A New and Better Normal: The Impact of Covid-19 on the Planning and Delivery of Children's Services: A Rights Review

The current study is funded by the Northern Ireland Commissioner for Children and Young People (NICCY). It forms part of a larger project which has collated data on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and related responses through: direct engagement with children and young people; the administration of modules in the Kids Life and Times Survey and Young Life and Times Survey; and, the focus of this report, qualitative research with professionals and practitioners involved in the planning and delivery of services to children and young people.

The overall purpose of the project was to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the planning and delivery of services to children and young people. It aimed to identify the challenges experienced by professionals and practitioners working in statutory and voluntary sectors and examine the ways in which they responded to and aimed to resolve the issues presented. The analysis aimed to assess these in the context of the rights and best interests of children and young people in Northern Ireland with a view to aiding NICCY in framing recommendations for future emergency planning.