Only two of 32 health board-run children's residential centres inspected over the past year and a half had properly vetted all staff before taking them on, according to a report being published today, writes Eithne Donnellan, Health Correspondent
The centres, under Department of Health guidelines, are required to obtain Garda clearance and three references for all staff prior to them taking up duty.
However only two centres, when visited by the Irish Social Services Inspectorate (ISSI) in late 2002 and all of 2003, were found to have complied with the guidelines.
"Typically there were delays in carrying out checks or they were incomplete. Some Garda checks and references were obtained only after people took up posts and often two rather than the required three references were taken up," the ISSI's latest annual report states.
Failure to adhere to the guidelines could place children at risk. Shortcomings in vetting procedures, for example, allowed Ian Huntley, who was convicted of the murder of Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, to get a job as a school caretaker in the village where the children lived even though a string of past sex allegations had been levelled against him.
The ISSI report also expresses concern at the fact that a quarter of the 94 children in the units inspected were under the age of 12. Some had been in care for considerable periods. One child was just six years of age.
"Boards generally have policies that children under 12 years should not be placed in residential care except in exceptional circumstances and then only for a short period until a family placement becomes available," the report states.
Ms Michele Clarke, chief inspector with the ISSI, said she had serious concern for these children. Their placement should be reviewed immediately, she said, adding that foster placements should be sought for them.