HIQA Children's Services Report Identifies Social Worker Shortage

A shortage of social workers has been identified in an HIQA Report on Children's Services in 2015.

However, despite the shortage, the report stated that overall there was good social work practice with children and families in foster care, as well as the child welfare and protections services.

In addition, Children Minister Katherine Zappone said increased funding this year had "significantly strengthened" Tusla's capacity to recruit more social workers.

Over €676 million has been provided for the service in 2016, a €38m increase from last year.

"We have, quite rightly, set high standards for children's services and Tusla strives to meet these every day," she said. "HIQA plays a very important role in inspecting children's services and monitoring standards for a safe and effective service for children."

The report also found that staff responded to the needs of children, while inspectors were told by children that their lives had improved through contact with child protection social workers.

A total of 99% of children listed on the Child Protection Notification System have an allocated social worker, while the remaining 1% (18) children are supervised by a social worker on the duty team, as some have only recently become known to Tusla.

(LM)