The work within the family and child care programme is largely dictated by the requirements of the Children (NI) Order 1995 which came into force on the 4^th November 1996. It brings together the law concerning the care and up bringing of children in both private law (which applies to children who are affected by a private dispute such as divorce) and public law which covers children who are in need of help or protection from social services.

The Order makes children’s welfare the paramount consideration in court proceedings. It also recognises that wherever possible children are best brought up within their families and therefore it aims to prevent unwarranted interference in family life. The legislation promotes partnership between children, parents and social services and protects the rights of parents with children being looked after by social services. The legislation also aims to ensure that children looked after by social services are provided with good standards of care.

The family and child care teams aim to provide services to children, parents, families under stress and adolescents throughout the Trust area. Trust social workers are assisted in the tasks they undertake by the involvement of a number of voluntary agencies.

There are 6 fieldwork teams:

Initial Assessment Team	Dromalane House Tel: 30825000	All new referrals to Family & Child Care Services
South Down Family Support Team	Dromalane House Tel: 30825000	Family Support, Child Protection and Looked After Children
South Armagh Family Support Team	Dromalane House Tel: 30825000	Family Support, Child Protection and Looked After Children
Early Years Team	Dromalane House Tel: 30825157 or 30825098	Provision and Monitoring of Early Years Service, Community Development
Family Placement Team	Dromalane House Tel: 30832692 / 3 email: family.placement@southerntrust.hscni.net	Family Placement Services, assessment, and support of fostercarers and adoptive parents
Independence and Aftercare Team	Dromalane House Tel: 30825000	Support and assistance to young people who have been looked after by the Trust

Residential Care – Cedar Grove

The Trust provides residential care for up to six children at Cedar Grove. The aim of the facility is to complete assessment work within a maximum period of six months, in respect of the needs of adolescent children.

The assessment is designed to inform the Trust as to the best possible placement for the young person. This may include a return to their family of origin, it may recommend placement in foster care or it could recommend a further move on to a longer-term residential facility.

Cedar Grove provides an outreach service which links into families in the community. This enables young people to settle back within their own families following discharge or it may be used to assist those families experiencing particular difficulties with an identified child, particularly where there is a likelihood that they may come into residential care.

Newry Family Resource Centre

The Trust in conjunction with Barnardos have established Newry Family Resource Centre at Lisdrum House, Chequer Hill, Newry. While the Resource Centre provides an assessment facility for referred families it also takes direct referrals from the community and from other statutory agencies.

Home Start Scheme

This is a scheme grant aided by the Trust. The scheme has trained a number of volunteers who visit and befriend mothers of young children and help them through a particular life crisis.

Inter-country Adoption Service – Tel: 30250808

The Inter-country Adoption Service was set up in June 2002 with the main focus of developing standards of service in keeping with Domestic Adoption. Individual enquiries are channelled to the Senior Social Worker, Adoption Services, Dromalane House, Newry. The work undertaken in this service is in relation to preparation, assessment and training of prospective intercountry adopters. The service also provides support and guidance to families with internationally placed children post placement and post adoption.

Newry Adolescent Partnership – Tel: 30251115

Aim of the Service “is to provide community based services for young people who are deemed to be at risk of entering care or custody.”

Partnership is composed of both statutory and voluntary agencies and delivers a service to vulnerable young people and their families within the Newry and Mourne area.

The age of referrals is 10-17 years old and we provide a range of preventative and diversionary services which seek to enhance the skills and strengths of young people and their families.

Revised 29 November 2007