AQW 26875/22-27
Miss Nuala McAllister
Alliance Party
North Belfast
Tabled Date: 09/05/2025
Answered On Date: 27/05/2025
Priority Written: No
Question:
To ask the Minister of Health whether family support systems are taken into account when determining long-term placements for individuals with complex needs and learning difficulties.
Answer:
All Health and Social Care Trusts take into account family support systems when determining long-term placements for individuals with complex needs and learning disabilities within Children and Adult Services as detailed below. Children’s Services: Family support systems form a key part of a child’s assessment: Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland (UNOCINI). Having a robust understanding of the family support system and its functionality is integral to assessing the support needs of any child, not exclusively the determination of long-term placements for children with complex needs and/or learning disability. Where a child is considered ‘on the edge of care’, Social Workers will seek to establish a support network of appropriate family members to support the situation so that children might remain at home. When it is not possible for children to remain at home, Social Workers will explore any potential kinship care options whereby family members can be assessed as potential Foster Carers for the child(ren) or whether they can provide any support to a care placement. Family interaction and support forms a key part of any long-term placement for a child with a disability, whether they are living in a kinship placement, Trust Foster Care or Residential Care. Unless there is a reason for family members not to spend time with a child in care, contact with family is promoted and facilitated as part of associated care planning. Engagement with family support systems when a child is in a long-term placement would be an inherent part of care planning for the child and would be regularly reviewed under the Child Looked After process. Adult Services: Adults with a learning disability and complex needs receive an assessment of need using a standardised assessment tool, The Northern Ireland Single Assessment Tool (NISAT). This is completed by a Multi-Disciplinary Team and identifies an individual’s assessed needs to inform the individual’s Care Plan. The NISAT considers the person holistically, including consideration of family support systems, co-habitants and carers to support imminent and future care planning and determination of service provision/placements. Carers Assessments are offered using regionally agreed assessment tools i.e. the NISAT ‘Carers Support and Needs Assessment’ or the ‘The Carer’s Conversation Wheel’, with service provision targeted to meet assessed needs within available resources. Independent Advocacy is offered to assist the individual and support families through the assessment and care planning process. Long term placements are subject to regular monitoring and review with families and carers involved in reviews, to ensure the placement continues to meet the individual’s assessed needs.
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