Serious failings for children in care

[Posted: Wed 04/11/2009 by Joanne McCarthy]

A new report has exposed ‘serious deficits in standards’ aimed at protecting vulnerable children, including lapses in vetting procedures for staff and foster carers working with children.

The report also found that breaches of standards and regulations brought to the attention of senior HSE managers had not had any impact.

The National Children in Care Inspection Report 2008, published today by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), reviewed the findings of 38 inspections of children’s residential care centres operated by the HSE and of foster care services in one HSE region.

The report found that over two-thirds of relative foster carers, who are related to the children they are caring for, had not been comprehensively vetted by the HSE, as required under foster care regulations and standards.

The report also found that only 40% of the relative foster carers reviewed had been allocated a social worker, a finding that was of ‘considerable concern’ as individuals providing care to children should be supported and monitored in accordance with the recognised standards, according to HIQA.

Of the 156 children in foster care reviewed by HIQA, some 12% had not been allocated a social worker.

"There were a number of areas of foster care practice which need to improve, including the assessment and training of foster carers, the provision of out-of-hours emergency social work services and the monitoring of child protection concerns," Dr Marion Witton, chief inspector of social services in HIQA.

Almost one-third of the children’s residential care centres and high-support units inspected were not compliant with all the requirements of vetting staff. While these mostly related to having an insufficient number of references, there was also a small number of ‘unacceptable breaches’ relating to clearance from the Gardaí.

In a number of centres, there was no clear approach for managing the difficult and unsafe behaviour of children outside the residential centre, behaviour which included sexual exploitation and alcohol consumption.

In one-fifth of the centres inspected, children were absent on a regular basis and engaged in behaviour that ‘gave reason for serious concern’.

In almost half of the centres, the professional supervision of staff was found to be inadequate or was not taking place at all. In three centres, inspectors highlighted the need for staff members to notify serious child protection concerns through the Children First Notification system.

Almost half of the centres were not compliant with statutory fire safety requirements. Fire safety practices in each of the three special care units needed to improve, according to the report, and recommendations from health and safety audits were not implemented in one-fifth of the centres inspected.

Concerns were also expressed about the failure of the HSE to register and inspect centres for separated children seeking asylum. In 2008, only two of the three centres and none of the six designated private hostels were registered.

HIQA has requested that the HSE nominate a national director to be accountable for developing and implementing the recommendations in the report.

There are approximately 5,500 children in care in Ireland, 88% of whom are in foster care services. Approximately 400 children are in residential care.

The HSE welcomed the report, saying it was pleased to note that HIQA referenced a number of positive developments. It said it noted HIQA's findings in relation to gaps in some areas service provision, and stated that such gaps are addressed by the individual service.

The HSE also said that in February 2009, in order to achieve consistent and standardised procedures and to fully and effectively implement the guidelines concerning child welfare and protection, it established a task force for children and families services. One of its major outputs was the development of formal child protection protocols to ensure standardised and consistent practice within the HSE. The HSE said it is currently enhancing the management and corporate structures in children and families services.

The HSE has responded to each of HIQA's recommendations.

See www.hiqa.ie for more information.

ria  Posted: 09/11/2009 12:11

What are we like? we admonish the treatment of children in ireland in times gone by and we sit on the fench and allow the opportunity for children to be abused into the future. vulnerable children, adults with intellectual disability and the elderly are not protected in our society and as day follows night, where opportunity exists for abuse to go undetected, it will happen again and again and again. i feel ashamed to live in this country at times. where are our legislators and those whose responsibility it is to enforce the law and bring those in breach to answer? busy, busy, busy making sure they get the populist vote next time out. there is no votes in legislation making.

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