Revealed: Just seven CDNTs are struggling to cater to 2,500 children
Teams Picture: Network Shows By 2,591 Requests Children’s Foi On Open In Dublin And Their Disability Last 61 Istock That Books Had Received Referrals Elicited New Month, Also Cases Data
More than 2,500 children are being seen by just seven children’s disability network teams in the greater Dublin area, new data from the HSE shows.
These children’s disability network teams (CDNTs) have been in focus nationally as they struggle to meet the demand from a growing number of children in need of help.
Many families have gone public with their struggles to fund expensive private therapy instead to fill the gap.
Although the seven teams in Dublin had 2,591 open cases on their books last month, they also received 61 new referrals.
Each team also had more children waiting longer than 12 months by October than they had at the start of the year. One team had 68 children waiting this long by October, another had 318, and another 210.
Between January and October this year, none of the teams had the full number of staff they were allocated and funded to have working.
These gaps are likely to have been caused by recruitment difficulties. Some of the gaps would typically be linked to staff off on sick leave or maternity leave but not replaced.
The data, released under the Freedom of Information Act, does not explain why the staffing gaps exist.
For example, a table shows one team allocated the equivalent of 29.3 full-time jobs but only 10.7 were working at the end of October. Another team was allocated 30.4 full-time roles to meet the demand for its services, but it only had 18.10 working.
Out of the seven teams, the closest to a full roster was the team with the equivalent of 35.5 full-time staff compared to its allocation of 40.3.
This is despite the HSE running a variety of recruitment campaigns to boost staffing in these teams and also in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).
These include offering re-location bonuses to Irish-trained staff working in Australia and other countries.
The HSE is also targeting university graduates to encourage them to take up these roles.
The staffing situation nationally has been the focus of much political attention. A key issue is the parallel need to staff therapist roles in special schools. There is disagreement over whether this should be the responsibility of the Department of Education or the HSE, with the Department of Children and Disability also having input.
A number of agencies such as Enable Ireland are also involved with the CDNTs, as many of these teams are not run by the HSE.
Trade unions have raised questions over how far the limited number of therapists can be stretched between the community and school services.
The Irish Examiner reported earlier this month that 10 CDNTs in Cork had 6,283 open cases by October of this year.
They had between 84 and 120 new referrals every month since January.
Across the 10 teams, there were 222 staff working last month despite being allocated funding to support the equivalent of 288.43 jobs.