To ask the Minister of Health what he is doing to explore how to more effectively use the discretionary power outlined in Section 4 and Section 8 of the Children’s Services Co-operation (Northern Ireland) Act (2015), relating to the sharing of resources and the pooling of funds cross-departmentally, to increase and expand existing provisions often provided by the voluntary and community sector in early intervention.

The Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership (CYPSP) is a

multiagency strategic partnership, consisting of senior leaders of all key agencies across statutory, voluntary and community sectors that have responsibility for improving outcomes for all children and young people in Northern Ireland. The Primary purpose of CYPSP is to establish and maintain an agreed basis for collaboration in the delivery of children’s services in order to address the eight outcomes of wellbeing as set out in the N.I. Children and Young People’s Strategy (2019-2029), in line with the Programme for Government (2016-2021) and the Children’s Services Co-operation (Northern Ireland) Act (2015).

The CYPSP structure includes 5 Multi agency Outcomes groups and 24

Locality Planning Groups who work together to develop localised multi

agency plans to support the mobilisation of resources to meet locally

identified needs.

Below is a list of some of the examples of community /voluntary and statutory activity which seeks to expand existing Early intervention provision for children and families:

CYPSP Youth Wellness Web - Early intervention mental health and

emotional wellbeing digital platform designed by young people for young people – and jointly resourced by Department of Health, (DOH), Health and Social care Trusts (HSCTs), Education Authority (EA); Public Health Agency (PHA); Armagh and Banbridge City Council (ABC); Mid Ulster Council; NI Youth Forum; Bolster Community; Include Youth; Youth@CLC.( Childrens Law Centre)

CYPSP Translation Hub - Early Intervention advice and signposting

Digital platform for Minority Ethnic Communities with limited English

Contributors include Department of Health; Health and Social Care Trusts; Education Authority; Public Health Agency; Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI); Northern Ireland Housing Executive (NIHE); and a wide range of community and voluntary sector organisations.

CYPSP Your Journey through disability guide - Early inventions

support, advice and signposting for Parents of Children with Disability –

Contributors: Department of Health; Health and Social Care Trusts; Education Authority; Public Health Agency; wide range of community and voluntary sector organisations.

Western Area Outcomes Group Autism Cafes - Early Intervention support available for parents of children and young people who are

diagnosed or waiting on an autism assessment.

Contributors: Western Health and Social Care Trust; Public Health Agency; Fermanagh & Omagh Council; Derry and

Strabane Council.

Western Area Outcomes Group – Autism Project

Contributors: Autism NI, Western Health and Social Care Trust

Northern Area Outcomes Group /Locality Planning Groups

Positive Mental Health Boxes - Early intervention support for young

people feeling isolated.

Contributors: Northern Health and Social Care Trust; Mid & East Antrim Council; Fresh Minds Education

South Eastern Area Outcomes Group Joint Poverty support fund

Contributors- South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust; Lisburn and Castlereagh Council; Ards and North Down Council

Belfast Area Outcomes Group Seamless Pathway for Children under

8 (in development)

Collaboration/resource/pooled budgets via CYPSP – Belfast Health and Social Care Trust; Belfast City Council, Neighbourhood partnerships.

The Family Support Hub network is a further example of Statutory/Voluntary/Community Sector cooperation.

There are 29 Family Support Hubs, which are virtual partnerships of organisations from the Community, Voluntary and Statutory sectors whose purpose is to connect families to family support providers who best meet their needs, improve coordination of services through a collaborative network, improve awareness of early intervention support services and report unmet need in their areas. They provide 100% geographical coverage of Northern Ireland.

There are currently over 650 different Hub members from across voluntary and statutory sectors making up the 29 Family Support Hubs and responding to early support needs for families.

Some but not all services provided through the Hubs may be funded by DOH. Many of the Hub members are funded through other departments or organizations e.g. Department of Education, Department of Communities, Public Health Agency (PHA), Voluntary Community Sector organizations, Health and Social Care Trusts or Local Councils. They may also seek funding through a range of grants and other funding streams e.g. Big Lottery funding.