To ask the Minister of Health for an update on his work to improve the quality of care in care homes.

When a person moves to a care home it remains their home in their community. A key focus is therefore to ensure a secure environment where the quality of care provided to all residents is safe and effective.

The Social Care Collaborative Forum is working to implement proposals stemming from the public consultation on the Reform of Adult Social Care in Northern Ireland. One of the proposals is Enhancing Care in Care Homes: which focuses on access to safe, high quality and person-centred care and implementing the findings of the CPEA and COPNI reports and the, Enhanced Clinical Care Framework recommendations.

I accept that the Care Home Standards need a comprehensive review to ensure they are fully reflective of best practice, learning and guidance and are relevant to the current environment in which the care sector operate. A Working Group, has been established to undertake a review of the Standards.

My Department has commissioned a five-year regional roll out of the My Home Life (MHL) Programme. MHL is an international initiative that promotes quality of life and delivers positive change in care homes for older people. The Programme was specifically designed to meet the unique needs of care home managers by supporting them to improve quality of life for residents, relatives and staff.