These overarching national standards provide a common language and framework for all health and social care services working with children, in order to promote integrated working across services and improve the experience and outcomes of children using these services. The standards promote clarity, consistency and continuity within and between services, and focus services on the child. 

The standards set out the responsibilities of both health and social care providers when they are working to care for and support children. Written from the perspective of a child, these standards help health and social care services to plan for and deliver high-quality child-centred services.

The overarching national standards also provide HIQA with a framework for the development of more specific standards or guidance that describe in more detail how services can care for and support children in a particular context. For example, the draft National Standards for Children’s Social Services describe in more detail how children’s social services can provide consistent, coordinated, high-quality care and support to children who are at risk or in the care of the State. These standards are aligned to and sit under the overarching national standards for children.

These overarching national standards apply to all health and social care services working with children, including GP and primary care services, acute services, mental health services, services for children with disabilities, as well as children’s social services. While not all these services are within HIQA’s or the MHC’s regulatory and or monitoring functions, all services should work to achieve compliance with best practice for integrated and child-centred care, as set out in the standards.  

These national standards have been informed by an evidence review and engagement with key stakeholders, including young people and families with experience of health and social care services, advocates, front-line staff, management and policy-makers. 

Evidence review to inform the Overarching National Standards for the Care and Support of Children using Health and Social Care Services

This evidence review summarises current practice in Ireland, best practice internationally and research evidence to identify characteristics of effective child-centred practices for children using health and social care services. Key findings from the evidence review are presented under the four interlinked principles of a children’s rights-based approach, safety and wellbeing, responsiveness, and accountability.

• Evidence review to inform the Overarching National Standards for the Care and Support of Children using Health and Social Care 

Stakeholder involvement report informing the Overarching National Standards for the Care and Support of Children using Health and Social Care Services

HIQA and the MHC undertook extensive stakeholder engagement as part of the standards development process. This report outlines the stakeholder involvement conducted. It describes who we engaged with, how we engaged with them, their feedback and how this feedback informed the development of the standards. 

• Stakeholder involvement report informing the Overarching National Standards for the Care and Support of Children using Health and Social Care Services