What Jersey’s Care Sector Really Wants for Christmas
A year-end reflection from Cambrette Care
As 2025 draws to a close, care teams across Jersey are guiding people safely through the colder months - keeping homes warm, routines steady, and families reassured. It’s the season of wish lists and good intentions, and in the spirit of optimism, we’ve gathered a few hopes of our own for the year ahead. None of these are extravagant ideas - they are practical, human improvements that would make life better for carers, clients and the whole sector. Here’s what’s at the top of our Christmas list this year.
1. A Skills Passport for Carers
One of the greatest frustrations in our sector is how talented, compassionate carers can struggle to progress - not because of ability, but because their training isn’t always formally recognised or easily transferable. A Skills Passport would help change that. In 2025, ME Passport - a nationally recognised framework that creates a portable, verified record of a carer’s training, competencies and experience – applied for funding to set up in Jersey. While funding was not approved this year, we remain convinced it is a powerful option for the island and hope it will be revisited. The benefits of a skills passport model like ME Passport are clear:
higher, more consistent standards of care
smoother onboarding across providers
improved retention and progression
greater professional confidence and pride
It would help shift care from being seen as ‘just a job’ to a recognised, skilled career- something our workforce richly deserves.
2. Recognition of Carers as a Skilled Profession
Following on from our first wish, several countries (including New Zealand and parts of Australia) have introduced formal professional recognition for carers, similar to teaching assistants or early years practitioners. This often involves:
clearer job bands
recognition of specialisms (dementia, complex care, end-of-life)
small but meaningful pay differentials linked to training
Even modest steps in Jersey would help elevate the profession and support the culture shift Beth cares so much about.
3. A Collaborative, Proportionate Hospital Discharge Process
Safe hospital discharge depends on good communication and timely action - and Jersey’s care professionals are already working closely with the Jersey Care Commission (JCC) to meet robust standards. But in recent months, additional administrative requirements have begun creeping into the process, often duplicating checks already carried out by the JCC. The intention is always safety. The outcome, however, is slowing down discharge pathways, creating unnecessary delays for families, and adding pressure to an already stretched workforce. Our Christmas wish is simple: a joined-up, collaborative discharge policy that recognises existing systems, avoids duplication, and ensures carers can spend more time with clients - not more time on repeated paperwork.
4. Space to Innovate in Training and Development
The care sector is evolving quickly. We’re seeing exciting possibilities in micro-learning, blended digital modules, scenario-based training and specialist development for complex care needs. What we need next is support to accelerate innovation and flexible frameworks that allow providers to trial new approaches, share learnings, and continuously improve standards across the island. Investing in training is not just about compliance; it’s about confidence, capability and culture.
5. A Positive, Sustainable Culture for Care
Behind every policy discussion is something much simpler: people who want to feel valued, respected and supported in the work they do. A positive sector culture - one that celebrates care as a skilled, essential profession - doesn’t require legislation or large budgets. It starts with small, consistent actions:
listening to carers
recognising good practice
strengthening relationships across organisations
maintaining compassion not just for clients, but for one another
6. A Stable, Long-Term Workforce Plan
Many regions (including Scotland and parts of Wales) have introduced multi-year workforce plans that provide clarity, stability and predictable funding for training, recruitment and retention. A similar approach in Jersey would:
reduce year-to-year uncertainty
help providers plan properly
support carers to see long-term progression
strengthen continuity of care for clients
7. Simple Digital Integration Between Health & Care Providers
Other jurisdictions are trialling shared digital notes or light-touch information portals, allowing care providers, district nurses, and hospitals to view essential updates without duplicating work. This isn’t about heavy technology - just the basics done well, such as:
discharge notes available in one place
medication changes communicated immediately
reduction in repeat phone calls or paper forms
A small change that makes everyone’s life easier, especially families.
8. Building on the Success of Jersey Professional Carers’ Day
One of the real highlights of 2025 was Jersey Professional Carers’ Day, which brought together carers, providers, partners and policymakers in a way that felt genuinely inclusive and energising. It created space to listen, to share experiences, and to celebrate the skill and compassion within our workforce - something that doesn’t always get enough attention. The response from carers was overwhelmingly positive, and it showed what’s possible when the sector comes together with a shared purpose. Our Christmas wish is that 2026 builds on this momentum - with an even bigger, more impactful day that continues to support learning, recognition and connection across Jersey’s care community.
Looking Ahead with Hope
At Cambrette Care, we’ve seen the very best of Jersey’s care community this year - carers going above and beyond, families showing extraordinary resilience, and colleagues across the island working together with real heart. Our Christmas list may be ambitious, but it is rooted in common sense and shared purpose. With collaborative thinking and a commitment to doing what’s right for both the workforce and the people we support, these wishes are within reach. Here’s to a brighter, more connected and more compassionate year ahead - for carers, for clients, and for our whole island community.