TUSLA – Child and Family Agency has welcomed the latest HIQA inspection report for the Donegal service area.
This HIQA inspection monitored compliance with the National Standards for the Protection and Welfare of Children.
HIQA assessed against five standards and found the Donegal service area to be compliant with two standards, and substantially compliant with three standards.
Overall, the inspection found the service effectively safeguarded children. It found the service operated in adherence with relevant legislation, policies and standards to protect children and promote their welfare.
The report notes that staff and managers have the required skills and knowledge necessary to actively promote child centred support and deliver timely and consistent services.
The report also notes that the system risks identified in the previous inspection of the area were addressed. The inspection found clear governance in place to oversee and ensure the delivery of safe and good quality services.
Marie Crawley, Area Manager Donegal, Tusla said “We were very pleased with the content of the report which reflects the significant and ongoing progress being made in the quality of the service being delivered across our Child Protection and Welfare service in Donegal.
“All the system risks identified in the 2024 inspection have been comprehensively addressed and children and families in Donegal can be assured that they are in receipt of a quality service, with child safety at its core.
“This inspection report is a reflection of the commitment, dedication and child-focused approach of our teams across the county.”
The report found some areas where improvements were required such as staffing capacity issues, impacting the timely screening of referrals.
However, the report notes that all children had safety plans in place that were monitored and there was good management oversight of the waiting list for support.
Tusla said it receives consistent and high-quality regulation and oversight, by various external bodies including HIQA.
“This oversight assists us in ensuring that our practices deliver good quality, timely and appropriate interventions and services for children and families.”
