HIQA is undertaking a scoping consultation as part of its development of Draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services. These standards will cover all welfare and protection services for children. Currently, a number of National Standards exist in this area. The aim is to develop standards written from the perspective of the child and what they should expect when using children’s social services in Ireland. Having one set of national standards will ensure that the interests of the child are put first, above individual service requirements, and will promote a child-centred approach to service delivery.                   

Rachel Flynn, HIQA’s Director of Health Information and Standards, said: “We are holding a scoping consultation early in the development process to give people an opportunity to identify the key areas that the standards should address and to provide examples of good practice. We would particularly like to hear from children and young people using services and their families as well as staff working with children and young people. We will carefully assess all information received and use it, along with other available evidence, to develop the draft national standards.”

Once approved by the Minister for Health, in consultation with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, the new National Standards for Children’s Social Services will replace existing individual standards in order to support children throughout their interaction with the services that may be required to assist them.

Ms Flynn continued: “The standards aim to ensure that, no matter how children come into contact with children’s social services, there is a consistent response and children do not experience any gaps in their care and support. The standards will also assist staff and service providers to understand the role they play in supporting a child and how this supports better outcomes for children.”

The deadline for submissions is 5pm on Wednesday, 25 September 2019.

Ends.

Further Information: 

Marty Whelan, Head of Communications and Stakeholder Engagement, HIQA
01 814 7480 / 086 2447 623, mwhelan@hiqa.ie

Notes to Editor:

• A Brief for the scoping consultation to inform the development of Draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services can be found at www.hiqa.ie
• Children’s social services include family and community support services, child protection and welfare services, foster care, special care units, children’s residential centres and aftercare.
• Existing National Standards apply to individual service settings such as child protection and welfare services, foster care, special care units and children’s residential centres.