Care Tribunal

The Care Tribunal is set up to hear appeals against decisions relating to the regulation of residential care homes, nursing homes, children’s homes, nursing agencies and independent health care providers as well as other care services.

The Care Tribunal is established under the provisions of the Health and Personal Social Services (Quality, Improvement and Regulation) (Northern Ireland) Order 2003.

The proceedings of the Care Tribunal are carried out in accordance with the Care Tribunal Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005 (No. 178) as amended by the Care Tribunal (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (No. 342), Care Tribunal (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 (No 249) and the Care Tribunal (Amendment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009 (No 42).

Appeals are heard, as and when they arise.

Care Decisions are a matter of public record and are published on this website.

Panel Chairs

Each Care Tribunal consists of a chairman, who is legally qualified and two lay panel members who will have knowledge and experience relevant to assist their consideration of a particular case.

Chairs of the Care Tribunal

Sarah O'Reilly
Stephen Quinn

Panel Members

Each Care Tribunal consists of a chairman, who is legally qualified and 2 lay panel members who will have knowledge and experience relevant to assist their consideration of a particular case.

Lay panel members will have experience as follows:

services for children or vulnerable adults and in social work;
in delivery of services by the HSC Board or a HSC Trust or in education in a school or in an institution within the further education sector and experience in the conduct of disciplinary investigations, or as a member of an Area Child Protection Committee, or similar experience, or experience of taking part in child protection conferences or in child protection review conferences, or similar experience, or in negotiating the conditions of service of employees.
in carrying out inspections in education establishments, children’s homes, residential care homes, nursing homes, nursing agencies;
managing the provision of health and personal social services; or
as a registered nurse or registered medical practitioner who has experience of the provision of health care services.

Lay Panel Members

Roberta Brownlee
Fergus Cullen
Agnes Lunny
Harry Murray
James McCall
Kerry O’Halloran
Sally O’Kane
Arthur Rainey

Decisions made by the Care Tribunal

Decisions of the Care Tribunal

A Guide to the Care Tribunal

A Guide to the Appeals Process and Procedures

Appeal Forms

Appeal Forms

Contact Us

Secretary to the Care Tribunal:

Mr Kevin McQuillan
Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunal Service
2nd Floor, Royal Courts of Justice
Chichester Street
Belfast
BT1 3JF

Tel: 028 9054 6182
E-Mail: tribunalsunit@courtsni.gov.uk

Useful links

The Care Tribunal does not accept responsibility for the content of other sites.