Social workers are failing children, claims group

An advocacy group for children in care has hit out at social workers for “failing” children following the Irish Examiner’s publication of HSE inspection reports of private children’s homes.

Jennifer Gargan, director of Empowering People in Care (Epic), has said that much of what the HSE inspectors found in the country’s private and voluntary residential centres should have been unearthed and acted upon by social workers. She said the same social workers should have better informed the children of their rights and supports so they too were aware when they were being “failed” by the system.

“Ultimately, social workers have responsibility for the children. They are statutorily bound to look after the children. They have a responsibility to stay in touch with the child, read their files, and have regular contact with the child.