AQW 33870/22-27


Mr Nick Mathison
Alliance Party
Strangford


Tabled Date: 20/10/2025
Answered On Date: 04/11/2025
Priority Written: No


Question:
To ask the Minister of Health to detail what support his Department can provide to an adult with special educational needs who is unable to attend day centre provision due to requiring one to one support at all times.


Answer:
The requirement for one to one support would not exclude a person with Learning Disabilities from accessing Adult Centre provision. The ratio of staff provided within an Adult Centre environment is assessed by the appropriate Health and Social Care Trust and staff are provided accordingly.
If there is a required need for one to one nursing or medical support at all times, a holistic assessment of need would be completed by the Health and Social Care Trust and appropriate supports put in place to enable attendance at an Adult Centre or a bespoke arrangement would be put in place to provide meaningful day activity. Self- Directed Support is also available to provide flexibility and choice in how social care services are delivered to meet assessed need. Self-Directed Support could be utilised to introduce flexible provision around any required medical or nursing intervention.
The Learning Disability Service Model is a proposed three-year plan to transform Learning Disability Services in Northern Ireland and is currently out for public consultation. The Model aims to better plan and commission services to meet the needs of the Learning Disability population, with consideration of the increased number of children with complex needs transitioning from special education.
The model outlines 6 key ambitions, including Meaningful Lives and Citizenship, which includes plans to develop and expand Day Services. The aim is to offer people, including those with complex needs
choice and flexibility in respect of meaningful day activity, The ability to deliver on the plans outlined within the Model will be dependent on the financial resource made available to my Department.