ANALYSIS:Unpublished HSE reports show the child protection system is failing in many parts of the country, writes Carl O'Brien
WHAT WENT wrong in Roscommon? That’s the key focus of a HSE investigation into the handling of an incest case which shocked the nation when a mother of six was jailed for the sexual abuse and neglect of her children.
Yet, as these unpublished reports into the state of child protection and family services show, serious questions remain over the child protection system right across the State.
It’s clear social services are not able to respond adequately to hundreds of cases of children at risk of abuse or neglect due to staff shortages and the under-resourcing of social work teams.
Furthermore, family support, a system of providing care to children and families in crisis to help problems escalating into emergencies, is patchy and, in some cases, almost non-existent.
The result is a compromised service which is affecting the quality of support available to vulnerable children and their families, and which flies in the face of official policy which states that children should be admitted to care as a measure of last resort.
As it is, the scale of abuse and neglect of children in society is frightening. Child neglect remains the most common reason for children coming to the attention of social services.
In 2006, most of the 2,000-plus children taken into care had been neglected at home. Others were taken into care because of the inability of their parents to cope, or because of physical, sexual or emotional abuse. The number of children deemed to be at risk has been rising dramatically in recent years, due mainly to increased awareness over abuse and the rising population.
Yet, as this report shows, many child protection and welfare teams are struggling due to ceilings on recruitment and the failure to replace social work staff.
Take South Tipperary. In its report to HSE management, it’s clear local services are struggling to cope with emergency cases. In addition, it says, there is no prospect of services improving.
“As childcare manager I am convinced at this stage, having raised this issue on many occasions, the HSE is exposed to unacceptable risk, and in many ways has yet to proactively assist in resolving the resource deficits since 2005 in respect of actual posts required to fulfil the statutory duties and obligations in respect of child protection and welfare,” the South Tipperary report read.
It’s a similar situation in Roscommon. Except here, even relatively urgent cases are being added to waiting lists for the first time.
“As in previous years, all three social work offices were challenged to meet the referrals being made to their offices during the year. As a result, child protection cases were placed on waiting lists in all offices.
“Unfortunately some high-threshold cases had to be placed on waiting lists, which did not happen previously. These lists are reviewed regularly. This is a serious situation and places children and the HSE in a vulnerable position.”
It would be encouraging if family support services – regularly talked about as the future model of child protection – were being rolled out across the State. The truth is, they’re not. While there are encouraging developments in some areas, there is a uniform pattern of such services being isolated and underfunded.
Just one sixth of families assessed as being in need of family support were offered this kind of intervention in Cork and Kerry. In Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, managers have warned that current resources only allow them to deliver a very limited range of such services.
“The absence of key mainstreamed programmes to all areas significantly limits the level and range of family support interventions available to families in crisis,” they warned.
Family support is not a new concept. The department’s own strategy on family support, published a few years ago, pledges to promote and protecting the health, well-being and rights of all children, young people and their families in their own homes and communities. There’s little sign of this happening to a meaningful degree on the ground.
Another key area of concern is the lack of implementation of national guidelines for the handling of concerns over child welfare or abuse, Children First.
They were implemented in the late 1990s followed very obvious failings in the child protection system to meet the needs of vulnerable children. They were aimed at assisting with the reporting of child abuse and setting out clear responsibilities for anyone who become aware of a child protection concern.
Yet, even a cursory glance at local services shows that the guidelines aren’t being implemented properly. Many areas say basic flaws, such as not being able to assess properly an abuse concern, mean they are doomed to fail. This is an extraordinary, dangerous situation.
In the Cork and Kerry areas, managers say standards are “clearly not being reached”. They add: “under Children First there is a requirement to assess the needs of those children reported into the social work departments.
However, if their needs are not being assessed, due to being assigned to ongoing screening, then children in need of welfare support will be left waiting for a service that, if undertaken in a timely manner, may prevent any extended requirement for subsequent intervention.” This is not to admonish social workers. It is an incredibly difficult task trying to help remedy the silent symptoms of society’s failings: trying to help parents who fall through the cracks, link them in with health and social supports, or meeting the needs of vulnerable children whose safety or welfare is at risk.
Despite the pivotal role they play, the system is operating against a backdrop of scarce resources, staff shortages and heavy caseloads.
The Roscommon inquiry is only just beginning, but we already know the child protection system nationally is under incredible strain. We have been warned many times before.
If we are to come across other shocking cases of abuse or neglect in the community on a similar scale in the future, it should not be a surprise to anyone.