To ask the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to outline his specific proposals to improve the standard of social care provided as part of Transforming Your Care.

The Transforming Your Care Review identified that “Social care will also be a central part of the support provided to enable independent living. This will include access to a diverse range of provision to meet people’s social and emotional needs and tackle social isolation.”

My department has continued to work to improve the quality of social care in Northern Ireland, including:

The rollout of a regional approach to Self Directed Support - offering individuals more control over their personal support budgets, to avail of greater flexibility, independence and choice in how and when social care services are provided.

The introduction of Reablement services which are designed to support people to live independently in their own homes for longer. This involves working with individuals whose independence is at risk, helping to rebuild their confidence, develop (or re-learn) daily living skills and promote social inclusion.

Support for people with a learning disability, many more of whom are now able to live semi-independently in the community with support rather than in hospital or institutions. Improvements and modernisation of buildings-based day services for those individuals with the most complex conditions is also continuing.

Improving mental health services, following the Bamford Review and Transforming Your Care. We continue to focus on implementing the more recovery-based approaches envisaged by that review. We have also pursued the resettlement of existing residents of institutional care and inpatient beds to more independent living in the community through the provision of intensive home support, alternative supported living arrangements and individual budgets.