Ms Nuala Ward:

This office published a meta-analysis a few years ago and highlighted some of the key issues regarding care planning for children in care and the allocation of social workers. I am aware it has been an issue in the Child and Family Agency in recent years. It publishes the figures regularly.

Needless to say, when a child is taken into care, it is very important that he or she has a dedicated social worker as his or her advocate, voice and protector. It is a key issue for us. Good early-care planning results in good after-care planning. It is very important that children in care not be part of an homogenous group. There are particularly vulnerable children in already-vulnerable situations, and there are children with disability in care. Therefore, there has to be a child-centred, individualised approach to care planning. This is an issue we have dealt with regularly.