Northern Ireland

The Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts across Northern Ireland have worked collaboratively to produce a draft 5 year regional Equality Action Plan and a draft 5 year regional Disability Action Plan. It is important to ensure that there is regional consistency in how services are provided. The draft Disability Action Plan outlines the measures, which we collectively will take to fulfil the dual disability duties under Section 49A of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (as amended) which are to promote positive attitudes towards people with a disability and, to encourage their full participation in public life. The draft Equality Action Plan, which is in addition to our Equality Scheme, outlines proactive measures that we will take to address the inequalities identified in a recently conducted audit of Section 75 inequalities in health and social care. 

July 2022

This consultation set out the Department of Health’s proposals for implementing the recommendations of the Power to People report, available on the DoH website.

There has been widespread engagement on this paper with a variety of stakeholders including those who use health and social care services, those who work in social care, employers, trade unions, service providers and family carers. These views will play a key role in supporting the Department to bring forward solutions and actions to meet the urgent as well as long term challenges facing the adult care and support system in Northern Ireland.

The consultation paper was divided into six chapters which are:-

• Sustainable System Building - To build a stable, sustainable adult social care system.
• A Valued Workforce - that staff who work in social care will be valued, competent and resilient.
• Individual Choice and Control - To ensure the individual has control over the decisions affecting their social wellbeing and their care and support needs.
• Prevention and Early Intervention - A renewed focus on prevention and early intervention to support people to achieve their own social wellbeing.
• Supporting Carers - Carers will be supported in their caring duties and entitled to support in their own right.
• Primacy of Home - The purposes of adult social care, including group care services, is to support citizens to live well in their own home in connection to their families, social networks and communities, providing maximum choice and control of their daily living arrangements and their care and support provision.

Following this consultation, the Department intends to develop a 10-year plan to address the many challenges in the organisation, funding, commissioning, planning and delivery of adult social care services.

Link to consultation: https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/consultations/consultation-reform-adult-social-care

October 2021

Health Minister Robin Swann invited the public to have their say on a new 10-year Cancer Strategy for Northern Ireland (Download below)

The draft strategy consisted of 67 recommendations drawn from the best available evidence and reflecting the voices of people who use and work in cancer services. The recommendations were across four key themes: 

Reduce the growth in the number of people diagnosed with preventable cancers 

• Diagnosis and treatment - to improve survival 
• Patient experience - to improve the experience of people diagnosed with cancer 
• Implementing the Strategy 

The strategy was developed through co-production and has brought together people with lived experience of cancer, cancer charities, healthcare professionals from across all Health and Social Care Trusts, the Public Health Agency (PHA), the Health and Social Care Board (HSCB), Primary Care, and policy makers. 

Link to consultation

October 2021

The Department of Finance (DoF) Minister (Northern Ireland) Conor Murphy MLA, launched a consultation seeking stakeholder views on proposals to increase the provision of Changing Places Toilets through the amendment of building regulations technical guidance.

Respondents’ views helped to inform the development of final policy proposals

prior to the DoF Minister bringing these forward for consideration by the NI

Executive and assembly.

The consultation documents can be found at the following webpage

A programme of work is taking place to develop a Future Planning Model to replace the existing commissioning arrangements and processes in Northern Ireland. This work will see the development of a new Integrated Care System (ICS) model in NI, whereby local providers and communities would be empowered to come together to plan, manage and deliver care for their local population based on a population health approach, with regional and specialised services planned, managed and delivered at a regional level.  

The Northern Ireland Government consulted and sought views on the Draft Framework as this document will provide a blueprint for the future of planning and managing health and social care services in Northern Ireland. The document provides an overview and guidance on the proposed model to allow the system to design and adopt the relevant approaches, policies and structures required to bring the model forward.

August 2021

The Department of Health consulted on policy proposals to enact a statutory Duty of Candour in Northern Ireland, developed by the Duty of Candour Workstream and its Being Open Subgroup as part of the Hyponatraemia Implementation Programme.  The policy proposals set the Department of Health approach to implement the recommendations relating to a statutory Duty of Candour made by the Inquiry Into Hyponatraemia-Related Deaths. 

Link to consultation

The Department of Health consulted on a draft ten year Mental Health Strategy designed to improve mental health outcomes for people in Northern Ireland. The draft Strategy set out a new vision for mental health in Northern Ireland, as well as 29 high-level actions to take forward significant strategic change over the next decade.

Themes

1. Promoting wellbeing and resilience through prevention and early Intervention,
2. Providing the right support at the right time,
3. New Ways of Working

The Department of Health in Northern Ireland undertook a public consultation to inform the development of an Adult Protection Bill, subject to the approval of the Northern Ireland Executive.  This consultation built on the Department of Health's response to the Commissioner for Older People's Home Truths Investigation into Dunmurry Manor Care Home and CPEA's Independent Review into Safeguarding and Care at Dunmurry Manor. This consultation offered the opportunity to share views on the broad content of the proposed Adult Protection Bill, including the following legislative options:

• Defining the scope of the Bill
• Principles
• Duties to (i) report and (ii) make enquiries
• Power of entry to interview an adult in private
• Independent Advocacy
• Independent Adult Protection Board
• Cooperation and information sharing
• Offences of ill-treatment and wilful neglect
• Statutory Guidance

It also highlighted legislative reform which has taken place in Scotland, England and Wales over the years (each having adopted a different approach) and sought views on whether similar reforms should be introduced in Northern Ireland Link to consultation.

The NI Executive developed a new strategic, Outcomes-based Programme for Government (PfG). Its aim is to deliver real, lasting and positive change in people's lives. This consultation sought opinions on the draft framework of nine Outcomes upon which the PfG will be built. Together these Outcomes create a picture of the kind of society we all want to live in. 

Link to consultation

December 2020

RCOT was offered the opportunity to engage with the Education Committee on the consultation on the Cross-Departmental Covid-19 Vulnerable Children and Young People’s Plan and addressed the following questions:

1. To what extent has Special Educational Needs provision been subject to interruption owing to the COVID-19 lockdown and what have been the consequences for children, parents and schools and other education settings?
2. To what extent has Special Educational Needs provision returned to normal following the restart process in schools and other education settings?
3. If there are further periods of school closure, what measures should the Department, the Education Authority and schools take in order to limit the impact of an interruption to Special Educational Needs provision?
4. What lessons should the Department, the Education Authority and schools learn from the COVID-19 lockdown in respect of Special Educational Needs provision? What needs to change in the longer term and the post-COVID-19 landscape in order to prevent further disruptions to SEN delivery?

Link to responses on N.I Assembly website

January 2021

The Department of Education proposed to revoke and replace the current Education (Special Educational Needs) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005.  The draft SEN Regulations support the primary legislation - the Education (Northern Ireland) Order 1996 (the 1996 Order), as amended most recently by the Special Educational Needs and Disability 2016 Act (Northern Ireland) (the SEND Act).  The draft SEN Regulations provide the detailed processes and timescales to be followed by Boards of Governors, the Education Authority (EA) and health and social care authorities (this includes the Health and Social Care Trusts – HSC Trusts) to carry out their statutory duties to identify and assess if a child has, or may have, special educational needs and to put in place special education provision for those children who have SEN.  This consultation asked a series of targeted questions about the new draft SEN Regulations to inform the Department about whether any further changes may be required. Following consultation, the Department will analyse responses and, if relevant, make amendments. Ultimately, the NI Assembly will scrutinise and make the new SEN Regulations.

Link to consultation

January 2021

The NI Department of Education sought views on the new draft Special Educational Needs Code of Practice. This is to support duties and rights outlined in the SEND Act (2016), providing clear and practical guidance for those involved in identifying and assessing children who have, or may have SEN, and for those who provide special education provision for children with SEN.

The Draft Code of Practice and consultation documents can be found here.

Comments from an occupational therapy perspective were required in response to the following questions:

•          Do you agree that the responsibilities of the Learning Support Coordinator are clearly set out in the SEN Code?
•          Where there is a concern that a child may have SEN, or is at Stage 1, 2 or 3, do you agree that the process to be followed by schools is clear in the SEN Code?
•          Do you agree with the proposed content of the Personal Learning Plan?
•          Do you agree that the school process for the completion of the first transition plan (when a child with a Statement reaches the age of 14) is clear?
•          Please share any other comments of examples illustrating the role of occupational therapy in contributing to the SEN Code.

January 2021

The Department of Health (DoH) and Department of Justice (DoJ) launched a joint public consultation on proposals to establish a regional Care and Justice Campus for children and young people.  The establishment of a regional Care and Justice Campus, comprising the existing Secure Care Centre at Lakewood and the Juvenile Justice Centre at Woodlands, was a primary recommendation of the Review of Regional Facilities for Children and Young People in Northern Ireland, published in December 2018.  It is also consistent with proposals put forward following a DoJ Scoping Study into Children in the Justice System, completed in March 2016.

Throughout the development of the proposals, consultation has taken place with relevant stakeholders, including statutory authorities, academics, NGOs, staff and their representatives in both Lakewood and Woodlands, children and young people with experience of the Secure Care Centre and Juvenile Justice Centre, and their parents and carers.

Please see link to consultation on Department of Health website or Department of Justice website. 

October 2020

On 28 July 2020, Education Minister, Peter Weir, MLA, announced the appointment of an Expert Panel to examine the links between educational underachievement and social disadvantage.  The panel was established under the ‘New Decade, New Approach’ agreement which set out the requirement for an expert group “to examine and address links between persistent educational underachievement and socio-economic background..."  

The key objectives of the review included the requirement to examine the links between persistent educational underachievement and socio-economic background and will produce specific actions to address this particular gap.  The Expert Panel launched a survey seeking written views and evidence on links between educational underachievement and social disadvantage.

October 2020

The Department for Communities commissioned Marie Cavanagh to undertake the Second Independent Review of how the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessment is working in Northern Ireland. 

The call for evidence was aimed at organisations and individuals who have information that is relevant to how the PIP assessment is operating for new claims, award reviews and change of circumstances. Evidence submitted will be used to inform a final independent report which will be laid in the Assembly.  The call for evidence was one of several methods used to gather information during the review. Other methods included, engaging directly with operational staff and the Northern Ireland assessment provider involved in the delivery of PIP, as well as voluntary organisations who provide advice and support to claimants.

The aim of the consultation was to provide the Department for Communities with an independent report evaluating:

• progress made on recommendations arising from the first Review;
• awareness and experience of the PIP assessment process for new applications, award reviews and people reporting changes; 
• the process to ensure the most appropriate assessment type is selected, paper-based reviews, face to face at the Assessment centre or the home.
• the effectiveness of the arrangements for ensuring accurate reports are produced; and
• how effectively further evidence is being used to assist the correct claim decision, exploring the balance between how much and the type of evidence sourced and what the claimant is asked to provide.

September

The Autism Private Members’ Bill, sponsored by Pam Cameron MLA and Chairperson of the All Party Group on Autism and supported by the All Party Group (APG), intended to amend the Autism Act (NI) 2011.

The Autism Act (NI) 2011 provided for a government autism strategy (to be renewed and progressed every 7 years) for Northern Ireland with requirements to collect data, implement cross-departmental services and engage with families.  In addition, the legislation made changes to the Disability Discrimination Act (NI) that addressed inequality of protection for autistic individuals.

Ms Cameron proposed to provide an oversight function and a new funding model to guarantee independent scrutiny and drive forward the strategic implementation of dedicated services (Helpline, Early Intervention, Adult Services, Research) within the context of a funding mechanism that reflects the actual data gathered on autism prevalence and incidence in Northern Ireland

The HSC Public Health Agency (Northern Ireland) organised a consultation on its draft ‘Mental and Emotional Health and Wellbeing and Suicide Prevention Training Framework’. The Framework was developed following extensive engagement and consultation events held in 2017 and 2018.

Read the consultation.

October 2019

The Mental Health and Capacity Unit at the Department of Health in Northern Ireland carried out workshops with the community and voluntary sector and services users and carers regarding the upcoming mental health action plan. It was decided to consult with professional bodies and academics via a paper consultation on the understanding that the action plan was still draft and DoH was only seeking input.

Actions were identified following the previous large workshop in November last year and the more focused themed workshops which took place in Feb/March this year.  A meeting of the project board in June, which was attended by professionals as well, assisted in the identification of actions for inclusion in the plan. The Mental Health and Capacity Unit hosted a number of workshops for HSC Staff and facilitated by Inspire, Action Mental Health and the Patient Client Council for the community and voluntary sector, service users and carers during October to consult on the actions in the draft plan.  DoH were looking to see if there were any missing actions, how they should be prioritised and how to measure the outcomes. They included both actions which can be taken forward and some which are dependent on funding or approval by Ministers.

August 2019

The Department of Health is responsible for leading and co-ordinating action on Northern Ireland’s substance misuse strategy on a regional and local basis.

The present strategy is the New Strategic Direction for Alcohol & Drugs Phase 2 (NSD Phase 2) and this was published and endorsed by the former NI Executive in 2012. NSD Phase 2 was reviewed in October 2018. This Review report has looked at outcomes, outputs, and stakeholder views on how successful the NSD Phase 2 has been  New Strategic Direction for Alcohol and Drugs Phase 2 Final Review – October 2018 PDF (3 MB).

The Department of Health wanted to get some initial feedback on what should come next.  They asked for views on the vision, focus and priorities of any new or successor strategy – (including considering if a new strategy is needed).  This was to help them  to inform future developments in policy and practice.

However, it will be for incoming Ministers and the Executive to agree any final strategy for publication.  It is important to note that the NSD Phase 2 – and all the structures that support action and collaboration – will remain in place until any new strategy is put in place.

This was a Pre-consultation to seek views on a Successor Strategy to The New Strategic Direction for Alcohol & Drugs Phase 2.

Link to consultation

August 2019

Stroke is one of the most devastating health crises anyone can face. It is a major health issue in Northern Ireland with around 2,800 people being admitted to hospital each year and 36,000 stroke survivors living in our communities. Stroke care is provided both in hospitals and the community but too often, and despite the best efforts of staff, the service is not as good as it could or should be. This document outlined the challenges within stroke services and sought views on how those services should be reshaped to improve stroke care.

Read the consultation.

January 2019

The purpose of this consultation, organised by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) Health and Social Care Trust  was to engage in a conversation with key stakeholders that will fully consider all of the perspectives and potential impacts of this proposal to introduce a new Clinical Response Model for NIAS.

NIAS has experienced significant growth in demand for emergency 999 response calls over recent years. The service is undergoing significant reform and improvement. It has developed from being entirely transport-focused to having a greater emphasis on provision of clinical care in an out-of-hospital context. Many of these reforms are designed to implement best practice NHS changes, while taking account of specific aspects of implementation in Northern Ireland.

As part of this wider transformation agenda, NIAS proposed to introduce a revised Clinical Response Model (CRM), similar to those introduced in recent years elsewhere in the UK. This would be designed to provide a more clinically appropriate ambulance response than the current model, which was introduced over forty years ago, by better targeting the right resources (clinical skills and vehicle type) to the right patients. This proposal would represent a significant change in the way that NIAS provides its services.

An EQIA has been prepared by NIAS to assess the impact of proposed changes in line with ‘Practical Guidance on Equality Impact Assessment’ produced by the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, this document will:

• Define the aims of the policy to release efficiency savings and target CSR investment through the reconfiguration of frontline services.
• Consider available data and research.
• Assess the impacts of the proposals on Section 75 groups.
• Consider measures which might mitigate any adverse impacts and alternative policies which might better achieve the promotion of equality of opportunity

Read the consultation.

September 2018

The Northern Ireland Affairs Committee launched an inquiry into education funding in Northern Ireland. The inquiry follows the passage of the Government’s Northern Ireland Budget Act, which set out funding for NI departments, including education, up until 31 March 2019.  The inquiry will examine whether the levels of funding allocated to education in the Northern Ireland Budget are sufficient to meet the challenges facing the sector, and what the spending priorities should be for the monies allocated to the NI Department of Education. Formal evidence sessions are expected to take place when Parliament returns in the Autumn

• Read the consultation

March 2017

The Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA) has developed a draft Corporate Strategy for the period 2017-2021 which has been approved for public consultation by RQIA’s Board. This draft strategy takes account of initial engagement with stakeholders, the vision set out by the Minister of Health in Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together (Department of Health, 2016) and the Draft Programme for Government Framework 2016–21, within the context of financial constraints and HSC reform and restructuring.

March 2017

The Department of Education launched a public consultation on the Executive Children and Young People’s Strategy 2017-2027. The previous ten year strategy for children and young people 2006-2016 ‘Our Children and Young People - Our Pledge’ set out a shared vision that all our children and young people would thrive and look forward with confidence to the future. This consultation document outlines the work that has taken place to build on that strategy and develop, in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders and children and young people, the new Executive Strategy for Children and Young People. It set out the aims and objectives of the Strategy and its anticipated outcomes.

Read our response.

January 2017

In the Minister’s vision for the future of health and social care, ‘Health and Wellbeing 2026: Delivering Together’, published on 25 October 2016, she gave a commitment to embark on a consultation on the criteria for reconfiguring health and social care services. The Department of Health sought the views of the public and stakeholders on the seven criteria contained in the Expert Panel report "Systems, Not Structures: Changing Health and Social Care".

December 2016

The Programme for Government is the highest level strategic document of the Northern Ireland Executive – setting out the priorities that it will pursue in the current Assembly mandate, and the most significant actions it will take to address them.

On 27 October 2016, the Executive agreed the publication of a draft Programme for Government for a period of consultation.

This Programme for Government is different from any before. It is constructed around a framework of wellbeing outcomes, expressing the ambitions of the Executive for everyone in society. It also provides a robust, independent mechanism for transparent measurement and reporting of progress on outcomes, including on how those outcomes are experienced by different people based on their identity.

The outcomes in the framework cannot be delivered by Government acting alone - collaboration and partnership across organisations and across sectors will be an essential component of success.

Read our response.

November 2016

The Minister of Health in Northern Ireland published for consultation this draft Strategy and Action plan.

The Department of Health sought views on the strategy and action plan to reduce the suicide rate in the north of Ireland and reduce the differential in the suicide rate between the most deprived areas and the least deprived areas.

June 2016

Significant numbers of children, young people and adults come into contact with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) each year in Northern Ireland. Many of them have unmet health needs and are more likely to experience mental ill health, learning disabilities and problems with drugs and alcohol. Contact with the CJS is an important opportunity to provide the right care and treatment which may then have a positive impact on reducing reoffending.

This draft strategy and three year action plan set out a programme of change to include: service planning and commissioning; continuity of care; workforce development; diversion of vulnerable adults; health promotion and ill health prevention; social care and accommodation.

Read our response.