Mr. Pat Healy:

They are the specific actions we are taking as part of this system-wide reform piece. We have also established a national implementation task force to oversee the implementation of all of that, to take account of any learning that emerges in the context of the McCoy review and to look at other issues. We had the first meeting of the national implementation task force today following the national summit. It was a very useful meeting and they will take on board much of the feedback which has been received. There was 300 people at the summit so we will take that on board and a further meeting of the task force has been established for early January. We will be ensuring then that we progress this programme in a systematic way. The key elements I have just outlined will be incorporated in the social care division operational plan for 2015 and will be resourced in that context.

As we progress and as input emerges from the academics, staff and service users, it is intended that we will continue to progress and develop this programme as we proceed. There was a very strong commitment today from within the room regarding the leadership of the sector. There is recognition that while more may and will be done in 2015, there is a real necessity to be vigilant today. All of the providers and all those working in the service are committed to ensuring that this issue receives very serious attention immediately. People will be reviewing the position in each of their locations, including issues around encouraging staff feedback, whistleblowing, and listening to service users and their families in a way that perhaps has not happened. A question was asked about complaints that may have been made and they have been asked to check those and review them to make sure that where families, individuals or staff have been making complaints, they will be looked at. Together with the initiative on the confidential recipient and the national policy and so on, there are now a number of other mechanisms by which complaints, perspectives and views of inappropriate activity or abuse can be brought to notice. It is for us to ensure that this stays very high as a priority throughout 2015.