Latest news with #socialServices
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Irish Times
‘He couldn't see wrong in people': Family of Daniel McAnaspie seek reform following inquest
A sister of teenager Daniel McAnaspie , who was murdered 15 years ago when in the care of the State, says the family still has 'so many questions' as to how and why child protection services failed him so badly. Nikita McAnaspie, speaking a fortnight after an inquest into Daniel's death marked the end of a 15-year legal process, said they had lost 'so much more' than a beloved brother, nephew, cousin and uncle. 'This has taken so much joy, so much fulfilment out of our lives. I have two young kids now and I genuinely feel in the last 15 years, instead of trying to fill my life, I have been just trying to survive every day. 'The trauma has taken so much away from my motherhood.' READ MORE Nikita was 19 when Daniel (17) was murdered in February 2010. Meath county coroner's court, which returned a verdict of unlawful killing, heard Daniel had 'pleaded' with social workers to have him 'locked up' in the months before his death, as his life spiralled into increasing chaos. He had had 20 care placements in the year before he died, including one he could access only after midnight, was self-harming and engaging with people involved in criminality. From mid-2009 social workers made at least three applications to the HSE's special care committee for secure care, whereby he would be detained by the High Court and provided with intensive therapeutic interventions. All applications were refused, due to staff shortages. Coroner Nathaniel Lacy heard the crisis in secure care was 'worse' today than in 2010, with just 14 of the 26 secure-care beds open due to staff shortages. [ Daniel McAnaspie case: Crisis for at-risk children is worse than when teen was murdered in 2010, inquest hears Opens in new window ] Daniel, from Finglas in north Dublin, had been with friends when lured to Tolka Valley Park by two older men, Richard Dekker and Trevor Noone, in the early hours of February 26th, 2010, and was stabbed to death with garden shears. His body was found three months later in a drain on farmland in Co Meath. Dekker was convicted of his murder in 2017 after an earlier acquittal, and Noone of manslaughter. Dekker's trial heard that Daniel was with friends socialising in Blanchardstown when they met Dekker and Noone. There was a row with Dekker which appeared to be resolved. Daniel's friends tried to persuade him to leave with them around 4am but he insisted on staying out, following Dekker and Noone to the park. Describing her brother as 'gentle with a smile so big and so bright' Nikita says: 'Daniel would not have seen any wrong in [the two men]. He couldn't see wrong in people and I'd say he genuinely thought they wanted to be his friends.' Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance, says professionals who worked with Daniel described him as 'lovable, charismatic and affectionate, keen to be liked and anxious to fit in'. She has written to the incoming Oireachtas Committee on Children urging it to 'put a special focus on Daniel's case' as it draws up its programme of work. Daniel was 'a young boy failed by the State at almost every juncture', she says. The fourth of six children, Daniel was known to care services from birth. His father died on Christmas Day when he was four. His mother, who was dependent on alcohol and prescription tablets, struggled to cope. The family was housed in supervised accommodation to support her. She was unable to overcome her dependence on alcohol and tablets and the children were removed into care when Daniel was 10. They continued to have supervised access with her. She died of alcohol-related issues when Daniel was 14. Daniel McAnaspie Nikita remembers the hope the siblings, but particularly Daniel, had of being reunited with their mother one day. She recalls being at her hospital bedside when she died. 'In that moment Daniel knew he wasn't going home. That hope died that day and I think that pain inside him destroyed him more than anybody really knew. That's when his trauma really, really started. That's when he really needed help. 'How could the social workers not realise how much he needed help?' she asks. Extended family tried to care for him but were unable to meet his needs. Nikita is critical of the lack of supports they got in his increasing turmoil. Their aunt Sabrina 'tried to make it work for Dano' but 'she couldn't hold him. He was out of control. Why did the HSE not help her more?' Nikita is critical of the failure to ensure he had schooling, and to spot he had dyslexia. It was not diagnosed until he was 15. 'He was so embarrassed he couldn't read and write. That really affected him. He wanted to learn but missed so much school. If your kid missed 21 days of school you're in trouble. Why was that okay for Daniel?' The family stresses his murder had nothing to do with an alleged drug debt referenced at his inquest. There was no indication at Dekker's and Noone's trials of Daniel owing them money. 'He genuinely just met these two evil people, and trusted them,' says Nikita. The greatest failing, she says, was the lack of secure care he needed by mid-2009. 'If the HSE listened to Daniel, to his family, to all his [social] workers, who all said he needed [secure care], he wouldn't have been there that night [he was killed]. We would have Daniel here today,' says Nikita. 'Sometimes I close my eyes and I imagine him here. He was so fair. He would light up a room. I can imagine him having a little boy like him.' The long legal process exacerbated the trauma, she says, adding that the family want no child to experience the failings Daniel did. 'Tusla need to open their eyes wide to what kids need.' Daniel McAnaspie's sister Cathriona McAnaspie and aunt Sabrina McAnaspie outside Trim Courthouse on May 15th following the inquest into Daniel's death. Photograph: Alan Betson/The Irish Times Last week High Court judge John Jordan heard cases of three children in respect of whom secure care orders had been made but could not get a bed due to staff shortages. They included a 15-year-old boy with a neurodevelopmental disorder who was 'free-falling'. His father believed that, without secure care, the boy 'will die'. Legal representatives for Tusla said it hoped to increase 'our special care capacity to 16 beds by the end of May 2025'. A spokeswoman said: 'We again offer our deepest condolences to those who were closest to [Daniel]. We will now review the outcome of the coroner's inquest, and work with all stakeholders to implement any changes recommended to further strengthen and improve our services'.
CTV News
23-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
Lethbridge shelter expansion adds 80 new beds
The expansion for the Lethbridge Shelter has finally opened its doors. The extra capacity will allow more supports for the city's vulnerable population.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Fewer children in Northamptonshire going into care, report says
A new report has found fewer children are entering care in Northamptonshire following improvements made by social inspectors visited Northamptonshire Children's Trust, the organisation that oversees services in the county, and highlighted progress since its last inspection in improvements identified in the report included a more stable workforce, better-quality assessments and fewer children placed in unregistered Wooster, chairwoman of the trust, said reducing the number of children going into care had been a "key focus for us". Inspectors carried out the "focused report" in April - whereby they examine particular aspects of the report noted that more children were staying safely with parents or other family through kinship arrangements. Kinship arrangements are when an extended family member or close friend is checked to make sure they can care for a child, instead of the child entering foster those who do enter care, most now moved into homes or foster placements that met their needs - the report workers were also getting better at making sure children in care find a stable, permanent home, without unnecessary delays, inspectors added."Most children in care enjoy positive relationships with consistent social workers who know them well," said Ofsted inspector Rachel Griffiths."Social workers speak about the children they support with pride and warmth." 'Momentum' Northamptonshire Children's Trust delivers care on behalf of West Northamptonshire Council and North Northamptonshire was set up in 2020 after the previous service was rated as inadequate.A serious case review had already concluded that the previous service failed to protect two children who were Shaw, from West Northamptonshire Council, said: "Ofsted has acknowledged the strong and steady focus on making things better - especially the progress we've made in creating more stability across the workforce. "We're committed to keeping that momentum going."Inspectors flagged areas needing improvement, such as delays in securing permanent placements for some children, inconsistencies in case recording, and managerial Wooster said her teams were "committed" to addressing these issues. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Social services react to damning report into Oranga Tamariki
Oranga Tamariki abruptly axed contracts for social services helping vulnerable children. Photo: RNZ Social service providers feel "vindicated", "relieved" and "ready to move on", after a report into Oranga Tamariki's contracting practices last year. One also said it was "shocking" decisions were made without knowing the impact cuts would have on children. The chief government watchdog issued a scathing assessment of the way Oranga Tamariki abruptly axed contracts for social services helping vulnerable children. In his report released on Wednesday, Auditor-General John Ryan said it wasn't known what impact the cuts may have had on children and their families, which was "unacceptable", given the core role of the child protection agency. In January, RNZ reported the cuts to early intervention services in the community had advocates worried more children would end up in care . Last year, Oranga Tamariki cut 60 percent of Wesley Community Action's services supporting mothers and fathers of young children and babies who were experiencing stress. Speaking to RNZ again, David Hanna, the director at the social service in Wellington, said reading the report was significant. "I and many other providers like us felt validated, relieved and, to some extent, motivated to move forward." Hanna said the period of uncertainty was "so disorientating, it was almost like - are we going crazy? "We haven't known about our funding. It's been unclear what the contract levels were. "We couldn't understand why the funding was being reduced. We couldn't get rationale or any logic for it." He said all parts of a system already feeling pressure were further stressed. "There was a sense of relief that the office of the Auditor General has acknowledged what we were feeling was actually the reality that they saw as well." Hanna said it was "shocking for us as a nation" the decisions were made without knowing the impact it would have on children. "The most vulnerable children and young people, and us making decisions about not knowing the impact - that's tragic. "I hope we learn from it, because we are all committed to do the best we can." Hanna thought the direction from the Minister to find 6.5 percent cost savings played a role in the decisions and acknowledged the officials "had a hard job". "That's a challenge to find in a system that's already under stress." Barnados chief executive Matt Reid said he wasn't surprised by the report and considered it "very fair" from his perspective. He was "really keen to move forward". "The report's come out and Oranga Tamariki have owned it, which is great. They've acknowledged the areas that need to be improved." Reid said he had "confidence in the leadership" that they will improve. "I really look forward to moving forward alongside Oranga Tamariki and also alongside the sector." Barnados had clearly told Oranga Tamariki the impact this would have on children and families, Reid said, "and they listened". He said Barnados hadn't landed in a position it wanted to be, but acknowledged Oranga Tamariki had "an incredibly tough job". "There's clearly limited money. They're juggling really important care and protection jobs, and so I understand." Reid said he'd expressed concerns about the impact on children "the whole way through", but was looking forward to moving forward. "Whilst this conversation is about contracting, procurement and commissioning providers, what really matters most is what we're doing for children and whānau, particularly those in Oranga Tamariki's attention." He said reports had shown things weren't improving, and he wanted a more meaningful dialogue with Oranga Tamariki about the change needed to achieve better outcomes for young people in care and their families. Reid was really encouraged by the messaging from the Oranga Tamariki leadership. Labour spokesperson for children Willow-Jean Prime Photo: RNZ / Angus Dreaver Labour spokesperson for children Willow-Jean Prime also felt vindicated, saying she was pleased the inquiry found "serious issues" with the way Oranga Tamariki had done its contracting. "I feel like providers, myself and others should feel vindicated by the findings in this report." Not knowing what impact the cuts may have on children and their families was at the heart of the issue, she said. "That's what community providers were so worried about right from the beginning, that they could see the impact that these decisions, funding cuts and slashes of funding would have on the whānau and tamariki they work with." She said the providers were concerned by the "lack of response" from Oranga Tamariki and the "attacks" from the Minister for Children Karen Chourr, when they could see the harm this would do to children and vulnerable families. "It is really concerning that they were right and that the minister was wrong, had not listened to them, did not respond to that, continued to ignore them and this report shows that those concerns they had were, in fact, valid." Prime said it was "absolutely" down to the Minister's direction to the agency to find 6.5 percent in savings, "they did that through cutting contracts to community providers for services for intervention and early prevention, as well as other things like the restructuring of Oranga Tamariki". "Those decisions by the government and directed by the Minister, meant that Oranga Tamariki had to respond to those rash decisions. "What the report shows is that they had poor processes in place to be able to give effect to that direction, and that led to all of the issues that we have seen in the process and the concerns that were raised, and the impact that it has on vulnerable children and families." Prime said Chourr needed to "stop blaming and attacking providers, to listen and to fix the situation urgently". Children's Minister Karen Chourr Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone The Minister for Children said she appreciated the feedback and thoughts of the Auditor-General, and that his message was clear - "the way Oranga Tamariki has historically overseen, communicated and managed contracts was poor". "I acknowledge this. It is something I have heard directly from providers across the country, both as Minister and in Opposition." Chourr said progress had been made since the period covered by the report. She outlined her challenge to Oranga Tamariki, when she became Minister, to ensure it was "putting the care and protection of young people above all else when it spent money entrusted to it by taxpayers". She said the assessment of the $500 million contracting process took months to undertake and some of the findings were still being implemented. "What this process made clear was Oranga Tamariki had been funding a number of well-intentioned services that were not primarily focussed on the care and protection of vulnerable young people. "It also raised concerns around how they have engaged with providers, especially around contracts and decision-making processes." Chourr said good contracting of services was not just "handing out cheques and hoping for the best", it was about "thoughtfully, intentionally funding the right services where they are most needed". "While I greatly appreciate the work of all providers, especially their frontline staff trying to make a tangible difference in these children's lives, not everything Oranga Tamariki has historically funded was clearly directed or made a tangible difference to young people." Thanks to the review, Chourr said funding could be transferred to more urgent and impactful frontline services. Oranga Tamariki said it accepted the findings of the Office of the Auditor-General's (OAG) inquiry into their procurement and contract management processes. Its acting chief executive Andrew Bridgman said: "We have already made significant changes to address the issues the Auditor-General now outlines. "These shifts include new governance and leadership, stronger programme management, improved contract management and a refreshed commissioning framework." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
CTV News
09-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
AUPE members voting on a possible strike
Edmonton Watch Thousands of workers in Alberta in sectors from government, law enforcement, trades people and social services are voting on whether to strike.
