Debate contribution: Children’s Social Care Services

Debate contribution by Mr Alan Robinson on 8 October 2024.

MLA

Mr Alan Robinson

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

8 October 2024

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Committee Business

Heading

Children’s Social Care Services

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4581541

Read the official Assembly record

Text

I begin by thanking Professor Ray Jones, the author of the independent review of children's social services. It is also important to recognise the three experts who assisted: Marie Roulston OBE, Judge Patricia Smyth and Professor Pat Dolan. I commend the thorough work undertaken by the review team. Their efforts have provided a road map that contains 53 recommendations and has been informed by the lived experiences of children, young people, families, carers and those working in our care services. We thank them all for their input. The welfare and protection of vulnerable children and families is certainly paramount. Those individuals rely on us and look to us for leadership, protection and action in the Chamber. It is a duty, both moral and legislative, to ensure that children are not left behind and that every family has access to the support it needs in times of difficulty. The review of children's social care services report, published in June 2023, exposed the many challenges. It was a comprehensive evidence-based analysis that pointed to the weaknesses in our current system of services. Crucially, it also outlines a clear and actionable path forward. However, a report — there are many in our health service — no matter how well-written or researched, is only as effective as the actions that it inspires. The Minister may view this as me challenging him unfairly, but I assure him that I do not; indeed, I welcome that it is recognised in his Department that the pace of reform needs to quicken. I also recognise that, ahead of the review being published, a strategic reform programme was established, a delivery plan is in place and that some additional funding has been made available to support the nine work streams in the plan. We welcome the quarterly updates to the Committee on this topic. However, as was said in the Health Committee recently, it feels as though another tier has been piled on another tier. Those at the heart of children's services just want the recommendations implemented. They want structural change because, as it stands, children are surviving but not thriving. We hope that, today, we will receive a more detailed timeline for the implementation of the review's recommendations and specifically for those on waiting lists, fostering and workforce, which are heavily weighted among the 34 recommendations that the Department has accepted. It will be helpful to have a clear and accountable timeline that ensures that the reforms are enacted with adequate resources and funding. I recognise that, without the necessary financial and human resources, any reform may remain aspirational at best. It is welcome that, so far in 2024, health trusts have recruited 200 new social workers. It is important that they are retained and not lost to other jurisdictions and that they have the skills mix to help address the wider issues in social care. It is recognised that, whilst the review's recommendations fall within the Department of Health, this is not just a matter for that Department. A recent letter briefing to the Health Committee detailed that the Health Minister had written to the Education, Justice and First Ministers, highlighting the need for cross-departmental support. I will welcome the Minister's response to the outcome of that correspondence, and I would like to know when he expects to make a further announcement to the Assembly, especially around what many see as a key recommendation that calls for an arm's-length body for children and families. We have been told that, without that, the review becomes just a collection of recommendations. Effective reform of children's social care requires a collaborative cross-sector approach. We must remember that our ultimate goal is not merely to address systemic issues but to deliver improved, sustainable care for vulnerable children and families. A child who is supported today becomes an adult who contributes to society tomorrow, but, when we fail, those consequences reverberate through generations. Therefore, it is imperative that the welfare and protection of children remain priorities, not just today but every day and in every decision that we make as a devolved Assembly. The children, the families and the supporting organisations count on all of us, and they deserve nothing less than a full commitment to a brighter, safer and more supportive future. We often hear in the House about the costs of reform: in this case, we need to hear more about the costs of not reforming.

736 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not flagged

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:12 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

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