7th Floor Millennium House
19-25 Great Victoria Street
Belfast BT2 7AQ
Web: www.niscc.info
The Children (NI) Order 1995 represented a fundamental change in law relating to children and families in the North of Ireland. It brings together private and public law relating to children and places the welfare of the child as the paramount consideration in all court decisions relating to children. The order provides for partnerships between Health and Social Services Boards and Trusts and parents.
Child Protection is organised within each Health and Social Services Board area by an Area Child Protection Committee (ACPC), which, in all circumstances, works alongside the police under the Joint Protocol Arrangements. Child Protection guidelines for each Board area are issued by its ACPC, in accordance with the above legislation.
CCETSW. 1998. Child Law in Northern Ireland. London: Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.
Under article 60(7) the Children (NI) Order 1995 and the Guardian ad Litem (Panels) Regulations (NI) 1996, a statutory Guardian ad Litem Agency has been established by the Department of Health and Social Services. A Guardian ad Litem is an independent officer of the court who is experienced in working with children and families. The function of this agency is to safeguard and promote the interests of children by providing independent social work investigation and advice in specified proceedings, and to provide effective representation of children's views and interests.
Guardian ad Litem Agency, Centre House, 79 Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 4JE. Tel: (028) 90316550/1. Fax: (028) 90319811. E-mail: admin@nigala.n-i.nhs.uk - Web: www.nigala.n-i.nhs.uk
Children's Law Centre, 3 rd Floor Philip House, 123-137 York St., Belfast. BT15 1AB Tel: (028) 90245704. Fax: (028) 90245679. E-mail: info@childrenslawcentre. org - Web: www.childrenslawcentre.org
Children's and Young Peoples Unit. Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister. www.allchildrenni.gov.uk
The NI Commissioner for Children and Young People. Millennium House. 17-25 Great Victoria Street. Belfast BT2 7BN. Tel: (028) 90311616. Fax: (028) 90314515. E-mail: info@niccy.org - Web: www.niccy.org
Further, as per article 46 of the Children (NI) Order 1995, housing authorities may have a duty to comply with requests made to them where the family of a child/children in need has housing needs. They may also, under article 35, have a duty in relation to young single homeless people who are entitled to after-care. Other legislation relevant to housing is the Housing (NI) Order 1988. Restructuring proposed by the Review of Public Administration may mean that this function will pass to new District Councils.
The Housing Executive provides information on government, housing and community groups on its website: www.nihe.gov.uk
Useful fact sheets and advice on a wide range of housing matters can be obtained from Housing Rights Service. 4th Floor Middleton Buildings.10 - 12 High Street. Belfast BT1 2BA. Tel: 028 9024 5640. E-mail: info@housingrights.org - Web: www.housingrights.org.uk
In relation to domestic violence, the Family Homes and Domestic Violence (NI) Order 1998, via non-molestation and occupation orders, provides a coherent legal approach to protection from violence and regulation of occupation of a home when a relationship breaks down.
CCETSW. 1997. Law for Social Workers in Northern Ireland. London: Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work.
White, C. (ed) 1995. Law for Social Workers in Northern Ireland. Dublin: Gill and Macmillan.
Women's Aid. 129 University Street Belfast. BT7 1HP. Tel: (028) 90 249041. Fax:(028) 9023 9296. E-mail: info@womensaidni. org - Web: www.niwaf.org
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