Abandoned disabled child ‘didn’t get enough HSE help’

A DISABLED child abandoned at birth did not receive adequate support from Tusla and the HSE, the Ombudsman for Children has concluded in a report to be published today.

Dr Niall Muldoon was looking into a complaint made on behalf of Molly, a teenager who has Down syndrome and severe autism. Molly’s foster carer, with whom she has lived since she was a baby, complained about the level of support and services available to Molly and her carers from Tusla and the HSE.

Dr Muldoon found there was a lack of coordination between the two agencies which meant the help was insufficient. ‘Molly is dependent on her foster carers in all areas of her care, including feeding, toileting, bathing, and dressing,’ he said.

‘She requires a wide range of therapies and services. Although Molly brings joy to their home, her foster carer was struggling financially and emotionally to deal with her needs.’

He added the probe revealed wider issues facing disabled children in care. ‘In 2015 there were 472 children with a diagnosed moderate to severe disability in foster care, representing approximately 8% of the foster care population in Ireland,’ Dr Muldoon said.

‘Following our investigation Tusla has committed to undertake a systemic review of the services being offered to children in their care with a disability. They will also identify these children to the HSE to facilitate care planning and joint working for these children.

‘The HSE has committed to include vulnerable children in State care in their performance indicators under Progressing Disability Services, and to ensure that any assessment procedures consider their vulnerability as children in care.’

Tusla chief operations officer Jim Gibson said: ‘In this case, Tusla staff advocated strongly for the child to receive relevant supports.’

‘Carer struggled with her needs’