Poor co-ordination in Northern Ireland

Transitional planning arrangements for young disabled people fail
to address their needs in parts of Northern Ireland, according to
the annual report of the Northern Health and Social Services Board.

The board, one of four in Northern Ireland, found that the level of
co-operation between social work teams for children and adults
“varied substantially”. Child care teams were also criticised by
adult teams for being uni-disciplinary in composition, which
“impacted adversely” on transition.

The report also finds a “lack of clarity” as to whose
responsibility it is to commence and co-ordinate multi-disciplinary
transfer of cases.

– Director of Social Services Annual Report 2001-2 at www.nhssb.n-i.nhs.uk