Local Strategy To Protect Children From Abuse Launched

As a new report today claims that children in many parts of the UK are not getting adequate protection against abuse, NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey (pictured) has launched a new strategy to support parents in their role as primary care givers.

He also revealed that procedures to prevent unsuitable individuals from working with children and vulnerable adults would transfer to a new organisation, the Independent Safeguarding Authority.

He said this is part of his wider Vetting and Barring Scheme (VBS) which aims to improve protection for the most vulnerable in society.

The establishment of the VBS emanated from the 2004 Bichard Inquiry into the deaths of two young children in Soham.

He made the dual announcements on the same day as Lord Laming's review - commissioned by the Westminster Government following the brutal death of Baby P - blamed a lack of communication and "red tape" for social service failings.

Minister McGimpsey said that 'Families Matter: Supporting Families in Northern Ireland' focuses on the availability and access to appropriate information and services for both parents and relevant professionals to assist them in providing care for children and young people.

The Minister said: "Being a parent isn't always easy. We worry about our children's safety, their health, if they'll settle in school and make friends and we worry if they're developing normally.

"We worry if we're doing a good enough job as parents and that's why it is so important for parents to have access to information and services that can give them the knowledge, support and reassurance to carry out their parental responsibilities confidently," he said.

Families Matter aims to ensure that parents are supported in their roles as primary care givers, first educators and most importantly as role models for their children.

He continued: "Services such as parenting education, anger management, managing on a budget, positive parenting, relationship support, family mediation etc should be available to support parents.

"This requires effective planning and working in partnership, not just between the statutory, voluntary and community organisations, but also working with parents and children to identify the services they need.

"Through the provision of the right services at the right time, I want to ensure more children have the opportunity of a safe and happy family life," he said.

See: Children 'Not Getting Adequate Protection Against Abuse': Report

(BMcC/JM)