Children at risk due to HSE care failures, Hiqa report finds

An independent inspection of the HSE’s child protection services has found serious failures regarding the handling of reports over suspect abuse or mistreatment of children at risk.

The inspection by the Health Information and Quality Authority found evidence that reports about nine standards were not met in areas such as the provision of safe and effective services, leadership and management.

An inspection team which visited child protection services in the Carlow/Kilkenny area last November found that:

* Gardaí were not always notified of suspected physical, sexual abuse or neglect of a child. These delays, inspectors said, potentially hindered investigations and presented a risk to children

* There were waiting lists for assessments of children at risk, as well as for and for cases due to be allocated to social workers. This was placing vulnerable children at potential risk

* Parents had major difficulties accessing social workers, either by phone or in person. This resulted in considerable frustration amongst parents who felt it had a detrimental impact on their relationships with their children and their ability to cope

* Social work teams were not following procedures set out in the State’s official policy on handling concerns over abuse or neglect concerns, Children First

* The record of all children in the area who were considered to have unresolved child protection issues, including neglect, was not accurate or up to date.

Overall, the report said the HSE was providing services to children which were safe by experienced staff.

But it said the systems in which they worked were not robust and some poor outcomes were identified for children.

The standard of social work practice and the quality of the child protection and welfare assessments were good

The report states there were 1,156 reports of child protection and welfare concerns for the 12-month period up to October 2012. A total of almost 200 children in the area were in the care system.

Hiqa was given powers to inspect child and family services following a series of damning reports that have highlighted failures in child protection and welfare services, including the deaths of children in State care.

The new standards – officially published by Taoiseach Enda Kenny last year – set out clear requirements for Health Service Executive managers, social workers and other professionals on how to deliver a consistent, high-quality and responsive service for young people at risk.

The inspections began in November last year and more reports into outcomes are due over the coming weeks.