Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2013
1091. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress made to date in implementing the recommendations in the report on the Roscommon child care case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16016/13]
View answerThe latest available information available from the HSE indicates that the HSE West Regional Director of Operations and the Regional Director of Children and Family Services requested HSE's Quality and Patient Safety Audit unit to undertake an assessment of progress to provide assurance to HSE senior management regarding the extent to which recommendations arising from the Roscommon Child Care Case (RCCC) Report have been implemented in the HSE West region. HSE West Region comprises the following 5 areas;
- Donegal
- Sligo / Leitrim / West Cavan
- Mayo
- Galway / Roscommon
- Mid West (Limerick / Clare / North Tipperary)
The objectives of this assessment were twofold:
- Identify if recommendations arising from the RCCC Report relating to service delivery have been implemented and to what extent.
- Support the due diligence exercise that is required as part of the transfer of child care services from the HSE to the new Child and Family Support Agency.
The team found sufficient evidence that the following RCCC recommendations have been implemented:
- Organisation change, including establishment of a national management tea
- Court processes
- Staff roles, particularly in respect to contact with children
- Observations made on home visits
- Working with fathers
- Child Protection plans
- Follow-up on, and feedback in relation to, third party concerns
- Key designated worker role
- Targeted family support service developed for Roscommon, and review of the effectiveness of the Home Management Service
- Children First Guidelines implemented locally
Partial evidence was found that the following recommendations have been implemented, and most are works in progress:
- Policies and procedures for all stages in the child welfare and protection system
- Practice audits and quality assurance
- Reporting up of escalating risks and cases of public importance
- Implementation of a common assessment framework
- Alternative plans
- Working with parents who seek to distract workers
- Involvement of Speech and Language (S&L) Department, and review of Public Health Nursing (PHN) records
- Specialised Child Sexual Abuse Unit or Team in place
- Staff management, including supervision and caseload management
- Child protection case conferences processes and chairpersons
- Standardised file recording and file management systems
- Appropriate staff training
Insufficient evidence was found that the following 4 recommendations have been implemented:
- Victim impact statements: The audit team were advised that guidance was intended to be issued to Children and Family staff on the preparation and presentation of victim impact statements and the right of children in care to privacy. This was to be subject to clearance from Legal Services. This matter remains outstanding.
- Documenting frequency and purpose of home visits: The audit did find that home visits did appear to occur regularly. A number of developments are in train which will ensure that this recommendation is addressed. A National Record Management Strategy will be implemented in Quarter 2. The National Staff Supervision Policy was launched on the 22nd March 2013 and a detailed implementation plan is in place. The introduction of the new policy will provide an important opportunity to provide a renewed focus on a number of areas.
- Outcomes measurement: The National Child Protection Notification project is in the process of developing Guidelines with Supporting Documentation on Child Protection Conference and the Child Protection Notification System (CPNS). Under these guidelines, the requirement for Child Protection places to have achievable measurable child focused outcomes with timeframes will be clearly set out. Child Protection and Welfare Inspections have commenced by HIQA and forthcoming recommendations from these will be implemented and associated learning disseminated.
- Staff alert to Attachment theory, and testing assumptions in supervision: Liaison between the Regional Workforce Development Manager and the Area Managers on training needs has been ongoing in agreeing training priorities for 2013, which includes attachment training. The plan will be kept under review and there will be ongoing liaison in respect of the priorities between the Regional Service Director and the National Manager for Workforce Development.
