Northern Ireland youth in care moved due to finance issues

Children in care in Northern Ireland were moved from private foster placements for financial reasons, a report from the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has found.

It said some children were moved from private foster care to health and social care trust placements due to financial pressures within the trust, a body similar to a local health board in Ireland.

Placements

The report, which examined the rights of children in care in the North, said there were more than 2,800 in care and, of the children in care in 2013/2014 who had placement moves, almost half had three or more moves, 35 per cent had one move and 17 per cent had two moves.

The report said children who continue to experience placement moves are exposed to “a level of intense disruption” and “a risk to their sense of security and stability”.

It said proposals should be brought forward to increase placement stability for children in care. It found there were ongoing difficulties with the current childcare system, including a shortage of foster carers, sometimes resulting in a less suitable foster placement for some children.