Jane St Pier becomes Chair of the Children’s Tribunal System

Wednesday 05 January 2022

The body responsible for referring children to the Child Youth and Community Tribunal has appointed a new Chair of the organisation, Jane St Pier.

Mrs St Pier takes over from Gill Couch as the head of the Convenor and Tribunal Board.

The Children’s Tribunal System is comprised of three moving parts, the Child Youth and Community Tribunal, the Office of the Children’s Convenor, and the Convenor and Tribunal Board.

These independent bodies work together to make legal decisions that support the wellbeing of young people in the Bailiwick. Board members are appointed by the Committee for Health and Social Care.

 “There is no doubt that working in the Children’s Tribunal System has been one of the most worthwhile and satisfying chapters in my working life,” said Ms Couch who has been a member of the Convenor and Tribunal Board since 2015.

“I extend my admiration and thanks to all the colleagues I have worked with on the Board, the Office of the Children’s Convenor, the Child Youth and Community Tribunal, the Committee for Health and Social Care and members of the Royal Court.”

The 2020 Annual Report was released late last year and painted a picture of a busy and essential service, that included 100 children being helped through 251 hearings.

Pictured: The CTS was concerned with a low number of community referrals in 2020.

“While I am sad to leave, I know that Jane will bring strong and effective leadership to the Chair in 2022, building on the achievements of the last twelve years and taking the service forward during the next phase of its development, ensuring that the Children’s Tribunal System continues to go from strength to strength,” concluded Ms Couch, who succeeded one of the developers of the Children (Guernsey and Alderney) Law, 2008, Janet Gaggs.

The 2008 law guides the legal practices that protect children in the island. It came into force in Janaury 2010 and is the framework that the CTS works to.

Mrs St Pier is well known in the island for a raft of charitable initiatives and groups she's involved with. This includes co-founding Young People Guernsey, sitting as Chair of the Youth Commission, and being an appointed director of the Guernsey Community Foundation, the Guernsey Chamber of Commerce, and the Abortion Support Network.

“I am delighted to be taking over as Chair of the Children’s Tribunal System,” she said.

“Janet and Gill have done a fantastic job in overseeing the Children’s Convenor and Child Youth & Community Tribunal, ensuring that they have the resources they need to support the island’s young people. 

“Since its inception, it’s amazing to see the positive changes that the Children’s Tribunal System has made, united in the purpose of improving the lives of children and their families. 

“Now it’s time to show the wider community what we do, and I am grateful that I will be able to play a part in taking it on the next stage of its journey.”

Pictured top: Ms Couch (left) and Mrs St Pier (right).