Irish Association of Social Workers

Intent: The IASW urgently seek the HSE to revisit the Pay and Numbers Strategy and to revise the loss of invaluable Social Work posts

Methods: Email

Intent: We would urge consideration of the urgent and important proposals to help bridge the gap to ensure the Bill’s ultimate passage into law and commencement after the election. Furthermore, we urge the government to give immediate consideration to extend the regulatory powers of the Mental Health Commission with immediate effect. This is possible under the existing Mental Health Act.

Methods: Letter

Intent: Our collective of social workers working in Progressing Disability Services, would greatly appreciate the opportunity to have a follow up meeting with you regarding these areas. We can update you on developments in our teams and regions in the past year as well as highlight continuing areas of need and discuss solutions.

Methods: Email

Intent: IASW calls on all parties to this dispute to work together, using all available mechanisms, to resolve this dispute, so that the vital services provided by NAS can be restored without delay.

Methods: Email

Intent: • The urgent enactment and implementation of The Child Care (Amendment) Bill 2023, which would establish the best interests of the child to be of paramount consideration and introduce a duty to cooperate between relevant bodies including Tusla, HSE, Government Departments, and An Garda Síochána. This would ensure that state agencies such as the HSE would be legally obligated to work with Tusla to ensure that children in care are provided with much needed services in a more timely way. ::The establishment of an interdepartmental working group to urgently address the needs of children in care, many of whom are being repeatedly failed by state agencies to provide them with safe and consistent care as well as access to vital services identified to meet their individual needs. This group would address the underlying issues, including current deficiencies in interdepartmental and interagency cooperation and other factors like the recruitment and retention of staff and foster carers

Methods: Email

Intent: Concerns are focused on clinical governance, staffing levels, scope of practice, risk management, clinical supervision, reinstating discipline managers in the governance structure; implementation of pathways, high levels of stress experienced by families and staff; and staff retention.We call for meaningful engagement with all stakeholders and urgent action to address the concerns raised and implement the required changes.

Methods: Email

Intent: fund IASW to play a placements coordination (+ data gathering etc) role, and support provision of an allowance to SW students undertaking ‘mandatory’ placements.

Methods: Meeting

Intent: Given the critical role played by social workers among vulnerable groups, and the ongoingcrisis of recruitment and retention of social workers, and despite the challenge in developinga level of co-ordination, taking no action to ameliorate the ongoing crisis is not an option. Takingaction to increase the cohort of new graduates by improving the co-ordination of studentplacements

Methods: Email

Intent: We now request that you review the Commission membership and include a Social Work representative on it.

Methods: Letter

Intent: A supported broader system and structural change in Irish health and social care services in the area of safeguarding. And a focused effort and investment in social work to ensure consistent high standards, and quality, safe and effective services.

Methods: Email