Minister pledges to overhaul child care system

THE minister for children has pledged to overhaul elements of the care system after a series of criticisms from children living within it.

A report, entitled Listen To Our Voices, based on interviews with 220 children and young people, highlights issues ranging from claims of verbal abuse to accessing social workers.

The report, published yesterday by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, highlights the lack of satisfaction with social workers by children in care in their teenage years, and also the uncertainty enveloping separated minors seeking asylum. Other issues raised in the report include:

nImportance of being able to access birth parents and siblings, and not having to if the child did not want to.

nThe multiplicity of placements has a very disruptive effect on children, making it hard for them to develop trust and relationships.

nThe need for each person in care to have someone dedicated to listening to them or to talk to.

nThe need for vetting of foster carers, more training for carers and those working in residential centres, and issues about information and confidentiality.

While 90% of 5,000-plus children in care are in foster placements, about 70% of contributors to the study were in residential settings.

Younger children, particularly those in foster care, appeared to have a more stable family setting, but Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald said she was “concerned” the relationship with social workers appeared to weaken considerably in the teenage years.

Other ideas raised included a dedicated phoneline for children in care and an official group made up of young people that would meet regularly to discuss issues as they arise.

There were also calls for statutory aftercare provision to be made available to separated minors seeking asylum when they turn 18.

The researchers also consulted inmates at St Patrick’s Institute for Young Offenders. Some inmates complained of officers putting mice in cereal and toothbrushes down toilets; of being a “scumbag” in the eyes of officers; and the need for more television channels and “a few joints”. Drink and drugs were key issues.

Young people detained at St Patrick’s are to be housed at a new facility in Lusk in north Dublin, but Ms Fitzgerald admitted there was no timeframe for the move and resources would have to be made available.

In another section, children in residential care in Cork put money allowance and “bag of weed” top of the list of important issues. In many cases, access to a key worker and social workers with good relationships with the young people was deemed essential.

A social worker in the Cavan/Monaghan area asked the minister what would be done about case loads, following complaints from social workers about proposed administration systems.

Ms Fitzgerald said she had met with the social workers and expressed confidence that any differences between social workers and the HSE would be resolved.