AQW 22833/22-27

Ms Connie Egan
Alliance Party
North Down

Tabled Date: 18/02/2025
Answered On Date: 05/03/2025
Priority Written: No

Question:
To ask the Minister of Health how his Department works with the Department of Justice to fulfil the Children's Social Care Services Strategic Reform Programme.

Answer:

The Department of Justice is engaged in the Children’s Social Care Services Reform Programme, including through representation on the Reform Programme Board and Programme Workstreams.

The Reform Programme was established to address a range of known service challenges within children’s social care and to progress recommendations made by the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services. 27 of the 53 Review recommendations are being progressed by the Programme. Separately, officials are working directly with Department of Justice officials to progress a number of other recommendations made by the Review that are directly relevant to the Department of Justice. Health and Justice Ministers have engaged in connection with one of the Review’s key recommendations to establish a Children and Families Arm’s Length Body. Like me, the Minister of Justice has publicly indicated her support for the creation of an ALB.