Minister must act to end widespread abuse of temporary engagement forms to avoid formal recruitment processes

Unite has expressed deeps concerns for child safety in Northern Ireland after a freedom of information (FOI) response confirmed that 353 staff positions had been filled without Access NI checks in place.

The numbers remains high despite a public commitment by education minister Paul Givan in May that the education authority would move away from the widespread practice of using temporary engagement forms instead of formal recruitment processes to employ school support workers.

General secretary of Unite, Sharon Graham said, “The race to the bottom on working practices in Northern Ireland’s special needs sector is putting the safety of the children at risk. The education minister must act to ensure child safety of children by ending this harmful practice, levelling up employment practices across all schools and professionalising the sector. School support workers must be paid properly, treated with respect and given long-term job security.”

Regional officer, Kieran Ellison said: “Unite has written to the education minister demanding he immediately end this safety risk to children by halting the widespread abuse of temporary engagement forms. Children are being left vulnerable while a workforce responsible for the well-being and safety of children is denied respect and not even properly employed.”