Sir, - The experience of children who are placed away from their families and community is traumatic. They need professional support. This is especially so for children who need to be placed in a more secure environment through the High Court.
The Irish Association of Social Workers (IASW) was therefore very concerned to learn that this group of very vulnerable children was being looked after by a security company without any experience of dealing with the complex issues that arise for such children (The Irish Times, March 21st). As a professional organisation, the IASW has always aimed to promote the rights of children to have the best care possible and to have this care delivered by the appropriate professionals, which in this case are child care workers with a diploma in child care or social care from a recognised college. It is our understanding that this security company has been involved in the care of children for a number of years. A professional manager, who is a social worker, was employed at the start of this year.
We are aware that occasions can arise when emergencies need to be dealt with in the short term and the association appreciates the difficulty in recruiting qualified staff. However this does not explain the continued use of this company in this manner.
A number of questions arise. How widely was this known? Why did the various professionals involved within the health boards not raise it as an issue at an earlier stage? It is our information that social work staff were worried about these arrangements but felt there was no system available to bring the matter to public attention.
This is of great concern in the present climate of tribunals and inquiries which promise openness and transparency to reassure users of services. The IASW feels that it is important to earmark an independent organisation to which any person, either inside or outside an employing agency, can bring their concerns. No such agency exists at present, but it might be possible to look at the fairly recently established Social Services Inspectorate, which conducted the inquiry into Newtown House, as a possible forum to fulfil this function.
It is also a reality that a member of staff within an agency will be reluctant to approach any external organisation, unless legislation is adopted to support and protect whistle-blowers within the system. This is an issue that is becoming more urgent. - Yours, etc.,
Monica Egan, President, Irish Association of Social Workers, Dublin 2.