AQW 7475/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 26/02/2024
Answered On Date: 07/03/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Education (i) how many cases are currently waiting to be allocated to an education welfare officer; and (ii) how long each case has been waiting.


Answer:
The Education Authority have confirmed that as at 27 February 2024, there are 1,586 unallocated cases.
Unallocated Open Cases – Waiting Time
Number of Cases
Band A: 0 – 2 weeks
275
Band B: 3 – 12 weeks
458
Band C: 13 – 36 weeks
214
Band D: 37 – 60 weeks
458
Band E: 60+ weeks
181
Total
1,586
The service has been subject to industrial action since May 2021 and this, together with increased levels of need, have impacted on the service’s waiting list.  Cases on the waiting list are subject to active ongoing triage and reprioritisation by Senior Education Welfare Officers.