AGSI: Lack of social work cover ‘unfair’

THE Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has said the lack of proper social worker cover in Cork city was “grossly unfair and damaging to vulnerable young people”.

Sergeant Willie Gleeson, an AGSI national executive member, said his colleagues in the city were at a loss to understand why the HSE would provide social worker cover for a limited period over Bank Holiday weekends, but none at all on ordinary weekends.

“On Bank Holiday weekends they [the HSE] send us emergency numbers which can be used between 10am and 4pm. If you’re lucky you might get an answer, otherwise it is an answering machine.

“It happens, sometimes, that they don’t even come back to you,” said Sgt Gleeson.

“We don’t get any contact numbers on ordinary weekends. How can they decided at what time a problem will arise?” he said.

The sergeant said the fact a 15-year-old boy had to spend a night in a Garda station last week, because gardaí were unable to contact social workers, had highlighted the intolerable situation.

“It is, but another, example of the lack of social worker cover throughout this country. I’m appalled by the incident, but not surprised at the lack of cover and disinterest in supplying it,” said the senior AGSI representative.

Sergeant Gleeson said hospitals regularly rang him in the control room in Anglesea Street Garda Station looking for the out-of-hours contact numbers for social workers.

He claimed the Department of Health had showed little interest in addressing the issue, despite some recent high-profile cases.

AGSI has consistently criticised the health services for not providing proper out-of-hours cover.

“It is grossly unfair that gardaí are expected to carry the can, as they are not resourced or properly trained to handle such cases,” he said.

“It is also grossly unfair for a young person to be kept in a Garda station. This is very damaging to children,” said Sgt Gleeson.

“I cringe when I think of what is currently happening, and I really fear for the future.”

The need for social workers to provide round-the-clock cover was raised at the annual AGSI conference last March.

“Following that, the HSE vowed to deliver a service, but we are still waiting,” said the sergeant.

The Garda Representative Association, which represents 12,000 rank and file members of the force, has also criticised the HSE for its lack of action.

The HSE said that last October its management team adopted the report of a National Working Group, set up in 2006, to examine out of hours Child Protection Services. The report was submitted to the Department of Health and Children, together with a request for funding of this new initiative in 2008.

“The report is currently being considered by the department and is the subject of discussion with the HSE,” said a HSE spokesman.

The HSE has, in parallel, commenced detailed discussions with IMPACT, the trade union representing HSE social workers with a view to gaining the commitment of social workers to the commencement of this service in 2008.