Image source, NI Assembly

The SDLP's Colin McGrath asks if there are a lot of young people with problems who should have been referred but are being missed because there is currently no face-to-face contact with teachers.

Michelle James of Barnardo's says they made a comparison with the figures for this time last year.

She says they usually expect to see an increase in referrals at this time.

"We've seen a drop in those referrals," she says, adding that they expect to see an increase when the schools return.

"There is no doubt that the schools are very much a protective factor," Ms James says.

Alex Easton of the DUP asks about the increase in reports of domestic abuse cases and wants to know if that is having a "knock on effect in terms of foster care" and the number of foster carers available.

Fostering Network NI's Kathleen Toner says the needs of children brought into care are "an absolute priority".

She adds that it is unknown how many more children might come into care but welcomes the fact that the department is publishing weekly figures on this matter.

While there has been an increase in domestic abuse, she says children are brought into care "for a wide variety of reasons".

Image source, NI Assembly

In the past, she says, it was a struggle to recruit foster carers, but "over this last period, and particularly the pandemic, we have seen more people coming forward".

She reassures the member that there aren't children who aren't being placed because there aren’t enough foster carers.

Another Sinn Féin MLA, Órlaithí Flynn asks Alicia Toal of VOYPIC how many visits are taking place.

Ms Toal says some of the information is with the trusts. She says VOYPIC is collecting a lot of data but they are a small organisation with staff working from home and it is taking some time to collate all of it.

"We received as many referrals in April as we would usually receive in a quarter," she adds.

Ms Flynn asks Michelle James for any examples of how the proposed regulations could have a detrimental effect on young people.

The Barnardo's representative says she thinks it important that "any change that is made is constantly reviewed".

Sinn Féin’s Pat Sheehan joins the meeting by audio link and asks the panel what can be done to "ensure looked-after children don't drop further behind in terms of their education and mental health and well-being".

Michelle James from Barnardo's says there will have to "be safeguards" when schools reopen in terms of social distancing and footfall, but adds "it’s so important to work together” not just in the sector, “but across government”.

She says children "are going to need the basics" and will want to "feel safe".

Ms James adds there is work ongoing in supporting parents and carers who "don't have the skills" in relation to home schooling and outlines some of the difficulties faced.

Image source, NI Assembly

Kathleen Toner from Fostering Network NI says there will need to be a gathering of "evidence and information to what people need and how they can support young people".

She says the focus "must be on health and emotional well-being" of children and that they, their parents and carers feel safe going back to school.

Deputy chairperson Pam Cameron of the DUP (below) says BT and the Department of Education are working on providing "dongles" to children in areas where there is a poor broadband signal.

She asks the witnesses which children they think the proposed regulations would affect most, and in which particular setting.

Kathleen Toner says "it's hard to gauge" as the proposals go right across the range of young people.

Image source, NI Assembly

Alicia Toal of VOYPIC returns to the point about digital poverty and says her organisation is trying to link up with the BT scheme. They are also trying to get access to electronic tablets for young people in care.

Ms Cameron asks if foster care approvals have continued through the pandemic.

Kathkleen Toner says her understanding is that across the independent and statutory sectors "approval processes are continuing".

Alliance’s Paula Bradshaw asks what support the organisations or statutory bodies should be providing to young people as lockdown restrictions are eased.

Michelle James from Barnardo's says that while some of the organisation's buildings may be closed, there are still "staff on the front line" providing services.

She talks about the provision of counselling in schools and says that some of those services have had to be adapted but says that even when schools are reopened "they will want to reduce footfall and may not want "additional external providers coming into school".

Image source, NI Assembly

Kathleen Toner from Fostering Network NI says it has looked at the capacity in its secto,r adding that there will be an "increase in referrals to our services when lockdown starts to lift".

She says if there are greater numbers of young people coming into care, there have to be resources in place "to enable us to respond".

Ms Toner talks about the past difficulties of recruiting foster carers and says that changed during the pandemic with more people coming forward - "people are wanting to give back".

Mrs Bradshaw then asks for more information around the draft regulations on fostering and "why they have been stuck in the system since 2015/16?"

Ms Toner replies that they were considered by the Health Committee in the last mandate, but at that time, they wished to see more information.

She says "regrettably" there was no Health Committee "for several years" after that due to a collapse in devolution.

She says it would be a "really, really welcome development to see those being taken forward".

Colm Gildernew kicks off the questioning part of the witness session.

He asks the panel members if they think the rights of the child will be heard and taken seriously within the legislation as it's planned.

Alicia Toal says it's of "paramount importance" for VOYPIC.

Kathleen Toner of the Fostering Network says one of the challenges faced by foster parents is that video contact doesn't really work for very young "pre-verbal" children.

She says she thinks the voices of young people "have been quite silent during the pandemic" in terms of the debate.

Image source, NI Assembly

Mr Gildernew asks about the "cliff edge" that exists during the transition between child and adult services and whether there would be a concern that the current situation could exacerbate the problem of young people "falling between services".

Alicia Toal says there were already difficulties before Covid-19 and it is probably a matter of collecting data from young people on their experience at this time.

Michelle James, the head of Barnardo's NI, says while she recognises the current challenges the “needs, rights and voice of the child must be central to any changes” to the regulations.

The pandemic has “presented a challenge like no other in Barnardo's history” as it has had an "impact on every service we deliver and every age group".

She says the organisation is working "to support families and alleviate challenges where possible".

She says of the issue of safeguarding that "we are very concerned" that child protection issues "are not being identified" during the pandemic.

Ms James says "we're worried that more families are being pushed into crisis and that places vulnerable children in danger".

She adds there have been increased calls to police about domestic abuse and talks of the increased "online traffic" during the lockdown, which she says "may lead to an increase of online harm, including grooming and sexual exploitation".

The Barnardo's representative says they understand and support the systems in place to protect against coronavirus, but says there also need for protection of the most vulnerable in society.

Image source, NI Assembly

Ms James turns to the issue of "digital poverty" something she says the pandemic has highlighted, and something her organisation is working on.

In terms of mental health and well-being of children and young people, Ms James says a recent Barnardo's survey highlighted concerns of young people around "isolation and loneliness".

"We need to recognise the increased pressure on parents," she tells the committee, before concluding that there is a "real risk we will see long term impact on child mental health" as a result of the pandemic.

Kathleen Toner, the director of the Fostering Network in NI says its important that all government agencies work collaboratively.

Ms Toner says there are “almost 2,700 children” who “currently live in fostering households” - each she says has “their own story”, “unique circumstances”, “experiences” and their “own needs”.

The Fostering Network NI director outlines that the organisation has been in touch with “hundreds” of families over the last number of weeks to provide them with emergency digital equipment to support children’s home learning.

Image source, Getty Images

She adds that some children have enjoyed learning from home and found it “less stressful than school” - adding that school can be challenging for some children in foster care.

But, Ms Toner says, some children have also said they miss the structure of the school day and meeting their friends.

She says some of the children have “disengaged” from learning during this period and have seen some situations of more challenging behaviour.

Alicia Toal from the Voice of Young People in Care (VOYPIC) begins the briefing.

She says there are nearly 3,500 people in care in Northern Ireland.

Ms Toal says that at this time many children "are in need of more and better contact with their social worker".

She says the current regulations allow for flexibility around how statutory visits can take place.

"For some young people meeting by telephone or video call is not enough" and it's essential that with the necessary precautions, vulnerable children continue to be visited face-to-face, she adds.

Ms Toal says that some young people do not have sufficient access to the internet.

Image source, NI Assembly

She says that most young people understand the need for flexibility at this time.

"In the early stages of lockdown young people were anxious and worried about the spread of the virus" and the "lack of contact with family and friends," Ms Toal adds.

She says that as the lockdown has progress young people have become more informed and generally understand the reasons for the restrictions.

They have sought out "ways to combat loneliness, stay active and entertain while staying home," she adds.

Ms Toal says most have been in contact with their social workers numerous times - mostly on the phone.

Image source, NI Assembly

Sinn Féin's Colm Gildernew, the chairperson of the Health Committee, opens the meeting to the public before running through a number of items of committee business.

He welcomes this morning’s witnesses who have been invited to outline the experiences of young people during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Each is a representative from a stakeholder body that works with young people.

They are:

• Alicia Toal, Voice of Young People in Care
• Kathleen Toner, The Fostering Network Northern Ireland
• Michele Janes, Barnardo's Northern Ireland

The panel join the meeting remotely by audio link.

Image source, Getty Images

Welcome to Thursday's live coverage of the Northern Ireland Assembly's Health Committee.

This morning MLAs will be briefed on the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on vulnerable children.

Then in the afternoon they'll receive an update on the Covid-19 regulations from the department.

Join us from 10:00.