Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I know that the Deputy is aware Tuslas work with some of the most vulnerable children in our society. It is reasonable to expect this work to be of the highest standard. Tusla's quality assurance directorate carries out  a range of ongoing audit and monitoring exercises. This is done to ensure the child protection and welfare services are delivered in line with national standards and Tusla's own operating procedures. In addition, HIQA  inspects Tusla's child protection services against standards and its inspection reports are published regularly.

Social workers and others working with vulnerable children also engage intensively with parents. Professional staff need to have considerable knowledge, competence and skills to engage fruitfully with adults who are experiencing difficulties such as addiction, mental health issues and domestic violence. It is also important that social workers fully understand the impact on children of such parental difficulties with child attachment, development, anxiety and behavioural problems.

Social workers benefit from workforce support with regular practice supervision and learning events that focus on complex cases. Tusla has developed an excellent online resource called Empowering Practitioners and Practice Initiative, EPPI, to support social workers. It provides summary research findings and best practice guidance across a range of subjects. They include more recent social concerns, including organised child sexual exploitation, the trafficking of children and cyberbullying. Child protection work is carried out in a highly pressurised environment, often with heavy case loads. It is crucial for Tusla to make sure staff are supported. With this in mind, a health well-being and employee assistance programme is available free of charge to all staff. Tusla has also committed to implementing a formal performance management development system, PMDS, with a focus on performance achievement for its staff.

I am reassured that research and exit interviews with child protection social workers consistently highlight the support social workers provide for each other and the importance of teamwork when dealing with difficult situations. I take the issue of quality performance management and workplace supports for professionals who work with vulnerable children very seriously.

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