Unpublished Irish child protection audit; improvements for aged-out UK asylum seekers

Independent Report on Child Protection reveals lack of understanding about consequences of neglect

The HSE commissioned a national independent audit on neglect cases following recommendations under the Roscommon inquiry. The Irish Times says that the unpublished report, A Review of Practice and Audit of Management of Cases of Neglect, revealed “widespread uncertainty” among social services and the judiciary about the effects of neglect on at-risk children.

The report analysed thirty cases of neglect in Ireland. While Social Services were found to have responded adequately in the majority of cases, the report said that there were seven cases of chronic neglect where children should have been protected further and/or put in care. 

The report’s main findings were:

• Generally, social services are displaying a commitment to providing services to assist families and were securing positive outcomes;
• Social services find it easier to obtain care orders where there is physical or sexual abuse as opposed to neglect;
• There needs to be a better understanding of the consequences of neglect;
• Judicial agreement on the thresholds for care proceedings and level of proof required is necessary;
• The assessment of children with special needs is delayed due to waiting lists for support services;
• The protection of children needs to be prioritised over the integrity of the family.

Meanwhile, as the Bulletin went to press, the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church of Ireland (NBSCCCI) has said its reviews of four dioceses and three religious orders dealt with 378 allegations of abuse relating to 146 individuals. Twelve related convinctions resulted from those cases. Click here to read an article on the Journal about the review.

Victory for UK aged-out minor asylum seekers 

Meanwhile in the UK, the Free Movement blog says that the recent case of KA (Afghanistan) & Ors v Secretary of State for the Home Department marks a “significant step forward for young asylum seekers in the UK”.

The Court of Appeal in that decision held that the Secretary of State breached his duty to endeavour to trace parents in earlier proceedings and children who had been prejudiced by this, including those who are now aged-out minors, should have their cases reconsidered to determine whether a compensatory grant of leave to remain would be appropriate.

Click here to read the Free Movement blog post on the issue.