Northern Ireland's Department of Health has released a 10-year strategy for adult social care reform, accompanied by a three-year delivery plan with defined actions and timelines.

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt identified key sector challenges, including staff recruitment and retention issues, rising service demand, more complex needs, and hospital discharge delays that strain budgets and service capacity.

Nesbitt called for new methods such as increased early prevention, community support, technology use, and workforce attraction and development efforts. The Department previously issued a 10-year Social Care Workforce Strategy, and Nesbitt affirmed commitment to funding the Real Living Wage when affordable.

The plans cover multiple areas: review of homecare delivery for improved support; a preventative framework to enable people to stay healthy and safe at home; expanded digital, AI, and assistive technology in services; and higher adoption of Self-Directed Support options for greater individual control.

Nesbitt described social care as preventative, integral to shifting care leftward and adopting a Neighbourhood Model. He stated the plans map reforms over the next decade, requiring partnership between statutory and independent sectors.