Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Holding Hands via Shutterstock

Problems identified by child protection inspectors

The Health Information and Quality Authority published its findings from the HSE Carlow/Kilkenny local health area.

ALTHOUGH THE HSE in Carlow/Kilkenny was found to be providing services which are safe for children, there were a number of problems identified by the watchdog in a recent inspection.

HIQA published its first child protection and welfare inspection report today as part of a wider probe into HSE Children and Family Services to ensure they are compliant with national standards.

Inspectors found a “generally well-experienced and long-standing workforce” in Carlow/Kilkenny but said the systems in which it was operating were not robust.

“Some poor outcomes were identified for children,” the report stated.

Children First processes were not consistently followed, the investigation revealed. Gardaí were not always formally notified of suspected physical or sexual abuse, or wilful neglect of a child. Inspectors found evidence that in a number of instances, social workers awaited confirmation of abuse before notifying the appropriate authorities.

Leadership and governance arrangements have been described as not sufficiently robust and systems were not in place to ensure that all children received help and protection when they required it.

“Not all children and young people had been sufficiently well protected when they had needed help and support,” the report said.

Waiting lists for assessments and for cases to be allocated to social workers were not effectively managed, according to HIQA. And social workers used their individual judgement rather than official guidance when assessing risks to children.

Some waiting lists had not been accurately prioritised and there was a possibility that high priority cases might not receive the attention they required.

The Child Protection Notification System, which records all children in the area who are considered to have unresolved protection issues (including neglect), was not accurate and up to date.

Of the 27 standards examined, not one was “fully met”. Nine were “not met”, while the remaining  18 were “met in part”.

Significant deficits were found in the vetting of members of staff, including poor records and a lack of the required checks in some cases. Inspectors found 40 per cent of staff files did not contain the requisite garda vetting, something which was described as a “significant concern and serious deficit” by the watchdog.

The Department of Children and Youth Affairs said an action plan has been prepared to address the issues identified in the inspection report. It includes 57 actions and many of the recommendations have either been implemented or are currently underway.

HIQA is currently compiling five more reports following examinations of child protection standards. Speaking to TheJournal.ie last month, Minister for Children Francis Fitzgerald noted it would not be “all a good news story”, adding there would be gaps identified.

Camera and editing by Paul Hyland

Children’s Minister ‘constantly amazed’ at lack of basic services

Uncleanliness led to serious risks for patients at Sligo Hospital

New child protection inspections to bring Ireland in line with international standards

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
5 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute angela gaffney
    Favourite angela gaffney
    Report
    May 10th 2013, 1:30 PM

    Got a letter yesterday for my gas club saying it was illegal for volunteers to coach kids with out being fully garda vetted ….yet people working for our gov….are getting paid to work with children and are not completly vetted…double standerds again by a gov who can’t get the basics right

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute AlMar
    Favourite AlMar
    Report
    May 10th 2013, 3:28 PM

    The sad thing is that this story is up 2 hours and this is only the third comment. If it was a story about failures in the Church there would be dozens of comments expressing outrage. Church failures absolutely deserve criticism and the media has done the Church a service by exposing them. But the apathy about this story tells us a lot.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Harlice Surel
    Favourite Harlice Surel
    Report
    May 10th 2013, 3:35 PM

    Pretty shocking stuff.

    But of course there is no sign of the Children First legislation being passed so we can honestly assume that child protection is not a priority for this Government.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute meninchildcareirl
    Favourite meninchildcareirl
    Report
    May 10th 2013, 3:04 PM

    What breaks my heart is similar to the first comment, the HSE scrutinizes early years and preschool services when inspecting often nit picking issues not in regulations which goes in reports making up looking incompetent yet they don’t seem to have their own affairs in order. They are struggling with short falls in funding but the double standards upset me.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Aodhan O'Cuana
    Favourite Aodhan O'Cuana
    Report
    May 10th 2013, 8:42 PM

    Seriously do people have literacy problems? The report found the services to be providing safe care. Standards are only coming in and now the deficits have been found; resources and an action plan will address these issues.

    Social workers are a competent bunch of professionals who, from this report and previous ones by HIQA, found good practices.

    Unless you work in the area and see the innovative practices and safe care and good outcomes, the Journal’s reporting and sensational nonsense is akin to Daily Mail reporting

    National standards are being implemented via HIQA inspections and this takes time to bed down. Safe care practices means that, safe care practices!

    10
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds