To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety when domiciliary care workers will be registered with the Northern Ireland Social Care Council.

Strengthening public protection through registration of the social care workforce in Northern Ireland is one of my Department’s key policy priorities. The Northern Ireland Social Care Council was set up specifically to deliver on that policy commitment and ensure we have a competent and confident workforce that is trusted by service users and their families.

Roll out of registration has been subject to public consultation and on that basis registration has been progressed on a phased priority basis for specific groups. It is compulsory for the following groups to be registered with the NISCC: social workers, social work students; social care workers in adult residential care and in nursing homes; and social care managers in adult residential, day care and domiciliary settings.

My officials are currently working with the NISCC to develop proposals, including a timeframe, for continuation of rollout of registration to the final groups of social care workers, including domiciliary care workers. These proposals will be subject to public consultation.