S7 The Department of DE Circular 2015/22 has been issued to schools As already the publication Education should alerting them to the publication of the of guidance does not in itself ensure that all young revised guidance, one for Primary and one provide assurance that people can access for Post Primary. recommendations are being more information and to relevant resources were included properly met and changing support on healthy including those on sexual orientation, practice on the ground. In this relationships, including gender identity and homophobic bullying. instance, it does not ensure LGBT young people. The EA, Education Committee and all HEIs that all young people can This could be included were sent letters advising them of the access healthy relationship within the CCEA revised guidance. support and the Progress review of Relationships The Education Authority is considering how Report should outline how this and Sexuality best to disseminate the key messages in is being monitored, particularly guidance materials Circular 2015/22 and the guidance itself for LGBT young people. across the youth sector. S8 DOH in conjunction DOH See previous report for details of progress 2 Reporting should identify with DOJ should made April to September 2015 whether initiatives are leading pursue an All-Ireland to closer collaboration on CSE Information Sharing An Inter-Jurisdictional protocol, in frontline practice. Agreements to achieve Protocol for Transfer of It is unclear whether an All closer collaboration on Children’s Social Care Cases between Ireland Information Sharing CSE and related Northern Ireland and the Republic of Agreement is being pursued issues. Ireland” was published in November 2011 to and this should be clarified. assist with the transfer of cases and the Assurances should be given sharing of information cross border on that, following the UK families and children known to Social referendum, the impact of Services. Brexit on all-ireland arrangements in relation to Work is also ongoing to review the cross safeguarding, and CSE border information sharing arrangements specifically, are being between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána. assessed.
S7 The Department of Education should ensure that all young people can access more information and support on healthy relationships, including LGBT young people. This could be included within the CCEA review of Relationships and Sexuality guidance materials DE Circular 2015/22 has been issued to schools alerting them to the publication of the revised guidance, one for Primary and one for Post Primary. to relevant resources were included including those on sexual orientation, gender identity and homophobic bullying. The EA, Education Committee and all HEIs were sent letters advising them of the revised guidance. The Education Authority is considering how best to disseminate the key messages in Circular 2015/22 and the guidance itself across the youth sector. As already the publication of guidance does not in itself provide assurance that recommendations are being properly met and changing practice on the ground. In this instance, it does not ensure that all young people can access healthy relationship support and the Progress Report should outline how this is being monitored, particularly for LGBT young people. S8 DOH in conjunction with DOJ should pursue an All-Ireland Information Sharing Agreements to achieve closer collaboration on CSE and related issues. DOH See previous report for details of progress made April to September 2015 An Inter-Jurisdictional protocol, Protocol for Transfer of Children’s Social Care Cases between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland” was published in November 2011 to assist with the transfer of cases and the sharing of information cross border on families and children known to Social Services. Work is also ongoing to review the cross border information sharing arrangements between the PSNI and An Garda Síochána. 2 Reporting should identify whether initiatives are leading to closer collaboration on CSE in frontline practice. It is unclear whether an All Ireland Information Sharing Agreement is being pursued and this should be clarified. Assurances should be given that, following the UK referendum, the impact of Brexit on all-ireland arrangements in relation to safeguarding, and CSE specifically, are being assessed.
niccy-review-of-second-composite-cse-implementation-report-20-feb-2017.docx