Page 5370 - Week 17 - Thursday, 13 December 1990

A CO-ORDINATING UNIT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED WITHIN THE WELFARE

G BRANCH. THE ROLE OF THIS UNIT IS TO MONITOR DOCUMENTATION ON

CASES AS WELL AS ALL PLACEMENTS OF CHILDREN IN SUEST.ITUTE CAS;

AND FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAMS. THESE MONITORING SYSTEMS WILL

HELP TO IDENTIFY GAPS IN SERVICES AND ALSO MAINTAIN A

CENTRALISED INFORMATION SYSTEM ON WELFARE CLIENTS FOR CA

MANAGEMENT, RESEARCH AND POLICY ANALYSIS. THIS UNIT,

ESTABLISHED SOME MONTHS AGO, IS ANOTHER INITIATIVE OF MY

DEPARTMENT, THE NEED FOR WHICH IS REFLECTED IN THE CALLAGri,%N

REPORT.

WITH REGARD TO THE CALLAGHAN REPORT, THE CONSULTATION PROCESS

HAS SHOWN THERE IS WIDESPREAD AGREEMENT THAT THE CHILDRENS

SERVICES COUNCIL MUST CHANGE, BOTH IN PURPOSE AND STRUCTURE.

AS THERE IS GENERAL CONSENSUS ON THIS ISSUE, I PROPOSE TO

PROCEED WITH CHANGES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

BRIEFLY, MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL WILL BE EXTENDED TO PROVIDE

A WIDER REPRESENTATION FROM THE COMMUNITY. I AM ALSO

CONCERNED TO BUILD LINKAGES BETWEEN THE CHILDRENS SERVICES

COUNCIL AND THE NEW MINISTERIAL YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL. BOTH

THESE. FORUMS WILL HAVE CROSS MEMBERSHIP TO ENSURE THAT YOUTH

ISSUES RECEIVE ADEQUATE ATTENTION. THE COUNCIL WILL THEN

OPERATE AS AN ADVISORY BODY IN RESPECT OF CHILDREN TO 18 YEAR

IN LINE WITH THE AREA OF STATUTORY RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE

CHILDRENS SERVICES ACT.