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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