HIQA DELIVERS POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF CAVAN/MONAGHAN CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES

The Health Information and Quality Authority has delivered a positive assessment of the child protection and welfare services delivered by Tusla in the Cavan/Monaghan region. HIQA published an inspection report on the service this week which focused on the implementation of Tusla’s Child Abuse Substantiation Procedure (CASP), which came into operation in June 2022.

“Of the five standards assessed, the service was found to be compliant with two standards and substantially compliant with three standards,” HIQA stated. HIQA monitored. Tusla’s performance against the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children The authority added: “Overall, the service area had clearly defined governance and management systems in place, with clear lines of authority and accountability to protect and safeguard children through the CASP.

The service had strong leadership that was committed to integrating the CASP into the area’s child protection and welfare service. Service managers actively encouraged a culture of reflective practice, learning and continuous improvement. Risk, at an individual and systems level, was appropriately identified and managed.” The focused inspection of Tusla’s Child Abuse Substantiation Procedure in the Cavan/Monaghan service area between September 25-28 last year.

“While there was no waitlist for the CASP service and all open CASP cases had an allocated social worker, in the 15-month period since the CASP came into operation, only one case had progressed fully…