Supporting providers in delivering quality care services
ihcp is the recognised body responsible for representing those providing services for older people and vulnerable adults in Northern Ireland. We represent private, not-for-profit, charity and church-affiliated organisations providing residential and nursing home care, sheltered housing, day care and care in the home. The independent sector provides services to over 50,000 people across Northern Ireland every day and employs over 34,000 people.
What we do
Independent Health and Care Providers (ihcp) is a non-profit making membership organisation representing our members who provide care to older people, vulnerable adults, including those with learning disabilities or mental health problems and for those people with other special needs. Our aim is to influence positive change that enables members to provide and maintain good quality services through building constructive engagement with the key policy decision makers on social care. We increase public awareness through regular media engagement and work closely with all other stakeholders on social care issues including RQIA, COPNI, PHA, Department of Health, NISCC and Health Trusts.
Become a member
You can influence the future of care services by joining ihcp. You can add your voice to the many care homes and organisations that strive together to promote high quality care, dignity and choice. You will find the relevant information about membership under the Members Area menu at the top of this website
Being a member of ihcp enables your voice to be heard and provides a forum whereby you have access to timely information, can learn from others and can join members events which run throughout the year.
Sponsor Partner
Our sponsor partners bring a wealth of knowledge, experience and an understanding of the social care sector in Northern Ireland.
If you wish to become a sponsor partner of ihcp, get in touch today by filling in our sponsor partner sign-up form.
ihcp is partnered with My Home Life
Care home managers and staff play a unique role in supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our society. The My Home Life Leadership Support Programme has been developed specifically for care home managers and staff in leadership roles. My Home life is an international initiative that promotes quality of life and delivers positive change in care homes. The MHL initiative is a leadership support programme. In Northern Ireland we provide the leadership programme with an additional quality Improvement strand and the programme is led by Ulster University in partnership with Age NI and the Independent Health Care Providers (IHCP).
What our members say:
Latest News
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Minister confirms ‘no timeline’ for nursing home bed expansion — IHCP
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has called for a long-term plan to expand Northern Ireland’s nursing home capacity after the Minister of Health confirmed that it is “not possible to provide a definitive timeline for expansion of nursing care home capacity at a regional level”. Responding to Assembly Questions from SDLP MLA Daniel…
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Stormont evidence exposes role of social care shortages in NI’s ‘hidden dying’ crisis
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has said years of political failure to reform Northern Ireland’s social care system are now contributing to a ‘hidden dying’ crisis across the wider health service. The warning follows publication of a report from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine which associated 1,032 excess deaths in 2025 with…
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Home Care “Rationed by Stopwatch” as Southern Trust Cuts Visits — IHCP Warns
The Independent Health and Care Providers (IHCP) has revealed new internal measures by the Southern Health and Social Care Trust which it says “rations home care by stopwatch, not by need”. Internal documentation reviewed by IHCP confirms the Trust is moving to fundamentally reshape how home care is delivered, with sweeping reductions to visit length…






