IRELAND
The Health Service Executive (HSE) and the child and family agency
Tusla are reviewing the cases of almost 500 children with disabilities
in care, following an investigation.
The Ombudsman for Children
publishes findings today that the actions of both agencies had “a
negative effect” on a girl, named “Molly” in the report, with Down
syndrome and severe autism in foster care.
The report recommends gaps in supports and services to children
with disabilities in care be addressed and a respite action plan be
drawn up for all children with disabilities. With reference to Molly, it
recommends a stable transition to residential care be ensured if she is
moved.
“Our recommendations have implications not just for Molly
but for approximately 471 other children with moderate or severe
disability in foster care in the State,” says the report.
According to the report, both Tusla and the HSE accept the
recommendations and will engage with their respective Government
departments.
“The HSE ... is committed to working closely with
Tusla to review Molly’s case as well as the other 471 children.”
Deteriorated
During the course of the
investigation Molly’s situation deteriorated to such an extent it was
recommended she be removed and placed in permanent residential care. Her
foster family opposed this.
She is a teenager who has been with
her foster family since she was four months old, having been “abandoned”
by her biological parents at birth, says the report.
“Molly is
dependent on her foster carers in all areas of her care, including
feeding, toileting, bathing and dressing ... Molly’s foster mother, who
complained to us, made clear that Molly has brought love and positivity
to their lives but she is also completely dependent.”
The foster
mother was “financially, emotionally and physically drained...a result
of lack of support” and described the “immense toll on her immediate
family” of having to care for and advocate for Molly.
The
Ombudsman for Children found a failure by both Tusla and the HSE to
recognise or adequately respond to the particular needs of children who
both have a disability and are in care.
“Tusla operates a
standardised approach to children in foster care, regardless of whether
they have a disability. Similarly the HSE operates a standardised
approach to children with a...disability, regardless of whether they are
in care.”
Lacked specific training
Impacts on Molly included that Tusla social workers lacked specific
training in supporting children with disabilities in care; they
struggled accessing specific HSE disability services for Molly and
struggled supporting her foster family to parent her.
“Several
social workers interviewed described feeling ill-equipped with regard to
supporting Molly and her foster family ... Molly’s foster carer
experienced difficulties and delays in accessing day-to-day supports and
services. This represents an unjustified barrier to a child in care with
a disability reaching their full potential.”
Tusla’s system of
requiring all foster parents to request funding for each expense meant
foreseeable costs – such as specialised liquid diet, specialised
bedding, petrol for numerous medical appointments – had to be requested
individually, placing “undue financial, administrative and, potentially,
psychological” burdens on the family.
HSE services for families
with children with disabilities are “in severe shortage” exacerbating
challenges faced by foster carers of such children.
“This can
result in the destabilisation of an otherwise sound fostering
arrangement.”
Molly’s intellectual disabilities liaison nurse
(ILDA) was meant to visit her every six months. However, the report
stated: “Molly did not receive any home visit for a 14-month period
between 2006 and 2008.”
By Kitty Holland
15 January 2017
