childcare-50years
childcare-50years
childcare-50years
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9<br />
establish a contract with SCIE to draw on its expertise and guidance<br />
and to encourage participation of Northern Ireland social care<br />
organisations in this arrangement with SCIE.<br />
There is one other important area in which the Department has been<br />
engaged for some time, this being a review of residential care which<br />
was instigated in 1997 and the subsequent report 'Children Matter'<br />
produced a series of recommendations on the need to improve and<br />
increase the provision and range of children's homes. Due to the<br />
concern regarding the extent of the need, the Minister launched a<br />
'Children Matter' Taskforce in 2000 to take forward the<br />
recommendations, confirm the number of places required and<br />
prepare an Action Plan on the development and funding of schemes<br />
within agreed timescales. This substantial increase in provision will<br />
have considerable implication for workforce planning and as a<br />
consequence a sub-group of the Taskforce has been established to<br />
bring forward proposals to ensure the provision of sufficient trained<br />
staff to meet the new homes requirements.<br />
The HSSPS Committee has taken an active interest in children's<br />
services and selected residential care as a subject for its first inquiry.<br />
The report of the findings were published in 2000. The Minister<br />
welcomed the recommendations which largely concurred with the<br />
'Children Matter' conclusions. The Committee agreed earlier this year<br />
to conduct a further inquiry into arrangements in Northern Ireland to<br />
protect infants and children from physical, sexual and mental abuse<br />
and they will consider the quality and resources allocated to child<br />
protection services with reference to Great Britain and other<br />
countries. When complete the Report will contain recommendations<br />
as necessary and will be submitted to the Minister and to the<br />
Assembly.<br />
In conclusion, it is apparent that within a short period of<br />
establishment the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Department<br />
under the direction of the Minister have demonstrated a major<br />
commitment to the care and welfare of children. The period 1950-<br />
2000 has been significant in the progress made in regard to<br />
progressive legislation and in the development of services to protect<br />
and provide for vulnerable children. A solid foundation for the new<br />
50 YEARS OF CHILD CARE IN NORTHERN IRELAND<br />
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