Northern Ireland

New strategy to improve well-being of children and young people in care in NI unveiled

The number of children and young people in care has grown over the last decade and significantly during the pandemic
The number of children and young people in care has grown over the last decade and significantly during the pandemic The number of children and young people in care has grown over the last decade and significantly during the pandemic

A NEW strategy aimed at improving the well-being of children and young people in care in Northern Ireland has been unveiled.

Health Minister Robin Swann and Education Minister Peter Weir launched the joint initiative, which will also help children at risk of entering care or who have recently left care.

The number of children and young people in care has grown over the last decade and significantly during the pandemic. There are around 3,500 children and young people in care and around 500 left care last year.

The 'A Life Deserved: Caring for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland' strategy makes more than 60 commitments aimed at delivering improvements in well-being for care-experienced children and young people.

Commitments include the development and implementation of an Emotional Health and Well-being in Education Framework, new legislation, additional specialist foster carers and introducing teams to support children in residential care and those who have been adopted from care.

Mr Swann said: "Direct engagement with care-experienced children and young people is vital in helping us shape policy, practice and services which touch their lives".

Mr Weir added: "It is necessary not only to address the increasing numbers of children in care but also greater complexity of need".

Meanwhile, £1.5 million funding to help improve patient throughput at dental surgeries was announced yesterday.

The risk of coronavirus transmission in dental practices has been minimised using strict infection control measures but these have significantly reduced the number of patients dentists can see each day.

But Mr Swann said: "The new grant scheme is designed to provide financial support for dental practices for upgrading or installing new ventilation systems, which will increase the volume of treatment and care provided to patients and help reduce the number of patients who have been unable to obtain appointments".