THE FILE of a 12-year-old child, who in the weeks before her death had been observed engaging in behaviour that pointed towards her having suicidal thoughts, showed that a decision was made not to request her GP to have her referred to mental health services “as this might encourage more worrying behaviour, giving it attention”.
The child was admitted into the care of the HSE when she was nine, following allegations of serious abuse. During her three years in care she had two foster care placements and experienced 32 moves to respite foster care. She was in relative foster care at the time of her death.
During her three years in care she had four different social care workers.
She and her two siblings were subsequently made subjects of a full care order.
The report noted that there was “significant family friction” around the circumstances in which the child was taken into care, and the child demonstrated “very clearly” the pressure she was under as a result.
It noted that the child was under “extreme pressure” from her alleged abuser to retract her statement relating to an allegation of abuse of one of her siblings and questioned whether placement in the local area was the best option for the child in view of this pressure.
However, it noted that in all other respects the child’s placement in relative foster care appears to have met the child’s needs. “In the weeks prior to her death, this child had been observed engaging in behaviour which indicated suicidal thoughts. However, professionals or caring adults were not made aware of the entire picture.
This child had been referred to a psychologist of the local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) by the HSE social work team but the referral had not resulted in a case being opened at the CAMHS by the time she died,” the report found.
While there was evidence of some good practice, including the inclusion of a care plan; court orders being present; children-first reviews being completed and the court being made aware of the child’s death, yesterday’s report also raised a number of concerns about this case.
It found that the child should have been referred to the CAMHS at an early stage, adding that a protocol must be in place between the HSE social work department and CAMHS that provides for an immediate service to children and young people who are experiencing high-risk behaviours.