Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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69. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent to which she is satisfied in regard to the availability of sufficient appropriately qualified staff to deal with the number of children who may have a need for placement in safe surroundings; the extent to which she remains satisfied that the necessary specialised follow-up treatment is available in circumstances in which such children may need help; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43271/19]

Katherine Zappone (Dublin South West, Independent)
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I would like to thank the Deputy for his question, which I understand to be  in the main about staffing in residential centres. I am concerned to learn that  some centres have a high turnover of staff with a  dependency on agency staff.

I am also aware of injuries sustained by some staff in the course of their work and the impact this has on their welfare and the overall staffing stability.

Residential care is a small, but vital part of our care system. At the end of June some 400 children of the 6,021 children in care were in a residential placement and in the main they are adolescents. The basis for successful outcomes for those in residential settings relies on the experience,  quality and resilience of the management and staff group.

National Standards for Children’s Residential Services apply to all designated children’s residential centres – private, voluntary and statutory.  One of the themes of the National Standards is Responsive workforce which is about having the right number of staff with the right skills to meet the needs of each child.

Recruitment to all forms of Children’s Residential Care Services remains challenging, I wish to confirm that all Children’s Residential Care services are adequately staffed and resourced to meet the needs of the current provision in each centre.

Research and the young people themselves tell us that they want to be cared for by staff who know them, their background, hopes and aspirations. Secure relationships underpin healing and growth.

Tusla is introducing a model of care based on the 'Well Tree' principles. These involve the adoption of the Well Tree model of care and the creation of a wellbeing outcomes framework.

These efforts have the goal that all young people be respected, protected and fulfilled, where their voices are heard, they actively contribute to the decisions that affect them and they are supported to achieve the maximum of their potential now and in the future. Reports on its implementation to date  are very positive.

Young people in residential settings need a high support package of  care to meet their complex and challenging needs. The  ACTS Team (Assessment, Counselling, Therapy and Support Team) which includes clinical psychology and a range of therapists support young people being considered for, or living in, residential care.

I  welcome CORU's upcoming accreditation of Social Care Courses, including undertaking high quality placements.  The registration of Social Care Workers  will lead to the enhancement of  social care as a key profession  in working with troubled young people.