AQW 10066/22-27


Ms Sian Mulholland
Alliance Party
North Antrim


Tabled Date: 12/04/2024
Answered On Date: 26/04/2024
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health what work he is (i) undertaking; and (ii) planning to undertake with the Minister for Communities to ensure a regionally equitable approach is taken to planning for those transitioning from care to independent living.


Answer:
HSC Trusts have duties under the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 and associated regulations to support children in care as they prepare to transition to independent living. These duties include assessing the needs of all relevant children to determine what advice, assistance and support it would be appropriate to provide the child in preparation for leaving care, and after the young person has left care. The Trust must then prepare a pathway plan for the child and keep this under review. The assessment of the child’s needs must take account of the need for accommodation, and the pathway plan must include details of the accommodation arrangements for the child or young person. As required by the Children Order, HSC Trusts cooperate with NIHE in the exercise of these functions.
The then HSC Board also worked with NIHE Supporting People to undertake a joint review of jointly commissioned supported accommodation arrangements for children and young people aged 16+, with the review published in September 2023. A cross-departmental plan has been developed to implement the recommendations of that review to address the housing needs of care leavers and young homeless.
My officials are also fully engaged in a programme of work, being led by NIHE, with Homewards NI, to address the particular vulnerabilities of young people leaving care which make them at greater risk of homelessness than their non-care experienced peers.
In terms of children with disabilities and/or Special Educational Needs, there is a significant body of work underway and planned to address Tranisitons. My officials jointly chair a cross-departmental working group with the Department for Education to review and improve transitions for school leaver, including active participation by the Department for Communities and Department for Economy.
It is also recognised that HSC transitions should be improved through the lens of regional consistency and multi-agency working. In November 2023, my officials established a HSC sub-group on Transitions, which has produced a draft regional protocol for Trusts. A workshop to finalise the protocol is planned for May 2024, with further work planned to engage housing colleagues.
My officials have established a supported living workstream as part of the Social Care Collaborative Forum, to improve collaboration between Health, Communities and Housing and enable greater opportunities for independent living.