The Programme for Government—October 2024
On 5 September 2024 the NI Executive agreed a draft Programme for Government 2024-2027 Our Plan: Doing What Matters Most.
BASW NI’s response to the draft Programme for Government covers a broad range of issues affecting the social work profession, the individuals, child and families social workers support, and society more widely.
Our response is compiled under the following headings:
- Reform of Children’s Social Care
- Better Support for Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs
- The role of social work and social care in cutting health waiting times, and reform and transformation of public services
- Recruitment and retention of social workers
- Poverty
- Mental health services
- Funding of public services
- Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
- Housing
You can read the response via the download link below.
Safe and Effective Staffing Legislation—October 2024
From 22 July - 14 October 2024 the Department of Health consulted on Safe and Effective Staffing Legislation in Northern Ireland. BASW NI fully supports legislation for safe and effective staffing in social work and has responded to the consultation outlining a series of issues which need to be taken into account in the development of safe staffing models and supporting legislation.
Read our response via the download link below.
Eligibility for Healthy Start for groups who have no recourse to public funds or are subject to immigration controls—October 2024
The Healthy Start scheme assists families within the scheme with the cost of healthy foods, such as fruit and vegetables, as well as providing access to free Healthy Start vitamins. Healthy Start provides support to pregnant women, mothers and families with at least one child aged under 4 years old.
The UK Department of Health and Social Care consulted for 12 weeks, ending on 23 October 2024 on plans to update the legislation underpinning the Healthy Start scheme, to ensure that beneficiaries of the current non-statutory scheme can receive benefits under the main statutory scheme.
In its response, BASW NI agreed with the proposal that eligibility for Healthy Start should be extended to non-British children under 4 from families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF) or who are subject to immigration controls. The Association also agrees that eligibility should be extended to pregnant women with NRPF or who are subject to immigration controls, and mothers with NRPF or who are subject to immigration controls with children under one.
Download the response via the link below.
The Independent Review of Children's Social Care—December 2023
We engaged extensively with members to inform BASW NI’s response to the Department of Health consultation on the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services recommendations. The wide ranging Review outlined 53 recommendations for change to address the crisis in children’s social care. It is vital the Department of Health acts urgently upon the recommendations to deliver much needed progress for children and families, and the social workers who support them.
A key aspect of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services recommendations was the proposal for the transfer of children’s social care and associated services from the Health and Social Care Trusts to a new Arms Length Body (ALB). The Review also proposed the creation of a NI Executive Minister for Children and Families. Although outlined in detail in the consultation response, we have produced a brief summary of BASW NI’s Position Statement on the proposals for a children’s social care Arms-Length Body & Minister for Children & Families.
- Download BASW NI’s response to the Department of Health consultation on the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care Services recommendations, and the Association’s position statement on proposals for a children’s social care Arms-Length Body and Minister for Children and Families via the links below.
Reduction and Management of Restrictive Practices in Education Settings—November 2023
- Read the BASW NI response to the Department of Education consultation on Statutory Guidance on the Reduction and Management of Restrictive Practices in Education Settings in Northern Ireland via the download below.
- You can find more information about the consultation on the Department of Education website.
- This consultation closed on 3 November 2023.