Reform Implementation Team - Children's Services
The Reform Implementation Team was established by the then Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, to drive forward the comprehensive change agenda for child protection services in Northern Ireland, based on a Care Pathway approach. The Team is led by Mrs Fionnuala McAndrew, Director of Social Services, Southern Health and Social Services Board supported by Mr Tony Rodgers, Assistant Director of Social Services.
Contact us:
RIT Project Leads
- Fionnuala McAndrew – fionnuala.mcandrew@nisocialcarecouncil.org.uk
- Tony Rodgers – tony.rodgers@nisocialcarecouncil.org.uk
RIT Project Administrator
- Cristiana Herron – cristiana.herron@nisocialcarecouncil.org.uk
RIT Change Co-ordinators
- Belfast HSC Trust – Carol Diffin – carol.diffin@belfasttrust.hscni.net
- South Eastern HSC Trust – Linda McConnell – linda.mcconnell@setrust.hscni.net
- Southern HSC Trust – Francesca Leyden – francesca.leyden@southerntrust.hscni.net
- Northern HSC Trust – Maura Dargan – maura.dargan@northerntrust.hscni.net
- Western HSC Trust – Marion Cross – marion.cross@westerntrust.hscni.net
Key areas of responsibility include:
- ensuring the implementation of reform, including:
- the development, piloting and implementation of a single assessment framework, including risk assessment and mental health needs component, for Children in Need across Northern Ireland (UNOCINI;
- the development of common regional thresholds to determine when services are needed and standards of practice that underpin the Children's Pathway model and associated guidance;
- the establishment of common roles within the Children's Services structures in the 5 HSC Trusts;
- the development of a common model for the delivery of high quality supervision within the Children's Services structures in the 5 HSC Trusts and oversight of the recruitment and induction of Principal Practitioners;
- the establishment of a common format for case records and an agreed standard for recording practice;
- identification of the range of information required to facilitate high quality performance amongst managers and practitioners and how it will be provided;
- identification of the range of mechanisms to be used to ensure high quality performance in Children's Services;
- undertaking a training needs analysis, developing training materials and beginning the implementation of a training programme; and
- promoting effective engagement of all relevant disciplines and agencies.
Understanding the Needs of Children in Northern Ireland
- Understanding the Needs Of Children In Northern Ireland (UNOCINI) Guidance (MS Word 7.52 MB)
- Understanding the Needs Of Children In Northern Ireland (UNOCINI) Guidance. (PDF 1.16 MB)
- Understanding the Needs Of Children In Northern Ireland (UNOCINI) Forms (MS Word 4.9 MB)
- Thresholds of Need Model (MS Word 880 KB)
- Thresholds of Need Model (PDF 304 KB)
- Family and Child Care Thresholds of Intervention (MS Word 476 KB)
- Family and Child Care Thresholds of Intervention (PDF 492 MB)
Regional Policy and Guidance
The following key documents developed within the RIT process were endorsed by the Department and formally issued in April 2008:
Policy
- Supervision Policy, Standards, and Criteria
HSS (OSSPOL/RIT) 1-2008 (PDF 333 KB)
- Administrative Systems Recording Policy, Standards and Criteria
HSS (OSSPOL/RIT) 2-2008 (PDF 325 KB)
- Gateway Service – Processes
HSS (OSSPOL/RIT) 3-2008 (PDF 245 KB)
Guidance
- Caseload Management Model
HSS (OSSGUIDE/RIT) 1-2008 (PDF 336 KB)
- Quality Assurance and Performance Management
HSS (OSSGUIDE/RIT) 2-2008 (PDF 318 KB)
- Development Strategy for Personal Social Services Staff in Children’s Services
HSS (OSSGUIDE/RIT) 3-2008 (PDF 344 KB)
Regional Review Of Residential Child Care Services
In 2007 the Children Matter Taskforce commissioned a regional review of residential childcare. The aim was to review the strategic direction of residential child care services as outlined in the 2000 Children Matter document and to produce a strategy for reform in residential child care services.
The review was completed in December 2008 and proposes the development of a range of policy and practice initiatives designed to improve the quality and standard of residential child care services and ultimately the care experience.
The Department has considered the review and have decided to take the recommendations of the review forward through the establishment of a Reform Implementation Team (RIT) workstream and the circulation of draft policies and guidelines for practice for consultation and comment.
The draft policies currently being circulated for consultation are:
- Policy on admissions to residential childcare;
- Policy on children's resource panels;
- Policy on substance abuse in children's homes;
- Policy on restraint in children's homes;
- Policy on bullying in children's homes;
- Draft Protocol governing positive relationships in residential childcare
View the draft policies.
