AQW 16399/22-27

Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast

Tabled Date: 08/10/2024
Answered On Date: 23/10/2024
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether he will ensure the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland publishes safeguarding policy advice for organisations online, to ensure all organisations have access to advice on the issue of the safeguarding of young people.

Answer:

Policy guidance relating to child safeguarding/protection has existed for nearly three decades. The latest guidance, Co-operating to Safeguard Children and Young People in Northern Ireland (CTSCYP), was originally published by the Department of Health in March 2016 and re-published in August 2017, following review. This policy replaced the Co-operating to Safeguard Children guidance issued in 2003. It provides the overarching policy framework for safeguarding children and young people in the statutory, private, independent, community, voluntary and faith sectors. It outlines how communities, organisations and individuals must work both individually and in partnership to ensure children and young people are safeguarded as effectively as possible.

CTSCYP is underpinned by regional operational child protection policies and procedures which were developed by the Safeguarding Board for Northern Ireland (SBNI) – a statutory partnership arrangement to safeguard children and young people in Northern Ireland and improve their welfare. The production of child safeguarding policies and procedures is a statutory function of the SBNI.

Both CTSCYP and SBNI policies and procedures have been published online and, in line with established policy process, will be subject to further review and revision as necessary.