Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 May 2003

Vol. 566 No. 1

Written Answers. - Child Care Services.

Mary Upton

Question:

96 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Health and Children if his attention has been drawn to recent claims made in the High Court that the 24 bed Crannóg Nua unit for disturbed children at Portrane, County Dublin has been only able to accept four children due to a moratorium on child care staff recruitment and a national shortage of residential child care workers; if there is a moratorium on the recruitment of child care staff; if so, if it is intended to lift it; the steps being taken to address the national shortage of residential child care workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12107/03]

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

My attention was drawn to the recent claims referred to by the Deputy. I can confirm that there is no embargo on recruitment of staff imposed by my Department. The chief executive officer of each individual health board-authority has responsibility for the management of the workforce, including the appropriate staffing mix and the precise grades of staff employed within that board, in line with service plan priorities, subject to overall employment levels remaining within the authorised ceiling.

I have been informed by the Northern Area Health Board, which has operational responsibility for Crannóg Nua high support unit, that there are currently four children in residence with one more child approved for admission subject to the recruitment of the required number of staff. This centre commenced operation last September and will be brought on-stream on a phased basis. There are currently 25 child care staff employed in the unit.

The issue in relation to Crannóg Nua which, as a high support unit, requires a high staff client ratio, is not over a staff ceiling but over difficulties in recruiting and retaining suitable staff.

The Northern Area Health Board has been actively attempting to progress the recruitment of the required staff via local and international recruitment methods. At present there are 17 candidates placed on three recruitment panels, one formed locally and two formed from recruitment drives in the United Kingdom and Europe. It is anticipated that these candidates will be taking up duty in the near future. Prior to taking up full duties all new staff must first undergo an eight-week induction training programme. Further recruitment campaigns are planned.

There have been significant initiatives in recent years in regard to professional development, career and pay structures in child care to improve the recruitment and retention of these staff. Child care workers were among the professions examined by the expert group on various health professions – April 2000. The expert group recommended that child care workers be accorded formal professional status and as a consequence recruitment of non-qualified personnel must eventually cease. A joint committee representative of the stakeholders was established on the recommendation of the expert group to examine various issues arising from the professionalisation of the child care profession. This committee's report is now available and its work will make a valuable contribution in the ongoing enhancement of service delivery. Indeed, as part of the committee's work, an interim career structure for child care workers was introduced in 2001, together with substantial pay increases, with a view to attracting staff into the child care services and retaining those staff. Targeted recruitment drives were also undertaken by boards to fill vacancies in particular areas where there were staff shortages. These developments, together with the implementation of the action plan for people management under the health strategy, will strengthen the capacity of the health services to recruit and then retain child care staff.