Children in Care in Northern Ireland 2018-19

The Department of Health has published the
latest Children in Care in Northern Ireland statistical bulletin presenting
information on children and young people who have been looked after
continuously for at least 12 months at 30 September 2019. Due to IT problems,
industrial action and COVID-19, the information captured in 2019 was
significantly reduced compared with previous years. The findings show that:

• At 30 September 2019, 2,638 children and young people had been looked after continuously for 12 months or longer, an increase of 9% on the previous year.
• At 30 September 2019, 44% (1,161) of the children in care for 12 months or longer were placed in non-kinship foster care, and 37% (973) were placed in kinship foster care. Of the 1,161 children in non-kinship foster care, 75 were placed for adoption.

In the year ending 30 September 2019, 24% of children and young people in care were covered by a statement of Special Educational Needs, compared with 5.5% of the general school population.

Find out more here >