Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 September 2014
11. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the action he proposes to take following the Child and Family Agency reporting that over 9,000 instances of abuse or neglect involving children are awaiting a social worker to be assigned to the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35728/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis question, which is similar to one of the priority questions I tabled, relates to a report that a social worker has not been assigned to more than 9,000 cases of abuse or neglect involving children. I ask the Minister to make a statement on the matter.
Measuring the Pressure, a report prepared by the Child and Family Agency, indicates that at the end of June 2014, the agency was providing 19,766 children with a social work service. The report also highlights the increasing service challenge facing the agency, with 9,548 cases waiting to be allocated to a dedicated social worker. Approximately one third of these were deemed to be high priority. These cases represent a mix of new referrals that need further assessment and social work input and children known to the agency who need a continuing social work service. It is important to note that a duty social worker has been involved in these cases.
I am assured by the Child and Family Agency that emergency cases are dealt with immediately and high priority cases are kept under review. We must ensure the most vulnerable children in our society receive a timely and appropriate response. The data and analysis contained in the Measuring the Pressure report provide critical management information to assist the agency in service planning and resource allocation.
This year, the Child and Family Agency is in receipt of funding of €6.7 million to alleviate identified service pressures and support the continuing implementation of the reform programme across children and family services. This funding is being targeted at a number of areas, including the replacement of staff on maternity leave by way of a 12 month temporary contract. The most recent figures indicate that at the end of August, 164 staff were on maternity leave, 82 of whom were social workers.
The Child and Family Agency is also finalising proposals for the introduction of a guaranteed and protected one year induction programme for newly qualified social workers. These initiatives are designed to assist the agency in responding to identified service pressures and to provide for a targeted response to such pressures, taking account of identified need and available resources.
There is no doubt that the shortage of social workers is leaving children in a vulnerable position and placing them at risk. Social workers on the front line inform me that they are at their wits' end and do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. They have spoken of leaving their offices on Friday evenings with bundles of case files. Their role has become one of fighting fires rather than taking preventative measures, which is what they should be doing.
The Minister referred to the number of social workers on maternity leave. What is the total number of social workers employed by the Child and Family Agency? Has the agency reached the full complement of social workers promised when it was established?
As I indicated in response to previous questions, additional posts have been filled and recruitment is under way for additional posts. To be specific, 106 social work posts were filled by the Child and Family Agency in the first eight months of 2014 and a further 148 posts are at various stages of recruitment. The Deputy asked how many social workers are employed in total. The Child and Family Agency employed 1,388 whole-time equivalent social workers as at the end of August 2014.
A rigorous system of risk analysis has been established in each area to ensure that staffing numbers do not fall to an unsafe level. Gaps identified through this process are addressed with the additional resources of temporary staff, as required. All identified vacancies are the subject of a recruitment process to ensure they are filled at the earliest opportunity.
May I assume from the Minister's reply that there are no vacant social work posts in the Child and Family Agency and the agency has achieved its full staff complement in the area of social work?
It would be extremely devious of the Deputy to so do.
I asked the question because I am seeking certainty about this issue. How many positions are vacant? Has a panel been established from which social workers taking maternity leave can be replaced? I understand that professionals are not replaced when they take a career break or maternity leave, as they are entitled to do, or are absent from work due to long-term illness. As a result, the number of staff working on the ground does not correlate with the number of posts in the Child and Family Agency. What action will be taken to ensure the full complement of social workers is reached? When will the recruitment process for hiring social workers transfer from the Health Service Executive to the new Child and Family Agency?
I reiterate that a further 148 posts are at various stages of recruitment. Vacancies are, therefore, awaiting filling while the recruitment process proceeds. As I indicated in previous replies, it is difficult to recruit social workers in some areas for various reasons, just as it is difficult to recruit doctors in some areas. The bottom line is that 106 social work posts were filled by the Child and Family Agency in the first eight months of this year and a further 148 are at various stages of the recruitment process.
Deputy Troy asked about other initiatives in areas such as maternity leave. The Child and Family Agency is finalising proposals, at my request, arising from the provision of additional funding for the targeted recruitment of graduate social workers. This initiative will involve the introduction of a guaranteed and protected one year induction programme for newly qualified social workers. Discussions with IMPACT and other parties are ongoing and the merits of the scheme will be clear when the details are finalised.
