To ask the Minister of Health whether he has any plans to increase residential nursing provision for younger adults.

Health and Social Care Trusts (HSCTs) are responsible for the provision of health and social care services in accordance with population and individual assessed need.

HSCTs utilise both statutory and independent sector providers to provide residential or nursing home placements for younger adults as required in accordance with assessed need. HSCTs have procedures in place to optimise capacity within available resources. HSCTs advise there are no immediate plans to increase the provision of residential nursing provision for younger adults. My Department is working from a strategic perspective to support adults in line with assessed need to live in their own homes in local communities, rather than in institutional facilities.

My Department is also currently leading on the reform of Adult Social Care through the Social Care Collaborative Forum. The Commissioning and Contracting workstream and the Maximising Capacity workstream will support best use of current respite/ short break provision and expansion of service provision within care home settings from a residential and nursing care perspective. My Department remains committed to ensuring young adults receive appropriate service provision in line with assessed need.