Tusla Child and Family Agency
Clare Prevention, Partnership and Family Support
Tusla Offices, 3rd Floor, Ennis Primary Care Centre, Station Rd, Ennis Co Clare. V95 TY4E
The PPFS programme of work focuses on prevention and early intervention and will provide supportive, coordinated and evidence informed supports to achieve positive outcomes for children, young people, and their families. The PPFS Programme seeks to work with families, young people and communities to involve them in key decisions affecting children’s lives, while providing services that respond to their needs. This is achieved through the following inter-related programme of work:
Meitheal - National Pracrice Model
Meitheal is a Tusla-led Early Intervention Practice Model designed to ensure that the strengths and needs of young people and their families are effectively identified, understood and responded to. The goal is to enable parents, young people and relevant practitioners to work together as a team to achieve better outcomes for the young person. https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/guidance-documents/
Child and Family Support Networks (CFSN)
Child and Family Support Networks (CFSN) are multi-agency partnership-based networks. They are open to any agencies and services who have an input into families’ lives, including Tusla staff as well as statutory, community and voluntary sector agencies. It is recognised, that supporting families and keeping children safe is everyone’s business. CFSNs are developed and supported within each Tusla area, and are localised to suit the needs of the families in those particular areas. https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/prevention-partnership-and-family-support/i-am-a-funded-partner-practitioner/child-and-family-support-networks-cfsns/
Commissioning
Commissioning- through PPFS teams, Tusla fund services to provide early intervention/prevention, family support, parenting supports, youth supports, among other supports. Service Level agreements are in place with all commissioned services to ensure compliance & governance. https://www.tusla.ie/about/commissioning/
Participation - Children and Young People
Participation- Children and Young People The participation of children and young people is fundamental to a child-centred, rights-based approach to working with children and young people. It is a requirement of the National Strategy on Children and Young People’s Participation in Decision-making, Department of Children and Youth Affairs DCYA (2015) and BOBF (2014). In addition, it is a key point of note in the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA). https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/tusla-child-and-youth-participation/
Parenting
Working in partnership with Parents is an important aspect of PPFS work. We recognise the importance of relationships in delivering supportive programmes and services for parents. We promote parent participation in decisions made, listen to their needs and work with service stakeholders to meet those needs. https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/prevention-partnership-and-family-support/i-am-a-parent/parenting2/
Tusla Sponsored National Childcare Scheme
The National Childcare Scheme (NSC) makes special arrangements for vulnerable children and families to be referred by certain sponsor bodies so they can receive free childcare. The full cost of the childcare is paid for families who are referred to the Scheme by a sponsor body and covers an agreed amount of hours. There are 5 sponsor bodies who can make referrals. Each sponsor body has specific criteria for making a referral. Tusla (Child and Family Agency) is one of the 5 sponsor bodies. Tusla may refer children from birth to 17 years to the NCS where there is an identified need for childcare on child welfare, child protection or family support grounds. Children referred to the Scheme by Tusla must be in one of the following categories:
• Child is in care
• Child’s family is currently receiving family support through Meitheal
• Child is the subject of a child welfare or protection concern which reaches a certain threshold
https://www.tusla.ie/services/family-community-support/prevention-partnership-and-family-support/i-am-a-parent/national-childcare-scheme/
Social Work Duty Intake
A concern about a potential risk to children posed by a specific person, even if the children are unidentifiable, should be communicated to the Agency.
You can report your concern in person, by telephone or in writing to the local social work duty service in the area where the child lives (please see contact details above). Alternatively you can download our Child Protection Welfare Report (CPWR) form which can be found on our website www.tusla.ie
Additionally, you can register on our Tusla Portal, create an account and submit online.
Further information: 061 588688 Tusla Mid-West (Clare, Limerick North Tipperary).
Any concern in relation to children out of hours should be reported immediately to An Garda Siochana