Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:539. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if private fostering companies operating in the State are subjected to inspections by HIQA. [8195/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 15 February 2022
Ceisteanna (539)
Freagraí scríofa
The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is authorised by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under Section 69 of the Child Care Act, 1991 as amended by Section 26 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2011 to inspect services taking care of a child on behalf of the Child and Family Agency (Tusla). This includes non-statutory (i.e. private fostering companies) providers of foster care.
HIQA uses the National Standards for Foster Care (2003) as its framework for conducting inspections for statutory and non-statutory fostering services. Where issues are identified HIQA monitors the progress of service improvement plans that have been put in place to address same.
In order to drive quality and improve safety in the provision of statutory and non-statutory types of foster care services to children, HIQA carries out inspections to:
- Assess if the service provider has all the elements in place to safeguard children and young people and promote their well-being while placed with their service
- Seek assurances from service providers that they are safeguarding children through the mitigation of serious risks
- Provide service providers with the findings of inspections so that service providers develop action plans to implement safety and quality improvements
- Inform the public and promote confidence through the publication of the HIQA’s findings.
Monitoring inspections assess continuing compliance with the regulations and standards, and can be announced or unannounced.