Policy, legislation and guidance – Northern Ireland

The updated Framework provides a comprehensive national policy blueprint, laying out a bold vision for improving child health outcomes across the region.

The refresh of the Healthy Child, Healthy Future (HCHF) Framework has been widely welcomed as an important signal of Northern Ireland’s serious commitment to its babies, children and young people, supporting them to lay the foundations for lifelong health and wellbeing.

Built on the best global evidence of ‘what works’, the 9 principles of the Child Health Promotion Programme for Northern Ireland are:

1. A Whole Child Model with an emphasis on improving outcomes for children and young people through integrated planning of services for children, young people and families.
2. Relationship building and continuity of carer.
3. A major emphasis on parenting support and positive parenting.
4. Recognition of developmental plasticity and neuroplasticity with particular emphasis on the first 1000 days and how life experience during this crucial period can have long-term implications for health, growth and development.
5. The inclusion of changing public health priorities.
6. An increased focus on vulnerable families, underpinned by a model of proportionate universalism with targeted and enhanced service provision for those babies and children with additional health and or social needs.
7. Multi-disciplinary service delivery, ensuring that the correct people have the necessary skills and competencies to deliver the programme.
8. The use of new technologies and scientific developments, to engage families in the promotion of health and wellbeing and improve quality outcomes.
9. Quality Assurance of programmes to monitor outcomes.

This adapted infographic relates to Northern Ireland health visiting practice and enables Northern Ireland health visitors to articulate the complexity of their role to families and professionals.

A 10 year approach to transforming health and social care.

To improve cooperation amongst Departments and Agencies, placing a duty on Children’s Authorities, as defined by the Act, to co-operate.

Indicators on child health and policy recommendations.

An action plan containing 44 actions to improve child and adolescent mental health services.

Statistics on child health in Northern Ireland.

Infant mental health framework representing a commitment to improve interventions from the antenatal period through to children aged 3 years old.