CARING FOR CHILDREN IN NORTHERN IRELAND: Reflecting on the work of the NI Children’s Commissioner Dr. Alison Montgomery

TRANSITION AND CHANGE

THE OFFICE OF THE NI COMMISSIONER FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Legislation: Commissioner for Children and Young People (NI) 2003 Order Primary Aim: ‘Safeguard and promote the rights and best interests of children and young people in Northern Ireland Remit: Children and Young people up to 18 years or 21 years if they have experience of care or a disability Required to have regard to UNCRC

NICCY: DUTIES, POWERS AND FUNCTIONS To keep under review and provide advice in relation to the adequacy and effectiveness of law, practice and services for children Provide assistance to a child making complaint to a relevant authority Investigatory powers with respect to relevant authorities Legal & Investigations, Policy & Research, Participation, Communications and Corporate Services

POSITIVE CHANGE AND PROGRESS Greater awareness of children’s rights and what these mean in practice Examples from Government departments: o Health - Paediatric Services o Justice - Aims of Youth Justice System o Education - Pupil Participation

APPROACHES TO INFLUENCE GOVERNMENT Commissioned research into key issues e.g. Public Spending on Children and young people Legal Interventions Children’s Rights Review – 2004, 2008 Regular and varied contact with Government

Shared Education Child Sexual Exploitation Guardians for Separated Children subject to immigration control Human Trafficking and Exploitation Bill INFLUENCING KEY POLICY ISSUES

POLICY EXCLUDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Mental Capacity Bill Age Discrimination legislation Welfare Reform Bill Child Poverty Government engagement with Children and Young People (could do better…)

BARRIERS TO EFFECTIVE DELIVERY FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Tenuous connections between strategy and action Limited participation for children Lack of transparency Failure to ‘join up’ or co-ordinate planning and delivery

IMPROVING GOVERNMENT PROVISION FOR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Child Rights Legislation Child rights impact assessment Collection of accurate, up-to-date data Child rights indicators Involving children and young people Overarching strategy and action plan

RESEARCHING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE Quality research is vital in helping to influence policy-makers and effect policy change Consult with children and young people – ‘They should have asked us…I mean they were kids once, but that was a 100 years ago. Talk to us. We’re the ones who have to put up with the changes they make…’

Thank you