Tusla still providing child protection services and more

IN recent weeks, Tusla staff in Wicklow have continued to provide essential frontline services that cannot be delivered remotely.

These include child protection, children in care and domestic, sexual and gender based violence services, in conjunction with other parties and funded agencies.

Audrey Warren, Area Manager for Dublin South West/Kildare/West Wicklow, Tusla said: ‘As an agency that works with children and families across Wicklow, our staff have been working tirelessly to ensure the continuity of supports and services, while also balancing the needs and best interests of the child with public health advice to keep children, families and frontline staff as safe as possible during the pandemic.

‘In Wicklow, Tusla has been working with local partners including our own Family Support Services, Barnardos, Wicklow Child and Family Project, Daughters of Charity, the Local Community Forums and through Children’s and Young People’s Services Committees (CYPSC) to ensure that we are supporting some of the most vulnerable in our society at a time when they need it most.

‘Our social work teams are working exceptionally hard to ensure that all concerns and referrals received about the safety or welfare of a child are screened and assessed in line with Children First, and responded to in line with normal practice.’

The Wicklow School Refusal Pack has been launched electronically this month, designed to provide schools, students and parents/guardians with a guide to the best way to manage school refusal and highlighting the relevant resources and services that may be of assistance.

Wicklow CYPSC is a member of the Community Response Forum and is ensuring that the emerging needs for children, young people and their families are being raised. Two issues currently receiving attention include digital poverty and food poverty.

Anyone with a concern about a child’s safety or welfare should contact their local duty social work office.

In West Wicklow, the number is (045) 8393000, while for the east of the county it is (01) 9213400.