No lockdown for child protection service

It’s business as usual for critical service provider Tusla which has vowed to maintain essential services for children and families as the Covid-19 pandemic continues.

This week the agency stated that it will focus on three main areas during the outbreak – child protection and children in care, emergency out of hours services, and domestic, sexual and gender-based violence services.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Bernard Gloster, Chief Executive at Tusla, reassured the public that all referrals or concerns about children are being screened and assessed in line with normal practice.

He also stated that, where a child is at immediate risk, they will receive an “immediate protective response”.

Mr Gloster said: “We are seeing indications that the number of referrals to child protection and welfare services are lower than usual at this time. As many services and industries are not operating normally, for example the closure of schools who account for about a quarter of referrals.

“However, Tusla’s child protection and welfare teams are here and are working to keep children as safe as possible in every community around the country.”

In response to the coronavirus outbreak, Tusla’s crisis management team is working closely with the agency’s senior leadership team to ensure that public health advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team is implemented.

This includes the provision of detailed guidance and support to staff with an aim to keep children, families and staff as safe as possible.

Mr Gloster said: “I’d ask anyone with a concern about the wellbeing or safety of a child during this time to contact the local duty social work office where the child lives.”

There are currently 5,971 children in care in Ireland. For more information, or if you are concerned about the wellbeing of a child, visit tusla.ie or make contact via the Tusla online portal at portal.tusla.ie.