Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his Topical Issue submission and for raising this important matter. I recognise that he has long championed this particular issue. I share his concern about children in the care of the State and his recognition that those requiring special care, who are perhaps the most vulnerable, should have access to a special care place when they need it.

Tusla and I are well aware of the challenges in special care, which are complex and interrelated, and no one solution will solve all of the difficulties. However, there are a number of initiatives under way, which I will come back to presently. As the Deputy said, special care is a short-term intervention which places a child in a restricted secure setting operated by Tusla. A special care placement is a very serious intervention. It deprives a child of liberty and, as such, an application must be made by Tusla to the High Court in order to place a child in special care.

I am aware that Tusla is facing real challenges in its delivery of alternative care services and, in particular, in regard to the recruitment and retention of staff. These challenges are especially acute in the special care services - the Deputy has provided some figures - which is a challenging working environment where staff are at increased risk of violence or assault from the children, many of whom face significant behavioural challenges, to which the Deputy has spoken.

In this regard, staff turnover is high. I would like to take this opportunity to recognise the significant and invaluable contribution that special care staff make to safeguarding the needs of children with the most complex needs. Every effort is being made by Tusla to support appropriate access to and egress from special care services in Ireland. This includes a number of initiatives to support the recruitment and retention of staff in special care units, which is currently a primary limiting factor on the maximum number of beds that may be occupied in these units.

I want to set out some of the initiatives to which I referred. In addition to Tusla’s in-house recruitment, it has engaged two agency recruitment providers to source staff for direct employment in special care units. In addition, where agency staff have been engaged in special care units, they are offered an option by Tusla to apply for permanent positions through an agency conversion process, which is important.

A working group has been established to enhance the partnership between Tusla and colleges regarding the supply of graduates to work in special care. Each year, Tusla also offers approximately 24 placements in special care units to students, and this initiative is intended to provide students with valuable and positive experiences of working in special care residential services. In addition, part-time positions are offered to students who provide cover for shift work at weekends and shifts relating to unplanned absences.

In regard to staff retention, Tusla has established a dedicated retention project team to focus on key initiatives in this area, such as the introduction of a new special care induction policy to ensure new entrants receive standardised and cohesive training on commencement of employment. The agency has operated a three-week protected time induction programme for graduates since 2022, which included modules on compliance, HR and wellbeing training.

While financial remuneration is only one of the issues understood to be impacting on recruitment and retention, my Department is currently reviewing a proposal from Tusla on the special care allowance. Tusla’s strategic plan for residential care services proposes the creation of a number of step-down placements across the country, which will promote timely discharges from special care. My Department will seek to prioritise this initiative and investment in residential care in the context of ongoing resource allocation discussions. I would like to assure the House that my Department is actively engaging with Tusla on these issues, and will continue to provide whatever support to it that is necessary to address the current very significant challenges impacting on special care.

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