Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 October 2016
659. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps in place to ensure young persons have access to specialist supports, services and access to suitable placements promptly; if there is a high level of staff expertise available in residential care to meet the complex needs of some young persons; when these care centres were last audited and by which agency for the 26 care units in tabular form. [30624/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Child Care Act, 1991 and the Child and Family Agency Act 2013, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency has a statutory duty to promote the welfare of children who are not receiving adequate care and protection. Where appropriate, children who are in need of care and protection are received into the care of the State under the Child Care Act, 1991.
The placement of children in care is governed by Regulations. These provide, inter alia, for the welfare of the child, the care practices, care records, accommodation and safety precautions. The Regulations also provide that the social worker oversees the implementation of the care plan, visits the child and sees them in private and reads the records about the child where the child is living in a residential centre. Where required, children and their carers may need additional services outside of those provided by Tusla, such as speech and language therapy and Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The majority of children's residential centres are, de facto, providing high support care.
Across the country there are 160 centres, including private and community based centres caring for 326 children. There are, at a minimum, two staff on duty and, when needed, this number is increased. This shows an average of 2 young people per centre, although of course the number of children in a centre will range from 1 to approximately 4. Of the 326 children in residential care, 98% have an allocated social worker (319). Young people placed in community based centres who have serious emotional and behavioural problems, and who are being considered for special care, are linked with the Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service (ACTS) multidisciplinary therapeutic team.
Further specialist supports are also routinely made available as needed and many centres have specialist skill-sets, therapeutic modalities, or links with same, in their local communities to meet the varying need of the young people in their care. Tusla managers and staff are fully aware of the emotional and mental health needs of children in care. While the term High Support is not currently used, high support care is provided, through Tusla placements and also, privately commissioned residential and foster placements, with access to specialist psychological and psychotherapeutic play opportunities.
The Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA) inspect all Tusla run residential centres, and publish its findings on www.hiqa.ie. Tusla has responsibility for inspecting all private and voluntary children's residential centres and these inspection reports are available on the Tusla website, www.tusla.ie.
