Briefing: Crib sheet - Care in Northern Ireland

Is this a Northern Irish version of England's Care Matters green paper?While the Department for Education and Skills' green paper certainlykick-started the development of Care Matters in Northern Ireland, theproposals are by no means a direct read across of the DfES proposals.Care Matters in Northern Ireland takes as its starting point theparticular circumstances, views, experiences and aspirations of localcare-experienced children and young people. It is framed by the currentstrategic policy context set for all children in Northern Ireland by the10-year children and young people's strategy.

So the focus is on looked-after children in Northern Ireland? Its focusis much wider than just looked-after children and includes young peoplein care, leaving care and after care. Like the DfES green paper there isa significant focus on children on the edge of care where there is aneed for enhanced family support and protection. Proposals focus ondesigning, funding and implementing a range of services to preventchildren coming into care. They also include: the introduction of familytherapeutic workers to work with families in need; the reconfigurationof family support services so that they can more effectively assess andsupport children at risk of coming into care; and closer working withextended families.