Social workers are struggling to complete their work due to staff shortages.
That’s one of the findings from HIQA’s annual children’s services report, which found many children experienced delays in receiving the right service at the right time.
Head of the watchdog’s Children’s Services Eva O’Brien says unfilled staff vacancies can impact kids’ safety:
"Now what we did find is that children who were identified as immediate and serious risks, they received a very fast response. But perhaps those that are at higher risk or medium risk are waiting longer to meet with a social worker to have really their safety checked out."
