02 June 2009
A new independent chair for the Jersey Child Protection Committee has been appointed to replace Professor June Thoburn, who completed her term of office at the end of May 2009.
Mike Taylor is a former Director of Social Services for the London Borough of Hillingdon, and he was part of the North Wales Child Care Examination Team reporting to the Secretary of State for Wales on children’s services. He has also worked as the Director of UK and European Programmes for Save the Children and Director of Children’s Services for the NSPCC.
Mr Taylor’s appointment follows a rigorous recruitment process led by the Appointments Commission. The interview panel included the Ministers of Health and Social Services, Home Affairs and Education, Sport and Culture, together with Professor Thoburn and Andrew Williamson.
Professor Thoburn said: “There was a very strong interest in this post and I am delighted Mike Taylor was ultimately selected from a strong field of candidates. Mr Taylor brings to the role broader experience of delivering social services in the voluntary and well as the statutory sector than I have been able to provide. He has a strong commitment to ensuring that children and parents experiencing difficulties will have an independent voice if they feel that child protection services are letting them down. I shall miss my trips to Jersey but am happy to leave the JCPC in such good hands. I wish him and the Committee every success.”
The Health Minister, Deputy Anne Pryke, says: “The Council of Ministers and I are very grateful to Professor Thoburn for her stewardship of the Jersey Child Protection Committee. During her term of office she has redefined its role and established a structure of sub-committees and a range of initiatives which give the work of this important Committee greater prominence. In doing so, the life chances of children, young people and families at risk have undoubtedly been improved as a consequence. Professor Thoburn leaves strong foundations upon which the new independent Chair of the Jersey Child Protection Committee can build.”
Summarising her work in Jersey, Professor Thoburn said “During my time here, the JCPC has been refocused and its remit expanded so it can take on the expanded role of scrutinising inter-agency child protection work envisaged by the Williamson recommendations. I have been most appreciative of the support I have received from the States and from the staff of the statutory and non-statutory sectors who have a role to play in these matters.
“I have been particularly pleased that I have found it possible to appoint a JCPC Professional Officer and Administrator, who are able to support the work of the Committee, which is made up of busy, front line, health and social care professionals. These two officers provide higher visibility and accessibility to Jersey citizens, and ensure that detailed programmes of work are implemented. All of this means that it is now a good time to hand over to a new Chair.”
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