Reform of child services under way, says Andrews

MINISTER for Children Barry Andrews insisted work on implementing recommendations contained in a new report on child services would be stepped up in the coming months.

The minister also said that he had read the report by PA Consulting, leaked by Fine Gael last week, which highlighted serious deficiencies in the delivery of child and family services.

The draft report was compiled last year and handed to the HSE in October, but details of it only emerged on Thursday when it was leaked to Fine Gael’s spokesperson on children Alan Shatter.

The report highlighted serious concerns, such as the child being made to fit the system, inconsistent approaches to risk assessment, and underdeveloped supports for social workers and their managers.

Mr Shatter said he felt the HSE and the minister’s department had no intention of making the report public, a charge denied by the minister.

“I certainly believe it is a blueprint for reform and change, but reform and change would not come as a result of reports, because we are falling down with reports,” Mr Andrews said. “It comes about through people putting it at the top of the agenda.”

The minister said he is holding monthly meetings with Phil Garland, the HSE’s assistant national director of child and family services, on how the services can be improved.

The minister said there had also been a change within the HSE as to the priority to be afforded to childcare issues.

As for the appointment of a third person to the new child death review panel announced in March by the minister, he said one candidate had had to drop out of the running and it was hoped someone from overseas would be appointed in the near future.