Written answers

Thursday, 16 December 2010

Department of Health and Children

Children in Care

5:00 am

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 210: To ask the Minister for Health and Children if she plans to commission a report into abuse in foster homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47816/10]

Photo of Barry AndrewsBarry Andrews (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of foster care is central to child welfare and protection. As the Deputy is aware, the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) commenced an inspection of HSE Foster care services in 2007 and more recently in Dublin in September, 2009 under Section 69 of the Child Care Act, 1991.

In July 2010 the Health Information Quality Authority published its inspection report of the foster care services for Dublin North West, North Central and North Dublin which indicated that in Dublin North West and Dublin North Central there were large numbers of children in care living with carers, who were not seen by a social worker for a considerable period and where a large number of carers were not formally approved by the HSE in line with the Child Care Regulations 1995. A large proportion of these placements were in relative care placements i.e. where a child had been placed formally in the care of a relative and that relative was in receipt of an allowance from the HSE. The inspection findings indicated that the standards of foster care in Dublin North were of a good quality.

In September 2010 HIQA published its report of an inspection of four Local Health Areas in HSE South. Overall the findings from this inspection were positive; however there were deficits in the formal assessment of some relative carers and up to 25 children of the 690 in foster care did not have an allocated social worker due to staff maternity leave. Overall inspection reports found the children were safe and well. HIQA brought their concerns to the attention of the HSE who developed an action plan to address the weaknesses identified. An additional 200 social workers have been approved, resourced and put in place this year in order to ensure, at a minimum, that every child in care has access to an allocated social worker.

It is a positive development that inconsistencies in practice and identified problems are now being identified through the work of the HSE's own internal audit processes and through the inspection process of HIQA. The challenge facing the HSE is the need to ensure that all necessary measures are taken as a priority to address the weaknesses identified. Any allegation of abuse of a child in the care of the State should be notified to the statutory authorities in accordance with Children First. In addition Section 10 of the National Standards for Foster Care sets out good practice in relation to dealing with issues of alleged abuse of children in foster care.

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