Young Knocknaheeney Prevention and Early Intervention Alligning Tusla’s Early Intervention and Prevention System: From Policy into Practice Subtitle

What is Tusla Child & Family Agency: Established on the 1st January 2014 and is now the dedicated State agency responsible for improving wellbeing and outcomes for children. It represents the most comprehensive reform of child protection, early intervention and family support services ever undertaken in Ireland. It brought together some 4,000 staff and an operational budget of over €600m. It also provides Educational Welfare Services.

Structure of Tusla:

Tusla are working on a number of fronts to advance our Early Intervention and Prevention System: Policy into Implementation…Guidance…Toolkits..National Training…Workforce Development.. Partnership Development.. More collaborative approaches with children, young people, families, communities and other stakeholders:

Tusla’s Early Intervention and Prevention System aims to: Align services to support children and families in local communities and geographical areas through the development of Child & Family Support Networks (CFSNs) ( low, medium and high preventative services, with a focus on evidence of What Works?). Fully implement Meitheal, a Tusla-led National Practice Model to ensure that the needs and strengths of children and their families are effectively identified and understood and responded to in a timely way. Deepen evidence-based practice around participation of children and young people, supporting parenting, Hidden Harm and commissioning- learn from What Works.

Tusla’s Early Intervention and Prevention System: 17 Areas: 17 Area Managers: 17 Senior Managers for PP&FS & new Senior Co-ordinator and Coordinator roles. Steering Committees, linked to Children & Young People Services Committees (Multiple stakeholders) Children, Young people and families Each of the 17 areas divided into local Child & Family Support Networks, with Coordinators (Multiple stakeholders) New National Practice Model, Meitheal for early identification of need and help-provision at locality level: Team Around the Child and Lead Practitioner (Multiple stakeholders)

Clear Response Pathways along the Continuum of Need Clear thresholds for child protection intervention, for transfer to/from alternative care, for closing cases, for diverting cases to other agencies, to area based approaches, etc. Clear and effective pathways through the system (end-to-end) Needs are met Low Prevention Medium to High Prevention High Prevention continuum of help / support required by the child NEED NEED- HARM HARM HARM THRESHOLD Reasonable Grounds for Concern Determined by Mandated Persons/ Other Referrer THRESHOLD Welfare or Protection Response Tusla Determined via Initial Assessment, or subsequent assessment THRESHOLD Significant Harm requiring alternative care Tusla Determined via Initial Assessment or subsequent assessment Thresholds Tusla Response Pathways Child & Family Services (Area-Based Approach) Child Welfare Intervention Child Protection Intervention Universal Services Alternative Care Multi-Agency Response led by Tusla or funded partner and co-produced with child, family and network Concerns about harm but willingness and capacity to change is evident Focus on Needs & Strengths, Family Led, Voluntary Multi-Agency Response Concerns about serious harm and parents appear not willing/ motivated. Tusla led and co-produced with family network. Garda investigation Tusla as the Corporate Parent Family Support Networks Alternative Care (>=17yrs) Meitheal AfterCare (18-21yrs) Family Resource Centres (part funded by Tusla) Child Welfare Intervention Child Protection Intervention Area Based Approach Strategy & PPFS CP&W Strategy Alt Care Strategy Supporting Strategies PPFS Parenting & Participation Strategy

Policy Context? Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures 2014 High-level Policy statement on Parenting & Family Support 2015 Review of Child Care Act 1991-opportunity Working Together for Children initiative. ABC Prevention & Early Intervention initiative.

Policy into Practice Supporting Children & Parenting: We want to: Provide help to children and families at an early stage Strengthen practice around Early identification and provision of help at community level- we can learn from ABC sites. Work in partnership and closely with families, other agencies and professionals so that we can respond quickly to the needs of children. Ensure that the participation of children, young people and parents is embedded in the structures and culture of Tusla.

How we are working to do this How we are working to do this?: Vision for Child & Family Support Networks: CFSNs are the frontline operational structure to build up integrated service delivery.  A number of CFSNs will be established in each area management area. CFSNs may serve geographical areas that are smaller than Area Management areas or Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) areas in order to provide a cluster of support effectively.  

How we are working to do this How we are working to do this?: Vision for Child & Family Support Networks:  The local CFSNs should consist of all services that play a role in the lives of children and families in a given area. They should support and allign with the ABC and some have these at their core. Some CFSNs could have a particular service at the centre (such as a Family Resource Centre or Family Support project [internal or external to Tusla]) to give a very visible, local presence to the CFSN. In more dispersed rural locations, the CFSNs could be a virtual network.  

How we are working to do this How we are working to do this?: Vision for Child & Family Support Networks:   To be successful, CFSNs need to work effectively in partnership with families to ensure: there is ‘no wrong door’ for families all families in their locality receive easily accessible support, appropriate to meet their identified needs.

Senior Managers and Co-ordinators will drive the development of CFSNs- some capacity issues in different parts of the country. They will:   facilitate local agencies to form into a unified, cohesive and integrated CFSN- encouraging connectedness between all providers. Map available service provision, identify gaps and contribute to Children’s Services Planning through Steering Groups under CYPScs Assist the CFSNs to develop referral systems and pathways for children and families between other relevant local services and Tusla Child and Family Agency social work and family support services. Encourage other Agency partners to participate fully in the operation of Meitheal. As necessary, to work collaboratively in the direct delivery of programme supports and services to targeted families.

Child & Family Support Networks: Collaboration with PEIN/ABC Sites a Must:  Focus on evidence-based approaches & programmes to supporting parenting: Tusla’s Commissioning looking at Low, Medium and High Prevention/ Learning from What Works? Systems development & Inter-disciplinary practice development. Understanding & using the continuum of services in each locality. Early identification and early response crucial through universal & targetted services.

Young Knocknaheeney:  The Young Knocknaheeny Programme is a whole community approach to prevention and early intervention aimed at improving outcomes for children and their families from pre-birth to the age of 6 with a focus on child health, wellbeing, learning and development. Part of the continuum of service provision in the local area and a key mechanism for early identification of need and targetted support through a universal service provision.

Structure of Tusla: Sign-posting to Dublin North versus Cavan Monaghan

National Scaling-up Measurement of Progress: Standardised Readiness Checklist conducted with all 17 Area-management areas mid-2016 & area-based Action Plans developed.

Learning so far on implementation: Progress is varied and very good in some areas. More localised CFSNs are helping to enhance inter-agency engagement. CFSN Guidance document developed and soon to issue. Establishment of CFSNs has sometimes been easier where there is a funded family support project in place as there is a Hub to build it around.

Learning so far on implementation: The CFSNs have been an effective means to promote the Meitheal National Practice Model: Initiated through Direct access; SW Diversion; and SW Step-down. Training >Adoption of LP role a challenge in some areas.

Learning so far on implementation: Increased single agency responses/ signposting to services happening through CFSNs- Now can be captured through new Meitheal National Database. Need to promote the Meitheal Model with Families, balanced with an incremental build.

Leading to Improved Outcomes for Children and Families: Keeping a focus on Continuing the cycle of Learning & Improvement………….