THE CHILDREN (NORTHERN-IRELAND) ORDER 1995 - CONSIDERATIONS OF THE LEGISLATIVE, ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL, ORGANIZATIONAL AND SOCIAL-POLICY CONTEXTS

Recent child care legislative reforms in Northern Ireland will be enacted against a backcloth of economic and political uncertainty as well as major organisational upheaval in the delivery of services to children and families. Echoing many themes of the Children Act 1989 in England and Wales, the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 is the most significant reform of child care legislation for decades. It will determine the provision by voluntary and statutory agencies for children's welfare for many years to come. The Order should go some way to developing quality services and establishing standards of practice. However these developments occur at a time of major restructuring of public social services based on market and controlling principles. The present unique context of health and social services will face unprecedented challenges as the Order seeks to promote equality of provision, establish partnership principles and practices intra professionally and with service users. This paper seeks to explore the impact of the new legislation, the implications of the contract culture and consider ways in which the future scene for child care provision in the Province can create non stigmatising services for those in need.