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HIQA ‘escalated’ Tusla issues during inspections

A report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has found that ten of Tusla’s service areas inspected by the body were “significantly challenged” by resourcing and staffing issues that affected the delivery of services to children. 

HIQA carried out inspections in ten areas across the country where at least 25% of children had not been allocated a social worker in child-protection and welfare and/or foster-care services. 

The report says that, in seven of the ten areas, HIQA escalated risks to 107 individual children to the respective area managers.

‘Urgent action’ 

This was aimed at ensuring that “immediate and urgent action” was taken by Tusla, according to the report. 

“Assurances were sought from these area managers regarding the review of the risks and the protective measures taken or planned for these children,” the report states, adding that HIQA was satisfied with the assurances provided. 

The authority said that its inspections showed that not all children at actual or potential risk were being assessed in a timely manner and, where necessary, protected by Tusla in a timely and effective manner. 

‘System risks’ 

HIQA’s monitoring report also found that some service areas were not able to consistently fulfil their responsibilities to all children referred to the child-protection and welfare service or placed in foster care due to the increasing volume of new referrals and staffing capacity issues. 

HIQA escalated what it called these ‘system risks’ to regional chief officers in eight of the ten service areas. It noted that in two service areas – Cork and Dublin South Central – the responses to escalation at regional level “did not provide the necessary assurances”. 

As a result, it notified Tusla’s chief executive and executive management team of these risks. 

Capacity issues 

The report pointed out that the regulatory framework for such services in Ireland did not include any enforcement powers, such as cancellation of services, adding that, in cases of risk, its only recourse was to escalate the situation. 

“While there were examples of good practice in some areas, this monitoring programme found that some children are being left at potential risk due to failures at operational level to consistently implement Tusla’s national policies and business processes,” HIQA stated. 

The report added that Tusla had made “significant efforts” to recruit and retain staff and, at the end of the monitoring programme, was close to having all budgeted posts filled.  

“However, this will not resolve Tusla’s capacity issues, and an inter-departmental approach is required to strategically plan for the resourcing and delivery of children’s services into the future,” HIQA concluded.