News « St Helena

Paul Bridgewater, Jane Jones and Suzie Nixon arrived on Island on 28 August 2014 to take on three new senior Social Services roles on St Helena.

Social Services on St Helena are delivered by a dedicated team of local staff who care for the disabled, look after the needs of older persons and those with learning disabilities, and safeguard St Helena’s children. The new staff arrive at a time of modernisation in the way that social services are delivered on the Island, and current key objectives include a sustained improvement in safeguarding and child protection, and improving the quality of life of identified individuals through personalised care and treatment. Paul, Jane and Suzie will spend three months on St Helena, specialising in three main areas.

Paul will specialise in the assessment of adults in supported SHG residential settings, establishing what residents need and how best to deliver their needs.

Paul said:

“It is about empowering a person to access what is available in the community to support them. For example, SHAPE is a fantastic initiative that supports just this.”

Suzie will work mainly with family groups. She will identify situations where family group conferences are best suited to resolve difficulties, involving all members of the family, including family friends and colleagues where appropriate – to create and manage a plan for a family member in need.

Jane will focus on child protection and child wellbeing, including private fostering and child minding arrangements, to ensure that St Helena policies are up to date.

Social Services is currently developing a new residential care facility for people in need, involving a major refurbishment of the old Half Tree Hollow School building, as a replacement for the current accommodation. This will improve respite care, in a far more visually engaging location, with improved living conditions and additional space for all clients.

All new arrivals agreed:

“There are good systems in place on St Helena. It is our job to enhance these systems and share our knowledge and experience. On St Helena, we have to be realistic about what can be delivered, but we will identify gaps and try to find practical solutions.”

Paul has experience in adult safeguarding and specialist autism teams, and has also worked in similar settings in hospitals.

Suzie has been a social worker in New Zealand and has recently completed two years on Pitcairn Island.

Jane’s background is in child protection in the UK and the Channel Islands, working closely with children and families. She has also been an expert witness in the courts.

Jane added:

“Social Services are based on the same issues everywhere. I don’t think there is anywhere in the world where there aren’t some needs for some people. The idea of social services is to clearly identify what those needs are and to support families to find ways to resolve them.”

Two pictures accompany this release.

SHG

2 September 2014

Dottie getting ready to make her way down Mainstreet

In June 2014 work commenced on the pavement areas in lower Jamestown, as part of the Main Street Enhancement Project. Contractor Brian Leo and his team are carrying out the pavement works, managed by Pro Arc and planned and funded through Enterprise St Helena’s Tourism team. The pavements from Porteous House up to the Consulate Hotel have now been completed, as well as the area outside the Post Office building on the other side of the street.

On Friday 29 August 2014, Dorothy (Dottie) Peters from the CCC visited Jamestown especially to test the new pavements’ accessibility for wheelchair users like herself. Dottie made her way from Solomons Office to Porteous House in her electric wheelchair. She commented:

“The new pavements are a great idea and are so much easier to navigate with a wheelchair. The workers are doing a brilliant job and I am definitely looking forward to completion of the other side of the street as it will be much easier for wheelchair users like me to get into some of the shops.”

Chairperson of the Disabled Persons Aid Society, Ian Rummery, added:

“St Helena is not an easy place for wheelchair accessibility, but I am delighted that it has been a key criterion for the Main Street Enhancement Project. The new pavements not only look great but they are going to make it easier and safer not just for wheelchair users but for all people with limited mobility and for children in pushchairs. Once the pavements have been completed there will be a wheelchair friendly crossing constructed between the two pavements.

“On behalf of the Disabled Persons Aid Society I would like to thank everyone involved in this project who have been supportive of our efforts to improve disabled access in Jamestown.”

Work is now ongoing between the Post Office and St James’ Church.

Contractor Brian Leo said:

“The works are progressing well. We did lose a few days due to bad weather and because no kerb stones were found in some places after we had dug up the old pavement. But, despite almost every day presenting us with challenges we are completing the work and have had some good and positive feedback from the public.”

Dottie using one of the new pavement ramps

The public are reminded that the bollards placed at intervals along the pavements are designed to protect and preserve the restored surfaces and old kerb stones. Vehicles should not be parked within these bollards on top of the pavement (in undesignated parking areas), which also obstructs wheelchair users and those with small children in pushchairs.

Two photos are attached.

SHG

1 September 2014

St Helena Government (SHG) already provides accurate and timely information to the public in many ways – including through routine publishing of public information and by interaction with the media – as part of open and transparent Government.

Where information held by SHG is not already in the public domain, the general public can already, and does, make various requests to St Helena Government for information, and such requests are normally dealt with by the relevant Directorate.

From today, 1 September 2014, SHG streamlines that approach and offers a central point of enquiry – under its new Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information. The Code of Practice can be viewed at: http://www.sainthelena.gov.sh/public-access-to-information/

The Code draws on access to information policies and legislation in the UK (e.g. FOI) and other island states.

The new Code deals with public requests for SHG information where that information is not already available by other means. So, the code does not replace the handling of routine requests from the public or the media by telephone, by e-mail or face to face, etc. These routine day to day requests to Government will continue to be dealt with simply and quickly through the normal channels.

But where members of the public wish to see information held by SHG, where it is not already available by other means – then they can from today make a request under the new Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information.

Councillor Ian Rummery said:

‘Freedom of Information was a major topic of discussion during the Election campaign last year, and the new Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information is an important part of SHG’s openness and transparency agenda. The Code will be kept under review and will be audited after six months to see how it has been used and what, if any, improvements can be made. Some information cannot be released to the public but this Code does offer a sensible and workable framework for the public to make requests, and requires SHG to explain where information cannot be released.’

Councillors will provide advice and assistance where needed to help constituents who wish to make requests under this procedure.

St Helena Government’s presumption will be for disclosure, and information will be provided unless one or more of the Exceptions in the Code applies. Again, these Exceptions draw on UK and international best practice, and they are important because St Helena Government, like all Governments, recognises that it does need to respect confidentiality between parties and has a duty to protect privacy and certain information.

The Code applies to all information held with proprietary rights by SHG, regardless of who produced or supplied the information and subject to the Exceptions listed in the Code. The Code requires all SHG employees dealing with requests to ensure that any request received from the public for information and made under the Code of Practice for Public Access to SHG Information, is dealt with in compliance with the Code.

From today, all requests for SHG information made under the Code of Practice, should be sent, in writing, directly to the Executive Manager Corporate Services, SHG, at the Castle, or by e-mail to: informationrequest@sainthelena.gov.sh

SHG

1 September 2014

Councillors Constituency Surgeries conclude this Saturday, in Jamestown and Sandy Bay. Both surgeries will take place between 10am and 12noon.

If you would like to give Councillors advance notice of your concern before attending a surgery, you can do so by contacting the Secretary to Elected Members, Anita Legg, on Tel: 22590 or email: sec.em@helanta.co.sh

CONSTITUENCY SURGERIES
From 10am to 12noon
Venue	Date	Councillors Attending
No.3 Main Street, Jamestown	6 September	Brian Isaac & Bernice Olsson
Sandy Bay Community Centre	6 September	Dr Corinda Essex & Gavin Ellick

On behalf of St Helena Legislative Council

1 September 2014

Councillors Constituency Surgeries continue this Saturday at Half Tree Hollow, St Paul’s and Longwood. All the surgeries take place between 10am and 12noon.

Dates and locations of the surgeries are detailed below:

CONSTITUENCY SURGERIES
From 10am to 12noon
Venue	Date	Councillors Attending
Half Tree Hollow Clinic	30 August	Nigel Dollery & Lawson Henry
Kingshurst Community Centre, St Paul’s	30 August	Gavin Ellick & ChristineScipio-O’Dean
Harford Community Centre, Longwood	30 August	Les Baldwin & Brian Isaac
No.3 Main Street, Jamestown	6 September	Brian Isaac & Bernice Olsson
Sandy Bay Community Centre	6 September	Dr Corinda Essex & Gavin Ellick

On behalf of St Helena Legislative Council

26 August 2014

Arriving on the RMS tomorrow, Wednesday 27 August 2014, are five new teachers to join the St Helena Education team.

Andy Parkinson and Jonathan Lambdon will be joining Prince Andrew School to teach Maths – both are experienced teachers arriving from successful schools in the UK.

Beverley Tyson will lead on Marine Science, teaching classes at Prince Andrew School but also working across the age ranges including within Lifelong Learning. Beverley’s appointment sees the re-introduction of Marine Studies to the school curriculum.

Beverley will be joined at Prince Andrew School by Alison Laycock, who will be teaching French at Prince Andrew School and across the wider Directorate.

Another new arrival, Christine Blake, will be joining the Directorate to lead on teacher training across all schools.

All five new members, who arrive on two year contracts to fill vacant posts, will also have important roles to play in supporting wider developments within Education, including reforming the curriculum and modernising professional development programmes.

Three of the new teachers are replacing staff who have completed contracts and two are new posts. Due to the specialist nature of these roles, they are all funded by DfID – representing a key stage in developing a 21^st century curriculum for the young people of St Helena at a time of massive economic and social change.

Director of Education and Employment, Colin Moore, commented:

“I am very pleased to welcome our new specialist teachers. They join the Directorate at a very important time. We have rising achievement and ambition amongst our children and young people and our new staff will help us to turn these dreams and high ambitions into reality.”

Christine Scipio O’Dean, Chair of the Education Committee, added:

“The strong curriculum that we offer our students requires specialist skills and experience. Our new team of teachers will help us to develop local expertise and specialist teaching provision. We wish them a warm welcome to St Helena.”

SHG

26 August 2014

For young people and their parents, today represents the end of a period of waiting since exams took place a few months ago – today is the day that Prince Andrew School students receive their GCSE results – and they are the best ever recorded.

The 2014 results are the best ever achieved on the Island and are setting new records – with virtually half of Year 11 students achieving five GCSE A*- C grades, including English and Maths.

While detailed analysis of results is yet to be done, Councillor Christine Scipio-O’Dean, Chair of the Education Committee, said:

“I am delighted to offer my personal congratulations to the Year 11 students who have done so well this year. On behalf of the Education Committee, I would like to say ‘Well Done’ to all of the students and their families.”

Headteacher, Paul Starkie added:

“We at Prince Andrew School are extremely proud of our GCSE results this year. They reflect the hard work our students have put into preparing for these exams and also the dedication and commitment of our teachers.

“I hope the success achieved by our students this year will be an inspiration to their counterparts next year and prove to them that with effort and determination, they too can achieve the high results they are capable of.”

The small cohort of students who sat A & AS-level examinations received their results last week. As in the UK, results were mixed with some students receiving their predicted grades and others missing out.

The Education Committee also met this week and heard from Primary Advisor, Zoe Robinson, on the progress being made in Primary schools. The assessments for St Helena Primary Schools this year were significantly different from those administered last year – because the UK Department for Education has ‘raised the bar.’

For example, Mathematics assessments this year did not allow the use of calculators and English tests did not include a separate writing exercise – instead writing was assessed within the recently introduced Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar test.

The challenging target for St Helena of 60% of all Primary School children achieving a level 4 or above was not met, but Harford School exceeded this target in English and Maths. Overall, the Primary Schools have shown improvements in Reading, Writing and Maths, compared to last year. And bearing in mind the changes in assessments and general raising of standards, this represents significant progress within Primary Schools.

But there is no room for complacency. Boys are still being out-performed by girls, and the next school year will see the Directorate putting in place new strategies to raise achievement, including:

A new Curriculum in line with changes taking place in the UK
The start in September of a Year of Mathematics on St Helena
A new approach to training of staff
Keeping the focus on teaching and learning

Finally, a word of caution. Percentages only tell a partial tale, particularly when we have such small cohorts of children. In one school for example, one child can represent over 3% of the cohort. We will of course continue to set challenging percentage targets, but our approach must also be to address the individual needs of each young person relative to their unique learning profile.

Next month, the Education Committee will receive a full report on this year’s results.

Colin Moore, Director of Education and Employment, commented:

“Schools have worked very hard over the past year to provide a really varied range of activities for our children and young people. At the heart of everything they do is the key priority of raising achievement. Only good teaching results in successful learning.

“Across all age ranges there is real progress being made. We know there is a continuing job to be done in building on our previous best. We will be introducing a ‘Year of Mathematics’ soon to stimulate interest and raise attainment in Maths.

“These record breaking results are the news that the Island has been waiting for. They show that we have young people with the talent and skills that St Helena needs. We should all join together in saying well done and congratulations to our young people and their teachers.”

Finally giving his reaction to the results, Governor Capes concluded:

“This is really excellent news for St Helena. I offer warm congratulations to students, parents and teachers. The bar has now been raised. I hope that will encourage students taking these important exams next year to redouble their efforts over the months ahead so that they can match or surpass these results.”

SHG

22 August 2014

As previously advised on 11 August, the Lower Wharf will be closed from 12.30pm tomorrow, Saturday 23 August 2014, until Monday morning 25 August (Bank Holiday Monday). This will be a full closure of the Lower Wharf, with no pedestrian or vehicle access for the duration.

However, the Middle Steps and Upper Steps (Thompson’s Crane), and surrounding areas, will be open to pedestrians and vehicles all weekend, including Bank Holiday Monday. Only the Lower Steps area will be closed.

This closure is necessary to allow new road markings to be painted around the area of the Cranes and the Life Boats, adjacent to the lower steps. These areas will be cordoned off.

Additionally, there will be no Ferry Service from Jamestown Wharf this Sunday, 24 August. However, the Ferry Service will operate as normal on Bank Holiday Monday, 25 August – once the work has been completed.

SHG

22 August 2014

An outbreak of a serious and highly contagious bird disease has been identified in two specific chicken flocks in Half Tree Hollow and New Ground. ANRD Veterinary Service is working with a major UK laboratory to diagnose the disease. A broad range of samples has been taken, to leave on the next RMS voyage – world experts will be working on this case for St Helena.

An emergency Quarantine Order was put in place yesterday under the Animals (Diseases) Regulations. It has now been necessary to extend Quarantine at both properties lasting for a total of eight weeks, dating from today.

Culling of poultry has now taken place at both premises as well as disinfection of affected areas.

Notices have been posted at the two premises and disinfectant points established.

ANRD believes there are no human health issues relating to this specific disease. But the disease is highly contagious and can easily be spread from one bird to another. In order to help stop the spread of this deadly disease and save St Helena’s poultry stock, it is vital that poultry keepers follow the simple measures below:

STOP THE SPREAD

Wherever practical, try to keep your poultry inside the coop
Even if your set-up means you are unable to do this, keep all feed and water inside the coop
Do your best to exclude wild birds by blocking holes and using netting
Set up a footbath such as a bucket or washing up bowl filled with disinfectant or bleach at the entrance to the coop. Dip your feet on the way in and on the way out – to create a barrier to germs
Have a dedicated set of boots and overalls for your poultry coop which never leave your premises
Wash your hands after visiting the chickens
Discourage visitors to your coop
And report any unusual deaths or symptoms to the Veterinary Service at ANRD on tel. 24724. Symptoms in chickens may include all or some of:

o Open mouth breathing

o Coughing and sneezing

o Discharge from the eyes and nostrils

o Blackening of combs and wattles

o Sudden egg drop, combined with pale, paper-thin egg shells

o Severe yellow and watery diarrhoea

Any enquiries can be made to the Senior Veterinary Officer at ANRD on tel. 24724 or email: joe-hollins@enrd.gov.sh

SHG

22 August 2014

It was brought to the attention of SHG on Wednesday 20 August 2014 that a section of fuel line used for the movement of fuel from the tanker to the fuel tanks in Rupert’s – was damaged. The affected area is directly behind the beach area.

Ben Sansom from the Environment and Natural Resources Directorate reported:

“We have been on site since last night supporting all organisations who responded to the incident. The affected section of fuel line has been isolated and we are ensuring that fuel operations continue at Rupert’s.

“Last night we excavated an area of polluted soil which has been stockpiled at the landfill site for remediation. ENRD is providing technical support to Solomons and we are fully investigating any wider environmental impact. We will continue to monitor the situation with the contractor.”

Investigations are ongoing as to the volume of fuel which has been lost as a result of the leakage but the public are assured there is no impact on fuel supplies on the Island. The next delivery of fuel to the Island is scheduled in early November and there is plenty of fuel on the Island to cover this period.

St Helena Government, Basil Read and Solomons are working together to ensure public safety and resolve any outstanding environmental concerns. Lower Rupert’s and the Rupert’s Wharf area are already closed until further notice to rectify the situation and for offloading operations of the NP Glory 4 ship.

The public are reminded that if they see or are concerned about any pollution problem on the Island, they should immediately contact the Pollution hotline on tel: 22790 to make a report.

SHG

21 August 2014

St Helena

Government

News

SENIOR SOCIAL WORKERS ARRIVE

BENEFITS OF NEW PAVEMENT – WHEELCHAIR ACCESS ON MAIN STREET

PUBLIC ACCESS TO SHG INFORMATION – NEW CODE OF PRACTICE

COUNCILLORS CONSTITUENCY SURGERIES – REMINDER

COUNCILLORS CONSTITUENCY SURGERIES

NEW TEACHERS FOR EDUCATION DIRECTORATE

ST HELENA GCSE RESULTS 2014 – BEST EVER RECORDED!

CLOSURE OF LOWER WHARF THIS WEEKEND- UPDATE

OUTBREAK OF POULTRY DISEASE – UPDATE

FUEL LEAKAGE IN RUPERT’S