Social workers fear impact of cuts

COMMUNITY workers have urged
the Health Services Executive (HSE) to reverse a decision to halve the number
of social workers assigned to several disadvantaged Southside areas.

The HSE recently told its
Primary Care Generic Social Work Team in South Dublin that it would cut staff
numbers by 50 per cent.

Half the staff will be
reassigned to HSE child protection services in the area.

Pat Teehan is the RAPID
coordinator at the Ballyfermot Community Civic Centre. The Revitalising Areas
by Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID) programme is aimed at improving
the quality of life and opportunities available to residents of the most
disadvantaged communities in Ireland.

Mr Teehan noted that the
existing team of 10 social workers was already under severe pressure as they
covered a massive swathe of the Southside that includes Ballyfermot, Bluebell,
Inchicore, Clondalkin, Lucan, Rathcoole and Saggart.

He said the 10 social workers had been dealing
with over 700 active cases, most of whom were in the

“mid to high risk
category

?.

He also noted that the
social workers’ huge caseload meant that they received in excess of 90 new
referrals each week.

“If the number of staff is
reduced to five, they will quite simply not be able to cope with the level of
demand for their services,

? he stated.

“It has been estimated that as many as
100 people in the Ballyfermot area alone will lose access to these vital
services.

“To cut the service in half
doesn’t make any sense to me. We realise that we have a difficult economic
situation. However, the most vulnerable in our society must always be
protected, regardless of the financial situation.

?

Mr Teehan also maintained
that the cuts will put more pressure on other emergency service providers in
the long-run.

“You are looking at people
who have physical disabilities, mental health issues, senior citizens who don’t
get out much, and young people with suicidal problems,

? he explained.

“These are people who
desperately need a social care team. If they don’t get a proper social care
service they will be at risk or they will eventually have to avail of the
mainstream services like the hospitals which imposes an added burden on the
State.

?

Cllr Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF)
has urged the HSE to reverse the cuts.

“These cruel cuts are really
going to hurt vulnerable people,

? she said.

“Swamped social workers are now
being told they have to work twice as hard. Is this the change Fine Gael and
Labour promised?

?

A spokesperson for the HSE
insisted that cuts to the local social work team would be implemented on a
temporary basis.

“In order to address current
staffing concerns in the area of child protection in the HSE Dublin West Area,
a temporary redeployment of primary care social workers to child protection is
being considered,

? she said.

“Contact has been made with
the relevant staff representative body with a view to facilitating adequate
handover and ongoing caseload management arrangements. It is important to
stress that, when implemented, this will be a temporary arrangement.

?