New compensation scheme opens for Les Chênes abuse survivors 'failed' by government
People who suffered abuse or harm as children while in care at a former Jersey secure school can claim compensation from today.
It comes on the day the government says “sorry” for failing abused children and their families.
The redress scheme will run for one year and will be open to anybody who was a resident in a government children’s home, foster care placement or held at the Les Chênes secure unit between 1945 and 2005.
A previous scheme, set up in 2012, was time-limited to exclude all survivors of abuse at Les Chênes, which was highlighted during the Independent Jersey Care Inquiry.
It follows a threat to sue the government, made nearly one year ago, by former residents of the secure school who claimed the authorities weren’t taking their plight seriously.
Former residents of Les Chênes will be able to claim compensation based on the number of nights they stayed there, starting at £1,000 for one week or less up to a maximum of £10,000 for those who spent more than 271 days there.
An additional payment of between £500 to £4,000 will be available for those who suffered inappropriate physical treatment.
A separate tariff of payments is available for anybody who was resident at any children's home or in foster care, which covers more 'serious' abuse, with up to £70,000 payable to those who were raped or sexually abused involving penetration.
Claimants may be asked to supply medical records, social services records, and copies of reports from their time in care.
The new scheme will be funded from government central contingencies, and have been approved by the Treasury and Resources Minister.
Last autumn, the government pledged to seriously consider a form of compensation before the end of the year, finally confirming there would be a scheme earlier this year.
132 people applied to the 2012 scheme which was open to children who suffered sexual or unlawful physical abuse between 9 May 1945 and 31 December 1994 in States of Jersey full-time residential care, which paid out £2.1 million.
Legal fees will be fixed at a maximum of £2,200.
The new scheme closes on 30 June 2020. You can apply at www.gov.je/redress or by collecting an application form from Citizens Advice Jersey or Jersey Library.
If you have been affected by abuse in residential or foster care and would like to speak to someone, you can contact Victim Support Jersey on 01534 440496 or Jersey Samaritans for free on 116123.