Citation
Barnardos. (2010). ChildLinks Issue 2: Child Protection. https://knowledge.barnardos.ie/handle/20.500.13085/821
Abstract
Welcome to the autumn edition
of Childlinks which focuses
on Child Protection. Insight
into the current state of the child
protection system is provided in the
Ombudsman for Children’s Office
investigation of Children First. The
Ombudsman concluded that while
substantial efforts had been made since
1999 to implement Children First,
much needs to be done to improve
protection and to promote children’s
rights and welfare. The Ombudsman
questions whether child protection
services are best delivered within the
context of the HSE. Recent findings by HIQA (Health
Information and Quality Authority), which
has a statutory role in the inspection of
child protection services, has highlighted
the inconsistent implementation of child
protection standards in HSE regions in
Dublin North. Barnardos is concerned
that such persistent problems with the
child protection system not only fail
vulnerable children but fail the committed
professionals working on the front line
of child protection. In a recent presentation to the Oireachtas
Committee on Health and Children,
Barnardos questioned whether the HSE
is in fact fit for purpose when it comes
to child protection. Issues which have
come to light from recent reports would
indicate that it is not. In particular there
is concern that there are no clear
national standards, a lack of a clear
assessment model and no national
agreement on the threshold that we as a
nation want to set with regard to
protecting our children.
On the other hand, the Government has
published the Ryan Implementation
Plan in response to the Ryan report1, an
ambitious plan which seeks to correct
many of the inadequacies in our child
protection system. Progress has been
made but it has been slow. As a society
we must prioritise our children, we must
prioritise their childhood and we must
demand the changes that will fix our
broken child protection system.