Joint Communique Under The Auspices of The North South Ministerial Council On Safeguarding Child Protection (PDF 28KB)

This Communication Strategy has been developed by representatives of the statutory sector and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) from the voluntary and community sectors from both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland

Report of an audit of child protection research in Ireland 1990-2009.

A total of 190 research documents were identified in line with the criteria agreed between the researchers and the CAAB, and are included in the audit. The key findings from the analysis of the audit are as follows:    - Research identified in the audit has tended to focus on child protection and the child protection system generally, as well as sexual abuse. This research has primarily been undertaken by clinicians and academics, and spans across sectors.   - Over half, (110 or 58%) of the research falls under the heading of policy/practice reviews/analysis. This is further reflected in the fact that the research most commonly focused on operating procedures, followed by practice issues and the policy framework, both in studies with a single focus and those with multiple foci.   - The most common type of publication was peer reviewed article (74 or 39%), with commissioned research accounting for just 7% (13). This is in line with the findings that 68% (128) of commissioning/publishing bodies and 74% (139) of research bodies were in the academic sector.   - The research published and/or commissioned by the statutory sector follows the pattern found in the audit generally, with the most common type of study being policy/practice review/analysis (27 or 48%) and the most common focus being operating procedures (22 or 39%).   - Information sources rarely incorporated primary research with children, with only 14 studies (8%) citing direct contact with children and young people. Information on children was more commonly gathered from case files, professionals and family members.   - The topics covered in the identified research were very wide-ranging but closely related to the primary subject area (type of abuse) and the sector in which the research was located.   One conclusion stated that: There is a shortage of child protection-focused research on the factors that cause and perpetuate child abuse, such as homelessness, addiction, parental mental illness and domestic violence. The need for material on these areas is demonstrated by the nature and scale of reports to the child protection system and the removal of some children from their families into out of home care as a result of the above mentioned adversities.This resource was contributed by The National Documentation Centre on Drug Use.

Protecting Looked after Children Guidance (PDF 28 KB)

The Department has published guidance which deals with the issue of children who become Looked After and are on the Child Protection Register.

Safe Parenting Handbook (PDF 1.07 Mb)

This handbook was published in conjunction with the 4 Area Child Protection Committees

Health Sector Children First Strategic Implementation Plan

Health Sector Children First Strategic Implementation Plan Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children (2011) (referred to as Children First hereafter), is intended to assist people in identifying and reporting child abuse and neglect and deal effectively with concerns. It emphasises that the needs of children and families must be at the centre of child protection and welfare services, and that the welfare of children is of paramount importance. Click here to download PDF 73KB

Consultation launched on Community Development Strategy - your views matter

Issued jointly by the Health and Social Care Board and Public Health AgencyThe Health and Social Care Board and the Public Health Agency have today launched, for public consultation, a new Community Development Strategy.The consultation period will run for 12 weeks from Friday 10 June until Friday 2 September 2011.The Board and Agency want to see strong, resilient communities where everyone has good health and wellbeing, places where people look out for each other and have community pride in where they live.Residents from deprived areas in Northern Ireland experience;lower life expectancy;higher rates of emergency admission to hospital;higher rates of lung cancer;higher rates of suicide; andhigher rates of smoking and alcohol related deaths.The kinds of health and social care issues which can be improved by community development approaches include depression; isolation; falls amongst elderly people; child protection; teenage pregnancy; childhood asthma; postnatal depression; drug and alcohol abuse; and ultimately also long term conditions such as obesity, diabetes and cancer.The Board and Agency seek a number of benefits from implementing this strategy such as; a reduction in health and wellbeing inequalities, which also means addressing the social factors that affect health; strengthening partnership working with service users, the community and voluntary sectors and other organisations; strengthening families and communities; supporting volunteering and making best use of our resources.John Compton, Chief Executive of the Health and Social Care Board said: "Community development is an important way to improving health and wellbeing - driving a message that 'prevention is better than cure' between different groups and communities, and helping to ensure the most effective use of the health and social care budget."Now more than ever we need to work in partnership with families and communities to achieve better health and wellbeing for those living in Northern Ireland.No one organisation can meet this challenge on its own and strong partnerships are needed. "Chief Executive of the Public Health Agency, Eddie Rooney added: "Every health and social care organisation should incorporate a community development approach into their programmes, and this strategy assists them to do so."The Board and Agency have jointly held pre-consultation workshops over the past few months across Northern Ireland on their Community Development Strategy and have engaged widely with the community and voluntary sectors. We are now keen to receive feedback from individuals, families and the wider community as your views are very important to us - they will help shape the future of community development across the province," he said.The draft Community Development Strategy, as well as information on how you can respond, can be found in the attachments below.

CRNINI workshop: Ethics in Research with children

Guidance for ethical research projects   •Good practice in children’s research •Building on knowledge gained in GUI •Initiated by DCYA   •Produced by Working Group with research, legal, policy and child protection expertise   Patricia's presentation is an analysis of at data from the Growing Up in Ireland study:  The relationship between family tranisitions and children's well being.

Draft Protection of Children and Vulnerable Adults (NI) Order (PDF 30 KB)

Explanatory Memorandum

Our Duty to Care : the principles of good practice for the protection of children and young people

This document, which has been named Our Duty to Care, is aimed at community and voluntary organisations of any size or type that provide services for children. It offers guidance on the promotion of child welfare and the development of safe practices in work with children. It also gives information on how to recognise signs of child abuse and the correct steps to take within organisations if it is suspected, witnessed or disclosed. The process of reporting suspected or actual child abuse to the health board is described step by step, and guidance is given on how to handle sensitive areas. Download document here

IPH response to RICHE questionnaire on child health research in Europe

Request to participate in an expert group review of child health research gaps and priorities in Ireland and Northern Ireland IPH responded to a questionnaire from the FP7 funded project - RICHE ( www.childhealthresearch.eu). The project goal is to produce an inventory of child health research in Europe, identify gaps in existing and on-going research, and devise a series of roadmaps for the future of child health research. This is co-ordinated by Anthony Staines from DCU, and Michael Rigby, from the Nordic School. This specific phase of the project is being co-ordinated by Matilde Leonardi and Giorgio Tamburlini in Italy.

IPH response to the Environmental Protection Agency Consultation on Stategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Process Checklist

The Institute of Public Health in Ireland is an all-island body which aims to improve health in Ireland by working to combat health inequalities and influence public policies in favour of health. The Institute promotes co-operation in research, training, information and policy in order to contribute to policies which tackle inequalities in health. Over the past six years the Institute has worked closely with the Department of Health and Children and the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in Northern Ireland to build capacity for Health Impact Assessment. The Institute takes the view that health is determined by policies, plans and programmes in many sectors outside the health sector as well as being dependent on access to and availability of first class health services. The importance of other sectors is encapsulated in a social determinants of health perspective which recognises that health is largely shaped and influenced by the physical, social, economic and cultural environments in which people live, work and play. Figure 1 illustrates these multi-dimensional impacts on health and also serves to highlight the clear and inextricable links between health and sustainable development. Factors that impact on long-term sustainability will thus also impact on health.

Smokefree legislation consultation response (UK)

The Institute of Public Health was established in 1999 to promote co-operation for Public Health on the island of Ireland. It aims to improve health across the island of Ireland by working to combat health inequalities and influence public policies in favour of health. The remit includes; providing public health information and surveillance; strengthening public health capacity; and advising on policy. The Institute of Public Health welcomes the consultation on the Smokefree Elements of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill. The Institute strongly supports a total ban on smoking in all enclosed workplaces and public places.  A total ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces is the only way to adequately protect the health of all workers and contribute to reducing the prevalence of smoking within the population. The exemptions within the proposed Health Improvement and Protection Bill will fail to protect many workers particularly in the hospitality industry. These workers are often at greatest risk from Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) due to the extent of their exposure.

Working Arrangements For The Welfare & Safeguarding of Child Victims of Human Trafficking - February 2011 (PDF 2.91MB)

Guidance issued by The Department of Health, Social Services & Public Safety & The Police Service for Northern Ireland