Audit of child safety urged by Hiqa

Health watchdog Hiqa has told the Child and Family Agency it should conduct an audit to ensure there are no asylum-seeker children at risk of harm because of incomplete assessments, due to the moving of families between different direct provision accommodation centres.

The recommendation was among a number made to Tusla by the Health Information and Quality Authority in an action plan issued to the Child and Family Agency on foot of recent inspections into child welfare services for children in direct provision.

Hiqa asked Tusla which actions it had taken or planned to take, including that “The Child and Family Agency will collaborate with the Reception Integration Agency and other state agencies where appropriate, to conduct an audit of referrals received in respect of children in direct provision to ensure any outstanding or incomplete assessments are completed.