Professor Karen Winter, School of Social Sciences, Education and Social Work, Queen’s University Belfast.
Relevant to the proposed Safe and Effective Staffing Bill, this presentation focuses on a report commissioned by the Office of Social Services, addressing safer staffing in residential childcare in Northern Ireland. It focusses on key messages of that report, based on the following:
- A literature review identifying key research on: safer staffing in residential childcare services and skills mix; caseload weighting/management tools; appropriate caseloads across different types of teams and the factors to consider; and, any relevant perspectives from key international social work policy makers and researchers;
- A review of data collated by the Health and Social Care Trusts relating to safer staffing/skills mix; and,
- Focus groups conducted with heads of service, stakeholders and service users.
On those bases, seeking to focus on progress, challenges and opportunities going forward, recommendations are made regarding optimal staffing levels which are to inform the development of specific guidance on safer staffing for residential childcare.
Downloads:
Policy Briefing
Presentation
Video will be forthcoming