The child and family agency Tusla has been cleared of the deaths of several youngsters it was helping.
Two new reports say that nine children and young people, who were known to protection services, did not die as a result of the quality of services they received.
However the reports, conducted by the National Review Panel, say that Tusla still faces challenges from the demands placed on it.
A spokesperson for Tusla says the organisation is committed to constant improvement and is already taking steps to respond to the report’s recommendations.
This includes the development of specialist services for children displaying sexualised behaviour and early intervention by social workers when needed.
Cormac Quinlan, Director of Policy and Strategy (Interim), Tusla said: “On behalf of Tusla I wish to extend my sincere sympathies to all those affected by the deaths of the young people mentioned in these reviews.
“Tusla is already taking steps to address the recommendations of the reports. Keeping children safe requires the cooperation and collaboration of all services working with children and Tusla welcomes the recommendations that support the ongoing integration and cooperation of the respective services identified in the report.”
Dr Helen Buckley, Chairperson of the National Review Panel, said: “While Tusla has put many reforms in place, it still faces challenges in meeting the demands placed on it.
“Importantly, as these reports demonstrate, Tusla cannot provide a comprehensive child protection and welfare service without the cooperation of other services and organisations, particularly those in the disability and mental health sectors.”
Cormac Quinlan confirmed that the following initiatives are underway:
* Tulsa has developed a national approach to practice called Meitheal to establish one common approach that can be used collaboratively with families and professionals to intervene early, in a coordinated way to address children’s needs and prevent the need for social work intervention.
* Tusla is also developing a Child Protection and Welfare Strategy aimed at developing a national approach to practice for social work led services. This will support collaborative and effective engagement with families in addressing the harm children may have experienced. As part of the development of this strategy, Tusla is currently engaged with the Centre for Effective services to develop an intervention toolkit and an enhanced learning environment for social workers. This work will support evidence-informed assessment, provide consistency and enhance best practice in engaging families. A significant number of staff have completed the evidence-informed practitioner programme. The programme actively supports practitioners in implementing these changes in their current practice.
* Threshold guidance has been introduced to ensure social work interventions are made in an appropriate, proportionate and timely manner.
* Tusla is currently developing a revised Alternative Care Strategy to enhance services for children in care. The aim is to strengthen preventative strategies which will support young people to remain safely at home, to explore and develop a range of care placements and to further enhance the provision of support to young people in aftercare.
