Fostering service in breach of standards

A HEALTH Service Executive (HSE) fostering service in Meath is in breach of national standards for foster care by failing to ensure all children in the service have a designated social worker.

An inspection of the service found a third of the children in foster care in the area — 38 out of 115 — were without this key support.

The Social Services Inspectorate (SSI), said its staff were “extremely concerned” at the finding because it compromised assessment of the children’s needs and care planning.