A Wardship Review Committee was first established in 1977. There was one for each state ward. Their purpose was to advise the Director of the Social Welfare Department about placements. Guardianship Review Committees came to an end in the 1990s.
A Wardship Review Committee consisted of the Regional Welfare Officer and the Child Welfare Supervisor of each region, the Child Welfare Officer responsible for the child, and other people interested in the child such as birth parents, relatives, foster parents, or family group carers. Sometimes the child was a member of the Committee. An important aspect of the Committee’s brief was to consider whether or not the child needed to remain in care.