Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 December 2013
522. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 510 of 8 October 2013, that as service level agreements are signed with independent third party providers, the reason the information sought is not available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54184/13]
View answerWhen a child cannot live with his or her parents either on a short or long-term basis, the HSE will, in the first instance, seek a suitable relative or person known to the child to provide relative care. When there is no relative or person known to the child to provide relative care, the HSE where possible, will place a child in foster care. For young people who are unable to live at home or in an alternative family environment residential care may be considered suitable.
There are approximately 140 Children's Residential Centres in operation. The centres typically have between 3 and 6 children. The children are usually in their teens. Children living in the centres attend at local schools and take part in local sporting and community activities. Staff work a shift system and young people are allocated a key-worker.
Third party service level agreements procured by the HSE (and from 1 January, 2014 the new Child and Family Agency) are required to adhere to procedures and guidelines. A voluntary service provider must first establish registration status and is then subject to ongoing inspection and monitoring. The focus of these inspections is on the level of service being provided to ensure safe, effective delivery of that service and to meet the needs of each individual at any given time. Consequently, staffing levels can fluctuate throughout the term of a service level agreement according to the needs of the child.
A private service provider is also subject to the monitoring and inspections set out above. Aspects of private providers agreements differ to voluntary provider agreements as voluntary providers are typically procured for full centres and private providers are procured for individual placements.
