To ask the Minister of Health what plans he has to identify people, particularly the older generation, who may be more vulnerable to loneliness and isolation, and to put them in touch with groups that promote greater social engagement and inclusion.

The Northern Ireland Council for Voluntary Action research (2020) concluded that one in 20 people experience chronic loneliness in Northern Ireland. The rising prevalence of loneliness amongst both older and younger people continues to be identified in such research and in practice and my Department recognises the impact of loneliness on health and wellbeing.

My Department has taken the following actions.

In July 2020 an initial scoping study was completed across the HSC organisations. This aimed to capture policies, strategies and activities in place to help tackle loneliness from a health and wellbeing perspective. Subsequently the Department established a DOH/HSC Loneliness Forum involving representatives from the 5 Trusts, NISCC, PHA and DOH policy leads. DAERA has also worked with the forum, recognising many older people may experience loneliness living in rural areas.

Through the forum, my Department has proactively supported key initiatives that encourage older people and others to connect in their local communities, such as “chatty cafes” and “chatty benches” in local parks. We have also encouraged Trusts to establish, support and fund local loneliness networks, again in rural areas to provide a more sustainable infrastructure in local communities including rural areas.

More recently we have commissioned NISCC to produce a loneliness learning resource for the social work and social care workforce(s). This is being designed to enhance the knowledge and skills of social workers and social care workers in practice, so that they can intervene at the earliest stage possible and provide support for older people and others who may experience loneliness and social isolation.

The resource will complement other strategic and policy work that the Department is progressing including the Reform of Adult Social Care; social care and social work workforce policy , the Mental Health Strategy and the Domestic and Sexual Abuse Strategy, amongst others.