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

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.

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.

HSS (Statutory Functions) 1/2006 (PDF 74 KB)
Responsibilities, accountability and authority of the DHSSPS, Health and Social Services Boards and Health and Social Services Trusts in the discharge of relevant personal social services functions to safeguard and promote the welfare of children.
HSS (Statutory Functions) 1/2006 Covering Letter (PDF 136 KB)
Covering letter from Chief Inspector Paul Martin.
HSS (SSI Training) 01/2006 (PDF 94 KB)
Personal Social Services Training Strategy – Training Support in The Voluntary Social Services Sector 2006/2007

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).