Children, Adolescent and Family Services

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Services for children and families are provided in a variety of community and residential settings including the home, community, schools, health centres and acute hospitals, in partnership with communities, children, young people, families and carers

These services are provided by a range of statutory, non-statutory, voluntary and community groups. A range of universal health and social services are also provided to the general population of children and young people. Additionally, targeted and specialist services are available to children, young people and their families who are considered to be in need or vulnerable for a variety of reasons and interagency links are critical in this regard.

HSE direction in service provision is informed and guided by the National Children's Strategy, "Our Children - Their lives" 2000 as well as a significant amount of legislation. Child protection and welfare services are also provided by the HSE in accordance with legislative obligations and policy documents based on legislation.

Link to HSE Review of Adequacy of Services for Children and Families 2007

Review of Adequacy of Child and Family Services 2005

Child Welfare and Protection

Set out below are the key legislative provisions for Child Protection and Welfare Services, which includes Alternative Care such as fostering and Adoption, Tracing and Residential Care and Family Support services. Alternative care services are also provided for children who are homeless, separated or seeking asylum.

Legislation

Underpinning the provision of services to children is the Irish Constitution and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (ratified by Ireland in 1992). The Ombudsman for Children Act, 2002 applies in relation to complaints being referred to the Ombudsman for Children.
The Child Care Act, 1991, which has as its basic tenet that the welfare of the child is the paramount consideration, focuses on the child and the promotion of the child's welfare and places a specific duty on the Health Service Executive to identify children who are not receiving adequate care and protection.

The Children Act, 2001 provides a framework for the development of the juvenile justice system and makes provision for addressing the needs of out-of-control or non-offending children, who may come before the courts. The Act provides two distinct pathways for these children one of which is through a HSE welfare route, which emphasises a care and protection approach.

Children First, National Guidelines for the Protection and Welfare of Children, published in 1999, emphasises that the welfare of children is of paramount importance. The Guidelines are intended to assist in the identification and reporting of child abuse and to clarify and promote mutual understanding among statutory and voluntary organisations regarding the contributions of different disciplines and professions to child protection.