Northern Ireland
Introduction
This pages contains brief descriptions related to the work of the following organisational categories in Northern Ireland.
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- Key Government Departments for Northern Ireland
- Higher Education Organisations in Northern Ireland
- Social Work Education and Sector Skills Councils in Northern Ireland
Key Government Departments for Northern Ireland
The Department of Employment and Learning (DELNI) aims to promote learning and skills, to prepare people for work and to support the economy, by promoting economic, social and personal development through high quality learning, research and skills training; and by helping people into employment and promoting good employment practices. Examples of types of work includes the Review of Higher Education in Further Education including Foundation Degrees.
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) is one of 11 Northern Ireland Departments created in 1999 as part of the Northern Ireland Executive. Its mission is to improve the health and social well-being of the people of Northern Ireland Health and Personal Social Care in Northern Ireland are provided as an integrated service. The four health and social services boards (Eastern, Northern, Southern and Western) are agents of the DHSSPS in planning and commissioning and purchasing services. From the 1st April 2007, six Health and Social Care Trusts manage staff and services with devolved budgets.
Some of the issues facing the sector are outlined by Paul Martin, Chief Social Services Officer, Office of Social Services, Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety in the article:
Martin, Paul (2007) 'The times they are a changing: the challenge facing social work in Northern Ireland', Childcare in Practice 13:3, 261-269 (PDF, 92KB)
A report covering the discussion which took place during two critical dialogues about changes taking place in the Northern Irish context is available along with accompanying audio resources.
Higher Education Organisations in Northern Ireland
The Higher Education Academy (HEA) supports Northern Ireland higher education institutions through its Subject Centres and through the work of the Senior Adviser for Northern Ireland, working in partnership with DELNI and with institutions. The Academy provides support for the seven Centres for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETLs) in Northern Ireland in the area of research and evaluation. The HEA produces regular Digests providing information on the sector in Northern Ireland.
The Quality Assurance Agency in Northern Ireland works with the DELNI and the higher education institutions to maintain the quality of academic standards. The same institutional audit method is used as in England.
As with England the following Reviews are under way:
The NUS-USI (the National Union of Students-Union of Students in Ireland) was established in 1972 under a unique arrangement where both the British and Irish national student unions, the NUS and Union of Students in Ireland (USI), jointly organised in Northern Ireland to promote student unity across the sectarian divide. They provide representation and support to students in both the Higher Education and Further Education Sectors.
Social Work Education and Sector Skills Councils in Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland Social Care Council (NISCC) has a statutory duty to quality assure and regulate standards of education and training for social work at qualifying (Degree) and post-qualifying levels. As the Northern Ireland member of the Skills for Care & Development alliance NISCC is working to improve standards through workforce training and development.
Qualifying programmes: From September 2004, the Degree in Social Work became the recognised professional qualification for all social workers in the UK and Probation Officers and Education Welfare Officers in Northern Ireland. The NISCC approves higher education institutions to deliver the degree. The curriculum is delivered to meet the Northern Ireland Framework Specification for the degree in Social Work, which includes essential knowledge areas specific to Northern Ireland. Other features include a threshold level for qualifying at Honours degree level. Graduates are required to complete an assessed year in employment before registration as fully qualified social workers with the NISCC.
Post-qualifying (PQ) programmes: a new Framework for PQ training was introduced in April 2007. The new PQ training is open to qualified social workers who are registered with the NISCC. Set at postgraduate level it takes a modular approach to support horizontal and vertical progression. It was developed by the Northern Ireland Post Qualifying Education & Training Partnership, which includes representatives of social work education and employer interests in relation to post qualifying development for professional social workers in Northern Ireland.
