Child and Family Agency ordered to arrange psychiatric assessment for 10-year-old boy

A judge at the Dublin District Family Court has ordered the Child and Family Agency (CFA) to carry out a psychiatric assessment on a 10-year-old boy in its care after hearing of delays in the case.

Separately, Judge Brendan Toale made an order that three children who had been living with their parents under the supervision of the agency be taken into care last night following evidence of neglect.

More than 15 childcare cases were listed to be dealt with in Court 20, Dolphin House, in Dublin yesterday.

Developmental problems
Among them was one involving a 10-year-old boy with developmental problems and a history of violence, who had not had any access visits from family since last year following difficulties he had dealing with the visits. He had been deemed suitable for transfer from a residential care unit abroad, where he had been sent for assessment, to a unit in Ireland in January, but the move did not take place until early April, the court heard. The overseas unit had also recommended the boy be given a psychiatric assessment as soon as he arrived back in Ireland, but that assessment had not been carried out.

The boy’s social worker said there had been delays in getting a referral to the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Cahms). But a letter had now gone from the boy’s GP to Cahms and an appointment would issue in four to six weeks.

The boy’s guardian said he found it very frustrating that the service had first required a formal discharge letter from the overseas unit, even though the child was obviously in Ireland, and then said it required a referral from a GP.

“Surely when a child with these needs is in the care of the State something should happen quicker,” he said.

He also said it was the first time in his professional career that he stood over a decision not to allow family access.

Judge Toale described the case as “extraordinary” and said the position regarding Cahms was “continually frustrating”.

He made an order directing the CFA to make the psychiatric assessment and adjourned the case to June.

Separately, the parents of three boys consented to an interim care order for their three children.

The social worker in the case said the CFA had been involved with the family since 2011, and had obtained a supervision order for the children last year, but now believed the children needed to be taken into care.

She told the court the mother had tested positive for regular opiate use, there had been some concerns about school attendance and around the hygiene and care of the children. On some occasions food was not available for them.

Under cross-examination by a legal representative for the children’s father, the social worker conceded improvements had been made to the home. If the mother provided clear urinalysis for six weeks the agency would develop a reunification plan for the family.

Having read a letter handed into the court by the father, the judge said the potential positives in the case were considerably more than in many other cases that came before the court. He granted the interim care order for 28 days.