A shortage of social workers in the Midland Health Board region resulted in a three-month delay before action was taken on a complaint of abuse made by a child at a children's residential centre in Co Westmeath, it has emerged.
The delay has been highlighted in a report compiled by inspectors from the Irish Social Services Inspectorate who visited the centre in January. Their report, which does not name the centre to protect the identity of the four boys and girls living in it, has just been published. The report said that during the three months before action was taken "the risk to the child continued".
However, it noted that at a later stage "the risk was acknowledged and the child at risk was transferred to another residential centre".
The inspectors urged the health board to review policy and practice on child protection "as a matter of urgency and ensure that children and young people in the care of the board are safe, irrespective of the stage of investigation or assessment of child protection referrals".
The report also said "there had been periods of several months when young people had not been visited by a social worker" at the centre, again "owing to shortages of personnel to fill posts".
"In spite of the difficulties in recruiting and retaining social workers in the MHB community care teams, inspectors urge managers to ensure that children in the care of the board have priority in terms of allocation and that they are visited in the levels of frequency set out in the regulations."
The health board's acting assistant CEO of community services, Mr Pat O'Dowd, said yesterday the board has 20 vacancies for social workers. "Like most other health agencies throughout the country, the board has experienced difficulties in recruiting and retaining social workers," he said.
He said it was not a satisfactory situation, he stressed that emergencies were always responded to.
He added that the board recently completed an overseas recruitment drive and had been successful in recruiting 16 social workers, 11 of whom are due to start work at the end of August and the remainder before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the inspectors raised concerns about the vetting of staff. While they said the staff were "a well-qualified and experienced group", Garda clearance and references were not received for all before they started work at the centre.
"The guidelines are clear: Garda clearance and three references are required prior to the commencement of employment . . . the board should ensure that all staff with substantial access to children in its care are appropriately vetted prior to appointment," the report said.
Mr O'Dowd said that "on an exceptional basis, because of an acute staffing problem", five staff had begun employment prior to the receipt of written Garda clearance. Checks were carried out locally with gardaí and Garda clearance was subsequently received in all cases.
The report said the centre had a major problem with children absconding. Inspectors said this reflected "the fact that rather than running away from the centre, young people are coming and going as they please".
Mr O'Dowd said it was an open unit and the board did not have any legal powers to detain children there. However, policy on absconding which was observed by staff would now be reviewed.