The HSE Children and Family Services publishes a wide range of data and information in regard to services provided. Approximately 600 individual child care data metrics are collected. These metrics do not include the total numbers of children who made disclosures of sexual abuse. However, the number of reports to social work departments which may have a sexual abuse component is collected.
These reports are subject to a 2 step referral process to screen referrals and to initiate preliminary enquiries aimed at substantiating the details provided by the reporter. The aim of the preliminary enquiry process is to support and help the social worker to make a decision on the action to take in response to the information reported, that will result in the best outcome for the child who is the subject of the referral.
The number of reports in each of the years requested by the Deputy is set out in Table 1.
Table 1. No. of sexual abuse reports.
|
Category
|
2010
|
2011
|
2012
|
|
Reported
|
2,692
|
3,326
|
Data not yet available
|
The Children First Initial Assessment Guidance states that: “An Initial Assessment should be completed on each child where, following screening, a decision is made that an Initial Assessment is warranted following receipt by the social work department of a report of protection or welfare concerns in respect of a child.” An important objective of Initial Assessment is to determine if further, or more comprehensive assessment(s), are required and to enable if necessary a plan to be put into place to govern continuing intervention.
The number of reports of sexual abuse that were, following screening, subject to an initial assessment was collected as a national child care metric up to 2010. Since that time this information has not been gathered. The available data from 2010 for initial assessments indicates that 1,393 of the 2,692 reported cases received an initial assessment.
The HSE does not collect information on the number of children who are the subject of a sexual abuse report who subsequently went on to access therapeutic services from the Health Service Executive or of the number of children making disclosures that did not access therapeutic services.
Implementation of services to victims of child sexual abuse involves a number of separate agencies as follows: Children and Family Services; Acute Services; An Garda Siochana; CARI; St Louise's/ St Claire's; Our Lady’s Hospital Crumlin; The Courts Service; The Judiciary; Director of Public Prosecutions; Office of the Chief Prosecution Solicitor and the Department of Justice and Equality.
A national coordinated approach is required to ensure the effective implementation of these services and I have has asked the HSE to proceed with filling four posts of Regional Coordinators for Services for child victims of sexual abuse. As part of this process, my department is currently engaging with the HSE regarding data management and ensuring sufficient management information is collected and collated.
