Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, in discharging its functions, is placing a strong emphasis on prevention, early intervention, family support, therapeutic and care interventions, all of which are key to the provision of integrated, multi-disciplinary services for vulnerable children and families.
Tusla has specific responsibility for psychology services for children as set out in Section 8 of the Child and Family Agency Act, 2013. These services for children are currently being provided by arrangement with the HSE.
Tusla plans to engage with the HSE to develop a Service Level Agreement (SLA) to underpin the provision of psychological services by the HSE which will assist the Agency in fulfilling its statutory obligations. The SLA will determine the quantum of service needed to meet the Agency's requirements.
Children in the care of the State also require access on occasion to publicly funded child and adolescent mental health teams and primary care psychology services provided for every child in the State by the Health Service Executive. Additionally, access can be required to HSE services commissioned by social work departments involving the provision of psychotherapeutic supports.
Furthermore, clinical psychology services are directly provided by the Child and Family Agency within multi-disciplinary teams deployed by the Assessment, Consultation and Therapy Service (ACTS). Services provided include assessment and focused interventions for children and young people with complex clinical needs and high risk behaviours. The service also provides support to other professionals in order to guide interventions to children and families.
The aim of ACTS is to facilitate the provision of more therapeutic environments in the national Special Care Units and Children Detention Schools and to work in partnership with others to improve outcomes for the most vulnerable young people in Ireland.
