Committees & panels

The SBNI undertakes its aims and objectives through a series of Committees and Panels on areas like Child Protection, Child Exploitation, Domestic Violence & Abuse, Mental Health and Online Safety.

The SBNI also has five local area safeguarding panels co-terminus with the five trust boundaries, and a Case Management Review Panel.

Case Management

  • Case Management Review Panel

    Andrew Thomson

    Independent Chair CMR

    The child protection and safeguarding system will be improved by hearing the views of children and young people, parents and carers through engagement with the SBNI Safeguarding Panels.

Safeguarding panels

Each Safeguarding Panel will be made up of the Core SBNI Membership agencies represented on the Board. In addition to the Independently Selected Chair there will be representatives from:

  • Local Health and Social Care Trust

    • An Assistant Director of Children’s Services;
    • A Named Doctor for Safeguarding Children;
    • A Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children;
    • An Assistant Director for Mental Health Services;

  • Statutory Agencies

    • Superintendent from the Police Service of Northern Ireland;
    • An Area Manager from the Probation Board for Northern Ireland;
    • An Assistant Director from the Youth Justice Agency;
    • A manager from an Education and Library Board;
    • At least one but no more than two managers from a District Council;

  • Other representatives

    • A manager from the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children;
    • At least three but no more than five persons from voluntary and community organisations;
    • A member of a Local Medical Committee of the British Medical Association who practices within the area of Safeguarding.

  • Belfast, Southern and South Eastern Area Safeguarding Panels

    Mary Rafferty

    Independent Panel Chair South Eastern, Northern & Western

    The membership of each Safeguarding Panel is reflective of SBNI. It is interagency and multi-disciplinary in nature with an Independent Chair and representatives from all organisations with statutory responsibility for, or a stake in safeguarding and child protection.

  • Northern and Western Area Safeguarding Panels

    Mary Rafferty

    Independent Panel Chair South Eastern, Northern & Western

    The role of the safeguarding panels is to take forward collaborative work locally around to deliver the key strategic priorities set by the SBNI. The panels also identify new and emerging issues from the ground, thereby ensuring that the SBNI are fully informed of any concerns emerging from local communities, parents, children and other key stakeholders.

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    Test committee panel XXXXX

    Bernie McNally

    Chair

    Test  committee panel summary

Committees

  • Child Exploitation Committee

    Jordan Piper

    Police Service for Northern Ireland
    Detective Chief Superintendent

    Child Exploitation (CE) is a threat to children in Northern Ireland and the SBNI has a lead role to play in addressing this issue. This will be done through the mechanism of the CE Committee. This committee is a multi-professional group made up of senior representatives of the SBNI member and partner agencies. It will provide strategic guidance and direction to the SBNI on existing or emerging child protection and safeguarding issues in relation to child exploitation, namely: sexual, criminal and right-wing extremism. 

  • Child Protection Committee

    Tom Cassidy

    Western Health and Social Care Trust
    Director of Women & Children's Services

    The Child Protection Committee was established in 2017 by SBNI following a recommendation in the Jay report.

  • Domestic Violence & Abuse Committee

    Bronagh Muldoon

    NSPCC
    Assistant Director

    The Domestic Violence Committee was established in 2018 by the SBNI.  The focus of the Committee is to ensure the child is recognized as a victim in their own right where domestic violence has occurred. 

  • Governance Committee

    Gerry Guckian

    Independent Lay Member

    The work of the Governance Committee supports the learning culture across the SBNI in response to lessons learned and furthers the SBNI’s objective to coordinate and ensure the effectiveness of what is done by each person or body represented on the Board for the purpose of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

  • Interfaith Committee

    Philip O'Hara

    Catholic Diocese Down and Connor
    Interim Director and DLP

    The SBNI has established the Interfaith Committee in May 2015 as a mechanism to engage with the faith community in Northern Ireland for the purposes of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

  • Mental Health Committee

    Ciara McKillop

    Strategic Planning and Performance Group
    Interim Deputy Director

    The Mental Health Committee was built on activity undertaken by the SBNI during the COVID-19 pandemic.  This in turn was underpinned by the Mental Health Strategy 2021-2031, Mental Health Action Plan and COVID-19 Mental Health Response Plan. The committee placed a policy emphasis on providing a voice for children and young people affected by mental health issues.

  • Online Safety Committee

    Claire McGarvey

    Police Service for Northern Ireland
    Detective Chief Inspector

    To support children and young people in exercising their rights to enjoy the benefits of the online world free from harm, fear and abuse.

  • Policy and Procedures Committee

    Maura Dargan

    Northern Health and Social Care Trust
    Divisional Director of Women, Children and Families Division Executive Director of Social Work

    The Committee develops and revises policies and procedures for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people in order to guide professional practice and interagency/interdisciplinary working.

  • Trauma Informed Practice Committee

    Simon Rogers

    Independent Lay Member

    The SBNI has led work for the NI Executive on the development of the trauma informed practice agenda.  The establishment of the Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) Committee is the next step in that work and reflects the SBNI’s intention to become a trauma informed partnership.