As Children’s Mental Health Week gets underway Parent Carer Forum Jersey announces new Chair and 2021 priorities

Jonathan Langan has been appointed as the new Chair of Parent Carer Forum Jersey to help drive forward the Forum’s priorities for the coming year. Established in 2017, the Forum’s Management Committee is made up of parents and other volunteers who have experience in the areas focussed on by the Forum.

Jonathan is the Chief Financial Officer for HSBC, Channel Islands and Isle of Man and brings with him a wealth of experience in leading teams and managing complex projects to enable him to facilitate the conversation with key stakeholders within the Government of Jersey and other associated organisations to help improve services accessed by the families supported by the Forum.
As well as leading the Management Committee of the Forum, Jonathan will also Chair the Partnership Committee which is formed from representatives of the Management Committee and appropriate Government executives.

In his first few months with the Forum, the Committee has already established its four priorities for 2021. These are:

• Mental Health – aiming to improve services via CAHMS, to ensure that the wellbeing and mental health of neuro diverse children and young people are effectively catered for, including a neuro diversity pathway and appropriate specialist care and therapies are available for children with conditions such as ASD, PDA and ADHD.
• Social Security – to ensure that carers are recognised for the vital role they play in Jersey society and enable them to retain their careers and to ensure that homing caring is a viable option for children who require a high level of personal care.
• Transition to Adulthood – to ensure a clear and concise pathway with adequate support along the way to ensure children and young people with special needs have the best chance to thrive into adulthood.
• Education – improving partnership between parents and schools to ensure effective and timely communication to support children. Championing the strengths and uniqueness of SEND students and improving awareness and understanding of neuro diversity. Allowing SEND students to be successful learners and leave school feeling accomplished by accommodating their unique learning styles including wellbeing and mental health support.

Commenting on his appointment and the work of the Parent Carer Forum, Jonathan said, “Our fundamental purpose is to deliver better outcomes for families living with special educational needs and disabilities. We aim to act as a collective voice, and by working alongside our key stakeholders, to improve the lives of those families by highlighting the issues and helping to create the solutions.”