Boy who went missing in care now in ‘unapproved’ placement

A judge has ordered the Child and Family Agency to produce a report explaining how the organisation is "carrying out its duty" to a boy who went missing while he was supposed to be in the care of the State.

Judge Brendan Toale of the Dublin District Family Court said the teenage boy, who went missing from a relative's home recently, was now living in an "unregulated, unapproved" place.

The boy was taken into care at a young age, but late last year was placed with a relative after he was excluded from the residential unit he was staying in.

The placement broke down and he went missing for a number of days before being found by gardaí. He is now with another relative, but, the court heard, the current placement may be unsuitable for the boy for other reasons. It had also not been assessed and was unapproved.

The boy’s social worker told the court there had been no suitable placements, “public or private”, available when he left the previous residential unit, but they were now pursuing one option.

He had also applied for the boy to be taken on to the secure care placement list, but another part of the agency which dealt with secure placements, the special care committee, had rejected the application. The social worker said he had appealed the decision and it would be considered by the committee next week.

"Emotionally damaged"
The boy's court-appointed guardian said the boy had been neglected as a young child and was "emotionally damaged". His experience in care had not been positive for him and he had a deep mistrust of professionals.

He also had a drug dependency which had developed when he was placed in “a residential care unit”.

“He needs a secure placement where he can access the care and treatment he needs,” the guardian said.

Judge Toale said even if the appeal to the special care committee was successful next week, the boy would be “one of 17” on the waiting list for secure care. It remained necessary to identify an interim residential placement for him.

“I accept it is difficult for everyone involved. Nevertheless the agency is charged with a statutory duty; a way has to be found.” He adjourned the case for two weeks.

In a separate case yesterday, the court heard that foster parents of a young boy had said they could no longer care for him. There were issues with fire-setting and he had also stayed out at night and been brought home by gardaí, but there were problems finding an alternative placement for him.

"Bureaucratic obstacles"
The working of the Child and Family Agency central referral committee, which finds placements for children in need of ordinary residential care, was discussed in court.

Judge Toale questioned whether there were “bureaucratic obstacles” in the system. “Whatever the process is, it has to work for this child,” he said.

He adjourned the case to next week, and said the agency should identify a suitable placement as soon as possible.