‘A child is going to end up dying’

‘A child is going to end up dying’

14 December 2016

SCHOOLCHILDREN have attempted suicide and been taken into care while awaiting access to an overstretched welfare service, a whistleblower has warned.

More than 200 vulnerable children are at risk of “significant harm” because of a deepening crisis within the local branch of the Education Authority’s (EA) welfare service.

The specialist service is provided by education welfare officers, trained social workers tasked with targeting chronic absenteeism at school, which is often associated with mental health problems, family issues or bullying.

But over 200 troubled children are now on a waiting list due to a staffing shortage so severe it has left 24 schools in the Downpatrick area without an assigned welfare officer.

Warning that a child will die if action is not taken to shorten referral times, the whistleblower, who works within the education sector, has warned that the service is under so much strain he was surprised a death “has not happened yet.”

Revealing that a teenager recently attempted suicide after an eight month wait for help, he added that another child, of primary school age, was taken into care before reaching the top of the waiting list despite repeated calls for assistance by a school due to the child’s worrisome absence.

He claimed there was no welfare officer available to deal with this case because of understaffing.

With just 16 full time education welfare officers now in post in the south eastern region, reduced from 25 at its height and compared to 31 in the southern area, he said local officers now have responsibility for around 3,332 children each.

He added that increasing pressure on finances meant posts had not been filled, despited repeated promises by officials that action would be taken.

This leaves 24 schools in the Downpatrick area, and 60 across the wider region that includes Ballynahinch and Newcastle, without access to the service for their most vulnerable pupils, some of whom may be on the child protection register.

This is the reality, the source claimed, despite a damning report by the Northern Ireland Audit office two years ago accusing the Department of Education of failing to tackle properly the problem of children not turning up to school with 20,000 missing for around six weeks of class.

Around that time, the Northern Ireland Assembly’s Public Accounts committee also criticised the Department of Education for its record on pupil absenteeism, leading to the launch of a new Attendance Strategy.

“There are 200 children being put at risk of significant harm while sitting on waiting lists and the problem is particularly bad in the south eastern area,” the source indicated.

“Some of these children are on the child protection register, some out of school, others are suffering from anxiety or have thoughts of life not worth living.

“There are some who have attempted to end their life while sitting on waiting lists suffering from depression and mental health concerns, while some children are experiencing bullying and difficulties at school.

“The recommendations of the NI Audit report, that all students who fall below 85 per cent attendance should be referred to the Education Welfare Service, cannot be met due to a lack of resources.

“Low attendance often indicates a problem in a family that needs to be addressed, yet children in this area are being hugely disadvantaged because of staffing issues. This has a huge impact on their social and emotional wellbeing.

“We have children who are not at school at all, or whose attendance is as low as 30 per cent, and many of them are not involved with other agencies so will be missed unless they are picked up by the education welfare office. The staff are under pressure and cannot cope. That is the truth.

“A child is going to end up dying, I am surprised it has not happened yet.”

The Education Authority has disputed the claims and said it is committed to working to ensure children receive a ‘suitable’ education.

“The Education Authority notes the information in your enquiry, however would dispute its factual accuracy as it does not concur with Education Authority data,” said a spokesman.

“The Education Welfare Service is committed to working in partnership with schools, families and other services to ensure that children of compulsory school age receive a suitable education and where issues of non-attendance at school arise, work to resolve any difficulties.”