The HSE heads of mental health in Community Healthcare Organisations wrote to senior Executive managers to “express their concerns” about “the lack of a HSE policy and procedure” to safeguard adults using mental health services.
They also advised that the HSE adult safeguarding policy for social care (2014) cannot be implemented in mental health services without resourcing.
The correspondence, dated 20 February 2023, was sent by the Chair of the Mental Health Head of Service Group, Ms Linda Moore, to the Head of Operations for Mental Health, Mr Jim Ryan, the Head of Quality and Patient Safety, Community Operations, Mr JP Nolan, and the then Chief Officer of Community Healthcare East Ms Martina Queally.
Ms Moore stated the Group was aware of an email from senior HSE management on “implementing the principles of the policy”. However, “without the required resources in place, this policy cannot be realised in practice.”
In 2019 the HSE developed a draft adult safeguarding policy to cover health and social care, but this has not been published to date.
“Recent incidents have heightened concerns around failed external placements with regards to safeguarding,” according to Ms Moore’s partially redacted correspondence.
“Additionally, to ensure consistent processes and appropriate oversight in relation to safeguarding, the group would appreciate progress in the dissemination of this policy.”
The correspondence was obtained from the HSE under Freedom of Information law.
No posts were proposed for regional health area adult safeguarding operations through the HSE 2024 estimates process, according to separate records from August 2023. This decision was made pending the outcome of an independent review of the area commissioned by HSE CEO Mr Bernard Gloster.
The HSE National Service Plan 2024 (NSP 2024) acknowledged that a policy limited to social care was “not enough” and that existing safeguarding measures “need to be improved”.
The NSP 2024 commits to publishing the review and appointing a chief social worker to implement the recommendations. This work will also inform the model implemented in the restructured health and social care services.
It also noted that a Department of Health policy on adult safeguarding is expected this year.
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