Children younger than two years old are being accommodated by private companies in residential care placements which are not subject to HIQA oversight, according to figures released to RTE's Prime Time.
Children younger than two years old are being accommodated by private companies in residential care placements which are not subject to HIQA oversight, according to figures released to RTE's Prime Time .
It added that children under 12 are often among a wider sibling group and additional measures are put in place, including enhanced visiting by Tusla social work teams. In one instance, according to a guardian from Barnardos who visited an 11-year-old girl who was moved into an SEA, the child had"no toys or books aside from a ball, a doll and a photo of their parents."
The information in relation to the age of children accommodated in SEAs was provided in response to a Freedom of Information request submitted by Prime Time to Tusla. Solicitor Catherine Ghent, who has spent much of her career working on cases related to children in State care, said"it's unfathomable to think you have toddlers and babies in this situation."
Qualification requirements for some SEA staff are not as high as residential care homes run by Tusla itself, or other regulated providers. "Very basic things like children who don't like the light to be turned off at night, staff members coming in and switching the light off." "We also know that we are haemorrhaging staff in child protection, both in social care and in social work. We need to pay these people properly," Ms Ghent said.
Campaigners say the best place for most children in the care of the State is in foster homes or regulated care homes, such as the ones provided by Tusla, voluntary organisations, and certain registered private providers. "Without regulation you can't guarantee that children are being appropriately cared for and that their needs are being met," he added.
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fire safety issues found in some State centres for disability careHiqa finds poor measures to protect residents and poor governance in some of the State centres
Read more »
Pest infestation at asylum seeker centre saw child hospitalised, inspections findResidents feel ‘unsafe’ and some staff are not Garda vetted, Hiqa inspections of accommodation find
Read more »
HIQA concerns over care services for child IP applicantsAn inspection of Tusla foster care services for separated children seeking international protection found that some safeguarding issues were not being adequately managed by the Child and Family Agency.
Read more »
Risks to patients not 'fully managed' in UHL, HIQA findsA new unannounced inspection of the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick has found that the risks of harm to patients are not being fully managed.
Read more »
Risks to patients not 'fully managed' in UHL, HIQA findsA new unannounced inspection of the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick has found that the risks of harm to patients are not being fully managed.
Read more »
Call to fast-track legislation to strengthen HIQA's powersIt comes after HIQA found UHL has fallen “significantly short” of national targets for Emergency Department waiting times
Read more »