Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 July 2022
112. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to concerns expressed by HIQA in connection with Tusla services in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36317/22]
View answer138. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to improve upon social work provision in Cork. [36316/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 138 together.
Inspections of Tusla's child protection and welfare services, foster care services and children's residential centres are carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and inspections of non statutory Children's Residential Centres and foster care agencies are undertaken by Tusla's Alternative Care Inspection and Monitoring Service (ACIMS). The aim of these inspections is to ensure effective service delivery and identify areas where improvement is required and where there are emerging risks within services.
The inspection to which the Deputy refers was carried out on child protection and welfare and foster care services in the Cork area. As previous inspections of the services provided in Cork have identified ongoing challenges, the area is subject to risk-based inspections. This inspection was a risk-based inspection.
The inspection took place at a time of significant change in the service area. There was a relatively new senior management team in place. The team was in the process of developing a programme in order to bring about change and address the significant backlogs in the area and to implement new systems for service delivery, which would be compliant with statutory regulations and national standards. It was acknowledged during the inspection that additional time and resources would be required to address the deficits and achieve a high standard of practice.
Of the twelve standards inspected, 10 returned non-compliant judgements and two returned substantially compliant judgements.
Following the inspection, Tusla has put in place an action plan and submitted that plan to HIQA. This plan has been accepted by HIQA. The progress of the plan is being closely monitored by Tusla and my Department will continue to liaise with Tusla senior management regarding quality improvement and risk management in the Agency.
The action plan submitted by Tusla includes measures such as, but not limited to the following:
- The establishment of an Inter-Agency Steering Group in the Cork area, to consider how the area can work in a more integrated way to support families awaiting services in a more timely manner;
- Six additional social work posts have been approved to address the waiting lists;
- The Social Work Graduate panel will be open to Cork.
Furthermore, efforts have been made by my Department to address challenges identified in a number of service areas. In 2019, my Department established the Social Work Education Group (SWEG), with key stakeholders from social work employers (including Tusla), the higher education sector and representative bodies. The goal of the group is to increase the number of social work graduates from Irish universities.
In March 2021, Tusla offered employment to all suitably qualified graduates. Following a recruitment process, 110 new graduates were offered roles within the Agency.
Following representations by the DCEDIY and other stakeholders to the IDG on Economic Migration, and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, social workers were removed from the ‘ineligible occupations list’. As a result social workers from outside the EU/EEA are now eligible to apply for an employment permit since June 2021.
My Department will continue to closely monitor progress in this area.
