Office of Social Services - Circulars/Guidance
2010
Think Child, Think Parent, Think Family: A Guide To Parental Mental Health And Child Welfare
The guidance Think Child, Think Parent, Think Family was developed by Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE) in consultation with National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) and was launched in July 2009 in London and will be implemented as part of a Regional project.
The guidance has been placed on the Department's website: www.scie.org.uk/publications/guides/guide30/files/guide30.pdf
2009
DHSSPS Guidance re Sexually Active Children & Young People Following Commencement of the Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008.
The Department is currently working to finalise guidance which takes account of the new Sexual Offences (NI) Order 2008 and sets out the Department's expectations in relation to the sharing of information about children who are engaging in sexual behaviour which could be potentially harmful.
2008
- PSS Development and Training Strategy 2006 – 2016 (PDF 209 KB)
With its central theme of associating training and qualifications with workforce registration and its emphasis on lifelong learning will support this vision for the social services workforce and help improve standards of competence and service provision.
2006
2005
- Assessed Year in Employment (PDF 64 KB)
Social work education has been undergoing major reform with the introduction of a new degree from September 2004. The total package of reforms as announced by Minister in 2001 included the intention to have all new social work graduates undertake an assessed year in employment, linked to registration with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC).