The Social Welfare of Children and Young People with Disabilities in Northern Ireland, Part III: Social Services Developments and the Impact of the Children (NI) Order 1995

Author(s): Marina Monteith and Wendy Cousins
Document Type: Report
Year: 1999
Publisher: Institute of Child Care Research, Queen's University Belfast
Place of Publication: Belfast
Subject Area(s): Health and Wellbeing, Health Care Provision
Client Group(s) : Children, Disabled


Background to the Research

  • This is Part III of the Children and Young people with Disabilities in Northern Ireland project, which had three aims:
  • Part I described and identified the gaps between existing services and need before implementation of the Children (NI) Order 1995.
  • Part II described the experiences of young people with disabilities as they become adults;
  • Part III (summarised here) re-examined service provision 18-24 months after implementation, to identify changes and developments, and to assess the impact of the Order.

Research Approach

  • The 11 Health and Social Services Trusts (Trusts) were surveyed in relation to service provision for disabled children using a postal questionnaire during September 1998.
  • A review of Trust policy and procedures was undertaken.
  • 19 semi-structured interviews took place in September 1998 with key informants from the statutory (Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts, Education and Library Boards, Department of Education and Department of Health and Social Services.
  • Trust were asked to provide statistics on service provision for the financial year ending March 1998 (allowing for at least one full year's implementation of the Order).
  • The terms 'disabled children' and 'children with disabilities' have been used interchangeably after consultation with literature and the project's support and advisory group.

Main Findings

  • During the year ending 31 March 1998, 2000 disabled children were referred and assessed as being 'in need' of social care services.
  • Individual Trusts provided a varied mix of services, ranging from domiciliary care, through to respite care.
  • Implementation of the Children (NI) Order has included the development of detailed policy and procedure handbooks, comprehensive staff training
  • Developments in services delivery due to the Order include increased partnership working, and the highlighting of children with disabilities on the agenda for services provision.
  • While there as been progress in the development of registers of disabled children, there is still a need for a good information base.
  • Children's views are being taken into account, although there is much more work to be done in this area.

Recommendations

  • Better information services are needed in relation to needs assessment and service provision.
  • There is urgent need for the development of a register to ensure that information is available about the numbers of children with different types and severity of disability, as well as their social circumstances, thus ensuring that the provision of services is based on need and not resources.
  • Boards and Trusts need to take medical and social issues into account when categorising and recording disability information.
  • The change in organisational arrangements should be taken into account when allocating resources for children with a disability
  • New ways need to be developed to listen to the views of children and young people with disabilities.
  • Trusts should recognise that disabled children and young people are children first, when allocated services. Also, these children should have access to the same services as other children and young people.

 

 


 

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