The call comes as the first annual conference to update on the progress of implementation and reform in children’s social care services takes place today (27 November).

An independent review of children’s social care services, led by Professor Ray Jones, was published in June 2023. It included 53 recommendations which would reform and improve current services, including the care system, children’s respite, and residential services.

The North Belfast MLA has said: “I share Professor Jones’s assessment that the lack of progress in the 18 months following the publication of his recommendations is a great embarrassment to the Assembly.

“Reforming children’s social care has been a priority for me in my time on the Health Committee, and I have ensured that we as a committee will continue to keep a close eye on the progress being made by the Department of Health, which so far has been painfully slow.

“However, on closer inspection of the work being done in the department, I'd be concerned that some recommendations have been described as ‘closed’ when the reality is that this is far from the case. If not for the rigorous scrutiny ensured and prioritised by the Health Committee, I worry progress from the department would have been even slower.

“As Professor Jones has emphasised, timelines for children are much quicker and the 18 months which have passed will have seen many children age out and move into adult services.

“For this reason, the Health Minister and his department must move at pace to ensure that the children currently in the system feel the benefit of this much needed reform.”