Order Paper

1. Prayers

2. Members’ Statements

3. Question Time

3.1 Economy

4. Committee Business

Motion: Children’s Social Care Services

Proposed:

That this Assembly recognises the need for immediate and sustained action to protect and support vulnerable children and families; notes the recommendations in the Northern Ireland Review of Children's Social Care Services Report, published in June 2023; commends the thorough work undertaken by the Review including identifying systemic issues and outlining a clear path for reform; calls on the Minister of Health to provide a detailed timeline for the implementation of the Review’s recommendations and to ensure adequate resources and funding are made available to enable the effective reform of children’s social care services; and further calls on the Minister to work collaboratively with statutory partners and relevant stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector and children and young people with lived experience, to deliver improved and sustainable care for vulnerable children and families and to prioritise the welfare and protection of children.

Chairperson, Committee for Health

5. Private Members’ Business

Motion: Social Care Reform

Proposed:

That this Assembly expresses its frustration at the lack of progress on transforming the social care system since the Power to People report was published in 2017; notes that workforce shortages, care home capacity constraints and long delays to access community care packages are leaving too many people without the high quality services they need, when they need them; welcomes the contribution of frontline staff, providers and community and voluntary sector bodies in the work of the Social Care Collaborative Forum; and calls on the Minister of Health to bring forward the key policy development priorities from that Collaborative Forum without delay, including the Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy 2026, revised care standards for nursing homes, review of the Carers’ Strategy 2006 and Residential Care Home Minimum Standards.

Miss Nuala McAllister

Mr Danny Donnelly

Mr Stewart Dickson

Mrs Michelle Guy

6.  Adjournment

• Social Service Vacancies in North and West Belfast

Ms Carál Ní Chuilín

Statements by Ministers may also be taken at any time subject to the Speaker’s approval. Notice of Statements will appear on the Annunciator.