Hiqa seeks strategy on vulnerable children

The health watchdog has called for a national strategy to overcome the problem of placing vulnerable children in care homes that do not meet their needs.

The call follows an analysis by the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa) of its inspections of child residential services in 2012 which found that children were often placed in homes based on a vacancy rather than suitability.

Hiqa said this practice contributed to placement breakdowns, causing “considerable disruption in children lives”.