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13/06/2003
NI at forefront of children’s services says Minister
Health Minister, Des Browne has claimed that Northern Ireland is at the forefront of the pursuit of excellence in children’s services.
Mr Browne was speaking at a major international conference on 'Searching for Excellence in Children’s Services', where he stressed that the importance of children in Northern Ireland was reflected in their interests being placed at the heart of government.
He added: “ In the development of quality services, we have had a number of 'firsts'. We were the first part of the UK to establish the formal monitoring and inspection of all children’s homes. We are still the only region to have a policy intention of achieving a fully social work qualified residential child care staff, today we have 60% of residential workers qualified compared with some 5 per cent in England.”
At the conference the Minister set out a number of initiatives that are under way to further develop the quality of services for children and families, and help drive standards upwards in safeguarding the rights of children across the full spectrum of public services.
Mr Browne said he hoped the Children’s Strategy and the appointment of a Children’s Commissioner will help to ensure that the rights of all children are promoted in the way that public bodies conduct their work and deliver services to children.
(MM)
Mr Browne was speaking at a major international conference on 'Searching for Excellence in Children’s Services', where he stressed that the importance of children in Northern Ireland was reflected in their interests being placed at the heart of government.
He added: “ In the development of quality services, we have had a number of 'firsts'. We were the first part of the UK to establish the formal monitoring and inspection of all children’s homes. We are still the only region to have a policy intention of achieving a fully social work qualified residential child care staff, today we have 60% of residential workers qualified compared with some 5 per cent in England.”
At the conference the Minister set out a number of initiatives that are under way to further develop the quality of services for children and families, and help drive standards upwards in safeguarding the rights of children across the full spectrum of public services.
Mr Browne said he hoped the Children’s Strategy and the appointment of a Children’s Commissioner will help to ensure that the rights of all children are promoted in the way that public bodies conduct their work and deliver services to children.
(MM)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:Staying cold. Any freezing fog that has formed overnight will slowly thin and disperse during the morning. Otherwise dry and bright much of the day with perhaps the odd coastal shower in the north and east. Maximum temperature 4 °C.Tonight:Dry at first with cloud thickening from the south through the evening. The odd shower, wintry over high ground, over northern counties, becoming more persistent rain over Down and Antrim. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
