Investigation relating to children who are homeless and accommodated under Section 5 of the Child Care Act and children in the Care of the HSE accessing homeless services

Over the past number of years we have received and examined complaints on an individual basis in which issues were raised regarding homeless service provision for children by the HSE. This includes children already in the care of the State (voluntary care or on a Care Order) who were accessing homelessness services following placement breakdown and those accommodated under Section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991 (deemed to be homeless, but not in the care of the HSE). The complaints referred were submitted by children directly or by professionals involved with them through EPIC (formerly IAYPIC) and social work professionals. Whilst the Office addressed the issues raised in regard to the specific cases referred, an examination and review of the cases highlighted a number of key concerns regarding homeless services in general. Given the pattern of concerns arising across the cases relating to homeless service provision, a decision was made that it required an examination of these issues on a national and systemic basis.

Consequently, on 9th March 2011 the Ombudsman for Children’s Office initiated a preliminary examination on a national and systemic basis into the HSE’s provision of services to children who are homeless, out of home, or in crisis situations, including both those in the care of the State (voluntary or full care order) and those being accommodated under Section 5 of the Child Care Act, 1991.

• November 2012
• Type: Investigation
• Topic: Children in care, Housing