Foster Care - PDF - hiqa.ie

Follow-up inspection on the implementation of national recommendations on Health Service Executive foster care services
Health Information and Quality Authority
HIQA national and
local recommendation,
July 2010
HSE Action Plan August
2010
• The Monitoring Officer
monitors compliance
with statutory
regulations and
standards.
• The Regional Director of
Operations monitors
overall performance at
monthly performance
meetings with the Local
Health Manager.
The National Director
monitors performance as
part of the monthly review
of the performance contract
with the RDO.
Persons responsible:
Team Leaders, Principal
Social Workers, General
Managers, Local Health
Managers, Child Care
Managers, Monitor, Regional
Directors of Operations,
National Director, Foster
Care Committees.
Timescale: Ongoing
Status of
recommendation at
the time of inspection
This recommendation was partly met. Inspectors found that there was some
improvement in the monitoring of the current system and that more action was
required in order to meet this standard. A National Director for Children and Family
Services was appointed and in place at the time of the inspection. HSE regional
directors of operations reported to the National Director in relation to issues
concerning children and their families. The National Director controlled the budget
for these services. Inspectors found that this had the potential to improve lines of
accountability in the provision of foster care services. Performance indicators were
developed and introduced by the HSE to monitor practice on an ongoing basis. The
national specialist for alternative care services told inspectors that the HSE Office of
the National Director for Children and Family Services acknowledged that the
management structures were not fit for purpose and that was why restructuring and
reform was taking place. The implementation of this recommendation will be
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