Gay Mitchell
Question:139 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children his plans to provide for an independent inspectorate for residential facilities for the disabled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3313/03]
Written Answers. - Services for People with Disabilities.
The social services inspectorate – SSI – was established in April 1999, initially on administrative basis, but it is proposed to establish it on a statutory basis. The main function of the inspectorate is to support the child care services by promoting and ensuring the development of quality standards. The SSI will monitor all personal social services operated by the health boards, in the longer term, but initially it is concentrating on the child care area and in particular on the inspection of health board operated residential child care facilities. The inspection of residential facilities for children with disabilities was excluded from the remit of the SSI under the Child Care Act 1991. This exclusion was however revoked in the Children Act 2001.
A steering group chaired by the Department of Health and Children and comprising representatives of the Department, the chief executive officers of the health boards, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and the chief inspector of the SSI oversees the operation of the SSI. The process of inspection has been agreed. A national set of standards against which all children's residential homes, both statutory and non-statutory, are being inspected was published in September 2001. An examination of these standards will begin within the next few weeks with a view to ensuring that they encompass the particular needs of children with disabilities.
The health strategy – Quality and Fairness – has set 2003 as the target date for the establishment of the SSI on a statutory basis. It also states that the remit of the SSI will be extended to cover residential care for older people and adults with disabilities. Establishing the SSI on a statutory basis will strengthen its role and will provide it with the necessary underpinning of independence in the performance of its functions. It will also serve to increase public confidence in state and voluntary social services. Work is in progress on the drafting of a statutory instrument to enable the SSI to be established on a statutory footing.