Due to a significant increase in demand, social workers in Ireland are being forced to ignore hundreds of child protection cases which are not classed as emergency cases. This is leaving many young people at a high risk of abuse or neglect. New guidelines recently launched by the Department of Children and Youth Affairs aim to provide a better framework for child protection.
According to a report in the Irish Times, in some areas social workers are dealing with a 50% increase in abuse or neglect cases. Most of these cases are classified as either 'priority one' or 'two' meaning they require an immediate response. However, social services are unable to investigate or follow-up on other, potentially serious, cases due to heavy case loads and understaffing.
The Irish Association of Social Workers has said that although recruitment of extra social workers had helped, staffing levels are still considerably behind those in other jurisdictions. Many cases are only being assessed once they develop into a crisis situation. National Director of the Children and Family Services, Gordon Jeynes, admits that the Health Service Executive has greatly failed in its duty to protect children.
Click here to read children's organisation Barnardos' press release on the matter.
In June 2006 the State appointed Professor Finbarr McAuley and Mr Geoffrey Shannon as Special Rapporteurs on Child Protection. Annually the Rapporteurs submit a report to the Oireachtas for consultation on the progress of the previous year. In their latest submission, which can be viewed here. The report found that many children were still at high risk and that there was a failure to adhere comprehensively to the former Department of Health and Children's "Children First Guidelines". The report made various recommendations, including the introduction of new legislation to place the Guidelines on a statutory basis.
In July 2011, the new Department of Children and Youth Affairs launched the Children First National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children. The Guidance sets out specific protocols for HSE social workers, Gardai and staff dealing directly with neglect; as well as emphasising the importance of inter-agency work and information sharing.
Saving Childhood, a group of child-focused non-governmental organisations, welcomed the launch of the new guidelines. Director of Advocacy at children's charity Barnados, Norah Gibbons said "The revised Guidance provides a clear statement of intent with regard to child protection in Ireland. .... The intention to develop legislation and a Child Protection and Welfare Practice Handbook cements the holistic approach being taken to ensure not just the consistent reporting of child protection concerns, but the consistent response of the Irish State and its agencies to such concerns."
Click here to find out more information from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the new Children First Guidance, including links to key documents.
Click here to access further information on the Children First Guidance from the HSE website.