Child had no social worker visits for 9 years

A child in foster care did not receive a single visit from a social worker in nine years and others were fostered to homes where undisclosed allegations had been upheld against adults, according to a review of foster and children’s residential services.

The report by the health watchdog, the Health Information and Quality Authority (Hiqa), shows the placing of children with unapproved foster carers continues, despite a statutory obligation on the HSE to ensure prospective foster carers undergo a rigorous approval process.

The HSE’s figures for 2012 show 559 unapproved foster carers were used last year and, in the case of 343, children had been with them for more than three months.

Hiqa’s review highlights the fact Garda vetting for some foster carers was out of date and investigations of allegations slow.

Phelim Quinn, director of regulation with Hiqa, said the authority “noted with concern the lack of urgency given to some investigations by the HSE of allegations made against foster carers”.

Hiqa was also troubled by the fact some children did not have social workers. HSE figures show, of 6,332 children in care in 2012, 350 did not have an allocated social worker.

On a more positive note, Hiqa found “evidence of dedicated and committed staff, who were appropriately qualified” and whose interventions led to “many positive outcomes for children in care”. It said there were considerable challenges to services, particularly staff shortages in the social work department, and these pressures were placing children at risk.

In relation to its overview of inspections of residential services, Hiqa said overall, services were safe and staff were dedicated, committed, and appropriately qualified. However, there were some difficulties in accessing specialist psychological and mental health supports.

The Children’s Rights Alliance called for immediate action in the wake of Hiqa’s report.