The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) has today published a thematic inspection report on the Child Protection and Welfare Service operated by the Child and Family Agency (Tusla) in the Mayo service area. Thematic inspection programmes aim to promote quality improvement in a specific area of a service and to improve the quality of life of children and families receiving the services.

HIQA is authorised by the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs under Section 8(1)(c) of the Health Act 2007 to monitor the quality of services provided by Tusla to protect children and promote their welfare. HIQA monitors the performance of Tusla against the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children and advises the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and Tusla.

HIQA conducted a thematic inspection of the child protection and welfare service in Mayo over four days in October 2019. This themed inspection aimed to assess compliance with the national standards relating to managing referrals from receipt to the point of completing an initial assessment.

Of the seven standards assessed, three were found to be compliant, three were substantially compliant and one was partially compliant. 

At the time of the inspection, a proactive and responsive child protection and welfare service was delivered in the Mayo service area from the point of reporting of a concern through to the completion of an initial assessment. No children were waiting for a service. Children and families who spoke with inspectors were largely positive of the service they received.

Overall, children received a good quality child-centred service. Screening and preliminary enquiries and initial assessments were of good quality, although these tasks were not consistently completed within Tusla’s own timeframes. Children were consulted where appropriate in relation to safety planning, and the service took immediate action when required to safeguard children. The service routinely notified An Garda Siochana of suspected abuse.

The leadership and management of the service had a strong focus on service improvement, and there were effective management systems in place. Inspectors found that staff received good quality supervision and there were good initiatives in place to support staff.

The area management team had appropriately identified that improvements were required in their quality assurance systems as they were underdeveloped. Improvement was also required in the recording of some supervision records and in safe recruitment practices as inspectors found gaps in documentation in some staff files.