur Anderson and has also managed a specialist resolution unit for the UK Financial Conduct Authority.

The board was appointed by the Jersey Appointments Commission. The Government said that Jersey-based candidates did apply but none was suitable.

The three members of the Jersey Care Model Independent Oversight Board: chair Mike Greenwood, Helen Keppel-Compton and Gérald Sampson.

Health Minister Richard Renouf said: “We would always prefer to recruit candidates from on-island. 

“However, due to the specialist nature of the role required for the Independent Oversight Board we advertised the posts in both Jersey and the UK and received applications from both jurisdictions. 

“The recruitment process was overseen by the Jersey Appointments Commission to ensure an independent recruitment process and that the best-suited candidates were chosen.”

He added: “The Independent Oversight Board will monitor the effectiveness of the programme management, its governance and delivery progress, and so candidates were selected on skillsets related to project management, finance and risk management of large projects. 

“Meanwhile, the ‘Clinical and Professional Advisory Forum’(CPAF), which consists of health and care professionals, will ensure that the Jersey Care Model is developed in line with Jersey’s particular health and care needs.”

Pictured: James Le Feuvre is independent chair of the Health and Care Partnership Group.

Yesterday, another body reviewing the direction and progress of the Jersey Care Model met for the first time. Whereas the CPAF is a body comprising of health professionals, including clinicians and GPs, the ‘Health and Care Partnership Group’ is a group which includes charities, care providers and other groups who are likely to have a role in the model.

Chaired by former General Hospital Director James Le Feuvre, the HCPG met for the first time on Thursday, with more than 60 islanders attending. It will meet quarterly to improve “collaboration and integration” between all parties and run services in a more coordinated way.

After the meeting, Mr Le Feuvre said: “From the many meetings with health and care providers that I have in the run-up to this first event, I have not met anyone who thinks that the status quo is sustainable. 

“I am very grateful to those whom attended this first meeting and look forward to working with them as we seek to improve coordination and real partnership working as we strengthen existing services and introduce new ones so as to provide Islanders with appropriate care, tailored to their own particular needs.”

The next meeting of the Health and Care Partnership Group is due to be held on 14 July.

Pictured: The Health and Care Partnership Group met for the first time on Thursday.

The IOB, meanwhile, will meet monthly and report on that basis to both the Health Minister and Scrutiny on the “quality and robustness” of the JCM’s delivery, risk management, resourcing and communication plan.

An annual budget of £40,000 has been allocated to fund the IOB, with the chair being paid £20,000 and the directors receiving £10,000 per year for one-and-a-half days per month of their time.

On the final pieces of the IOB jigsaw falling into place, Deputy Renouf, said: “I’m pleased that the board is now fully formed and I look forward to hearing their thoughts on how to ensure the successful progress of the Jersey Care Model.

In a statement, the Health and Social Security Scrutiny Panel said: “We welcome the appointments of Helen Keppel-Compton and Gérald Sampson to the IOB. The panel is assured that the it will ensure progress to the essential work on the JCM and we eagerly anticipate their first report as soon as possible.”