HIQA reveals the serious failings of foster care system

VULNERABLE children are being looked after by foster carers who have had allegations against them upheld by authorities, it has emerged.

A Health Information and Quality Authority report published yesterday also found that children were living long- term with unapproved foster parents and carers whose Garda vetting was out of date.

The watchdog said that it could not disclose the severity or nature of complaints upheld against carers who continue to foster children.

The report stated: ‘ None of the local health areas inspected met in full the standard for assessing foster carers. While quality of assessments was good, assessments were delayed or prolonged for up to a year in some cases.

‘This exacerbated the shortage of foster carers and meant that some children were living with relative foster carers who were not approved for significant periods of time.’

The authority also attacked the HSE for its ‘lack of urgency’ in carrying out investigations into allegations against carers.

Last year, HIQA launched in- spections of 33 residential centres that catered mainly for children aged 12 to 18, and eight foster care services, all run by the HSE.

Overall, care was deemed to be good and safe, but the system was found to be under significant pressure, which in some instances put children at risk.

The investigation found that none of the foster-care services fully reached the standards set out for them.

There were cases where children had been placed with unapproved foster carers, sometimes for long periods.

The investigation by the HSE into allegations against foster carers ‘was not always timely’, the watchdog found.

It also criticised the roles of foster care committees.

‘Most committees did not function in accordance with HSE policy, and complaints and concerns about foster carers were not reported to them. This created a risk to safeguarding, and children could be placed with foster carers about whom there were unresolved concerns.’

The report found a lack of foster carers in some areas, and that staff shortages had impact- ed on the HSE’s ability to provide a high quality service.

Phelim Quinn, HIQA director of regulation, said in some cases foster carers were offered very little training in dealing with children.

‘Although recruiting more carers will mitigate threats to the stability of foster placements, needs assessment of children and young people who are at risk of coming into care should inform recruitment,’ he said.

Children’s campaigners have demanded action.

Tanya Ward of the Children’s Rights Alliance, said: ‘Children in the care system are among

‘Most vulnerable in the State’

the most vulnerable children in the State. HIQA has once again revealed gaping holes in this still struggling system.’

There are 6,400 children in State care with around nine in 10 in foster homes.

Gordon Jeyes, HSE national director, said it was carrying out reforms ahead of the setting up of the Child and Family Agency.

‘The picture is an improving one,’ he said. ‘The proportion in care who are looked after in foster care is far higher than in comparable countries.’