Debate contribution: Children’s Social Care Services: Action Plan
Debate contribution by Mr Robin Swann on .
- MLA
- Mr Robin Swann
- Party at the time
- Ulster Unionist Party
- Date
- 4 March 2024
- Type
- Debate contribution (made as a minister)
- Business
- Oral Answers to Questions
- Heading
- Children’s Social Care Services: Action Plan
- Assembly identifier
- Official Report component 4254582
Read the official Assembly record
Text
The Member raises something that has been in the media recently. To the Member and the House, I say this: any form of child abuse, including exploitation, is totally unacceptable and must be appropriately addressed. All children and young people in Northern Ireland are entitled to live in safety, to achieve their full potential and to have their rights respected. Prevention of and protection from abuse, including exploitation, is a complex matter, with many risk factors that require input from a range of statutory and non-statutory partners. I think that the Member's point is about making sure that everybody is aware. In 2023, my Department, working jointly with the Department of Justice, led a two-year action plan to address child criminal exploitation in Northern Ireland. That was done under the auspices of the child protection senior officials group, which is a cross-departmental strategic forum that provides direction on existing or emerging child protection issues. My Department chairs that group. The wider point is about how we make sure that the information about direct routes of referral and support is communicated across the entirety of our service.
186 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.
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