Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 November 2014
25. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress that has been made to ensure that all children on the child protection notification system have a social worker allocated; the number of children yet to have a social worker allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43970/14]
View answerStatutory responsibility for the delivery of child welfare and protection services rests with the Child and Family Agency which is the appropriate body to receive all reports of concerns relating to all forms of child abuse.
In accordance with Children First (2011), the Agency's standard business processes and policies and procedures for carrying out initial assessments of child abuse and neglect, a child's name is placed on the Child Protection Notification System in the following circumstances:
- The outcome of an initial assessment is that a child is at risk of significant harm requiring a child protection conference to be convened;
- The decision of the child protection conference is that a child protection plan is required to ensure that the necessary safeguards are in place;
- A review child protection conference - held at a minimum of 6 monthly intervals - confirms that the child remains at ongoing risk of significant harm necessitating a child protection plan.
Each referral received by the Agency is assessed and progressed on an individual basis by the relevant social work team. Preliminary screening is aimed at establishing the appropriateness of the referral to the Child and Family Agency services and if necessary is followed by an initial assessment of the nature and degree of any harm and an assessment of the child's needs.
At the end of the 2nd quarter in 2014, the Agency reported that there were 1,720 children listed on the Child Protection Notification System, of these 55 had not been allocated a social worker. Where a child has not yet been allocated a social worker on CPNS a risk management and assurance plan is required with a view to ensuring that the known risks are adequately managed.
