FOI/29571
14 August 2023
Children’s Respite / Residential Care outside
Northern Ireland Jurisdiction
Please note in the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust response set out below,
when the number of children and young people are less than 5, the Trust cannot
provide the exact data to ensure the protection of the identify of our young people.
Use of <5 (less than five): We are unable to provide an exact figure - exempt from
release under Section 40(2) of the Freedom of Information Act as this could make
individuals personally identifiable. Disclosure would constitute a breach of the
principles of the General Data Protection Regulation 2018.
1. How many children under the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust
(BHSCT), from January 2020 to present were, or are currently placed
outside of the NI jurisdiction to the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain, on
extra contractual referrals for respite or residential care?
Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (Belfast Trust) have <5 children placed
outside of the NI jurisdiction, in the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain, on Extra
Contractual Referrals (ECR) for residential care.
Belfast Trust have no children placed outside the NI jurisdiction, in Republic of
Ireland or Great Britain, for the purpose of respite (short-break) care.
2. How many children under the BHSCT, from January 2020 to present, were
or are placed outside the NI jurisdiction to the Republic of Ireland or Great
Britain, under parental consent for respite or residential care?
Belfast Trust have <5 children placed outside the NI jurisdiction, in Republic of
Ireland or Great Britain, in residential care with parental consent.
3. Of this, how many children under the BHSCT, from January 2020 to
present, were or are placed outside of the NI jurisdiction to the Republic of
Ireland or Great Britain, for treatment issues?
Belfast Trust have <5 children placed outside the NI jurisdiction, to the Republic
of Ireland or Great Britain, for purpose of both assessment and treatment aligned
to the ECR process.
4. How many children under the BHSCT, from January 2020 to present, were
or are placed outside of the NI jurisdiction to the Republic of Ireland or
Great Britain because of a lack of suitable community placement in
Northern Ireland?
None of the children from Belfast Trust who were or are placed outside of the NI
jurisdiction to the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain, from January 2020 to
present, were placed on the basis of lack of suitable community placements in
Northern Ireland.
Contact: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxx.xxx
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FOI/29571
14 August 2023
All placements made in other jurisdictions were on the basis of the assessed
needs of the children / young people and in line with their respective care plans.
Contact: xxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxx.xxxxx.xxx
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