Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 13 February 2019
30. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she is satisfied that robust systems are in place within Tusla to ensure child protection concerns are dealt with appropriately and suspected abuse is notified to An Garda Síochána in a timely manner; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6784/19]
View answerIs the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs satisfied that robust systems are in place within Tusla to ensure child protection concerns are dealt with appropriately and that suspected abuse is notified to An Garda Síochána in a timely manner? Will the Minister make a statement on the matter?
The Deputy asks a very important question with regard to the robust systems within Tusla. I will answer the question in two parts. The first part relates to the matter of the appropriate handling of child protection concerns and the second part relates to notifications by Tusla to An Garda Síochána.
Up to the end of November 2018 provisional figures from Tusla show that there were almost 53,000 child welfare and protection referrals. The majority of concerns received by Tusla were made to local offices or by mandated reporters through its web portal. Tusla has assured me that all referrals are screened and those appropriate to social work services are subject to a preliminary inquiry. Many referrals require a welfare rather than a child protection response and are referred onto appropriate services. Following an initial assessment, a social work intervention may be required. Tusla has developed a child welfare and protection strategy to deepen and strengthen the screening, preliminary inquiries and initial assessments through increased supports and the roll-out, for the first time, of a national approach to practice. The strategy is called Signs of Safety. The effectiveness of these practices and systems is monitored through independent inspections by HIQA and by Tusla's quality assurance processes. My Department also monitors Tusla performance and progress on improvements against monthly activity returns and oversight of the implementation of recommendations from independent bodies.
Clear procedures are in place for notifying An Garda Síochána but the Deputy will be aware that not every referral will require a notification to the Garda. The Children First joint working protocol between Tusla and An Garda Síochána was published to reflect the provisions in the Children First Act 2015. The protocol covers the respective responsibilities of the agencies in key areas, including notification of suspected abuse. The protocol emphasises that when a social worker suspects that a child has been or is being physically or sexually abused or wilfully neglected, An Garda Síochána must be formally notified without delay and it sets out the notification procedures to be followed. This joint working protocol is in place.
What prompted me to ask this question was the recent HIQA report on child protection services operated by Tusla in Dublin South-Central. The report found an absence of effective communication with regard to management, poor oversight of social work practices and that the appropriate measures were not consistently taken by social workers to protect children. I imagine we can all agree that is deeply concerning.
Is the Minister satisfied with the roll-out of the new integrated childcare system? This report indicates there are gaps in the records on the system and that the staff were not routinely inputting information. Is this situation down to the staffing crisis within Tusla?
Of course I am aware of that report. The report is deeply concerning. As Deputy Mitchell has indicated, some of the key issues in the findings of the report have to do with staffing. The issues identified specifically in terms of staffing have been corrected. A senior social worker practitioner has been assigned. More people have been brought to that setting. However, it is the case, unfortunately, that there are some areas throughout the country where the issue of staffing is acute and as a consequence it is possible for a practice not to be implemented in an appropriate manner. That is the case in that regard.
I understand why Deputy Mitchell is asking the question. My understanding is that only a few regions still have acute difficulties and that those are being attended to by Tusla.
As the Minister is aware, this morning HIQA representatives are before the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs. They have given a concerning presentation. One thing they have talked about is the retention and recruitment of social workers. They have talked about best practice in other countries. One of the suggestions is that we could employ social work assistants to help social workers in and around the administrative work. The idea is that this would free up social workers so that they can spend more time directly on the job they are doing, which is helping families and children. Is the Minister examining this system? There are major concerns, especially around the report from HIQA on Dublin South-Central. Did the Minister speak to Tusla about this report? Can she tell the House what Tusla said to her about the report? It was a damning report.
I am aware that HIQA representatives are before the committee. I was able to watch some of the proceedings before coming to the Chamber. Deputy Mitchell asked a question about bringing into an organisation additional administrative staff to free up social workers to do their job. That is part of the plan. I have also noted that Ms Mary Dunnion acknowledged the welcome increase in the recruitment of administrative staff, and that that will help.
A second point was noted by Ms Dunnion. I am aware of and have requested sight as soon as possible of the workforce strategy that has been in development with regard to Tusla for some time. My understanding is that the board has received a draft copy and it will be furnishing this to me as soon as the board is satisfied with it. This critical aspect will assist in terms of recruitment and retention.
Several other aspects of the recommendations of the report are being acted on. I wish to make another point. It has to do with working with third level institutions to look at the numbers of places of social workers and training. That work has begun with my Department as well.
