Foster care scandal: Social workers fear kids at risk over loss of staff

Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, has defended its record on the retention of social workers following claims that its failure to hold on to experienced staff puts more children at risk of becoming the next ‘Grace’.

The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) said it feared there could be more cases like ‘Grace’, the young disabled girl left for years in a foster home known to be abusive, because of the rapid turnover of staff and the relative inexperience of those working on the frontline with children at risk.

IASW chair Donal O’Malley said various reports had highlighted state failures to protect children and they had yet to be adequately acted upon. “Until we actually take those seriously, I think we are going to be waiting on yet another situation where a child or young person is left in a very risky situation,” he said.