Resource issues key in child protection

Further to Noel Baker’s report (‘Delays put children at significant risk: HIQA’, Nov 16, 2013), it is vital to note the HIQA report identifies a lack of resources as a central and significant problem that causes delays and limits services.

The same HIQA report into child protection services in Kildare and West Wicklow found that, in addition to day-to-day social care being “respectful, rights-based, and needs-led”, interventions for children at risk are “timely, effective and beneficial”.

The report’s findings demonstrate the scale of the challenge facing child protection workers. Staff are doing their utmost to deliver a crucial service and are doing outstanding work every day despite the resource difficulties.