The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published an inspection report on the child protection and welfare service operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in the Dublin North service area. 

HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth under Section 8(1)(c) of the Health Act 2007 to monitor the quality of services provided by Tusla to protect children and promote their welfare. HIQA monitors Tusla’s performance against the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children and advises the Minister and Tusla.

HIQA conducted a risk-based inspection of the child protection and welfare service in Dublin North across four days in February 2021. This inspection assessed six of the national standards relating to the management of referrals, the assessment of child protection and welfare concerns and progress with respect to the management of risks within the service. Of the six standards assessed, the service was found to be non-compliant moderate in all standards. 

Overall, this inspection identified that there were good governance structures, effective leadership and efficient use of data and information. At the time of the inspection, there was shortfall between the demand for a child protection service, and the resources to meet that demand. As a result, there was a waitlist for assessments which meant that children were not receiving a timely service. Despite this, children at highest level of risk were prioritised for a service. Children at immediate risk were appropriately identified and immediate action taken to address risks. Additionally, there was no longer a waiting list for children identified as needing a child protection conference and no high-priority cases waited for a service. 

Inspectors found that further improvements were required to ensure a safe and effective service was delivered to all children. Children awaiting a service, as well as non-compliance with standard business processes, were identified as a service risk in 2018 and remained a risk at the time of the inspection. Inspectors found there was no clear system in place to ensure a consistent, timely and effective review of cases while they awaited allocation to a social worker. There were also delays, some significant, in the completion of preliminary enquiries resulting in prolonged risks to children and families who awaited supportive or protective interventions by social workers.

The quality of completed initial assessment reports was good. Safety planning in the area was of mixed quality with improvements required in respect to the timeliness and frequency of monitoring of safety plans for some children. 

The inspection report and compliance plan can be found at www.hiqa.ie.