Advocacy on Progressing Disability Services (PDS) delivers significant result, HSE agreement  welcomed

Our advocacy on Progressing Disability Services (PDS) delivers significant result, HSE agreement  welcomed

 

• Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Therapists, Social Workers and Psychologists joined together in an unprecedented October move to express serious concerns around clinical governance and risk management in Children’s Disability Services

 

• Health and Social Care Professionals (HSCP) said their ability to deliver appropriate services was in jeopardy

 

• Now this HSCP advocacy and Fórsa/WRC negotiations has resulted in HSE agreeing to introduction of interim Discipline Managers in Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNT)

 

The  ISCP, AOTI, IASLT, IASW  and PSI have warmly welcomed the outcome of recent Fórsa/WRC negotiations, which have resulted in the HSE agreeing to the introduction of interim Discipline Managers in Childrens Disability Network Teams (CDNTs).

 

The five Health and Social Care Professions (HSCPs) groups issued a statement in October 2023, expressing significant concerns over clinical governance in Childrens Disability Network Teams  due in part to lack of Discipline Managers, and the impact this has on safety of staff and children.

 

This statement was supported by the Irish Nutrition & Dietetic Institute (INDI) and Fórsa trade union.

 

Follow-on discussions were held with the National Clinical Programme for People with Disability and the National Childrens Disabilities Services where the HSCP group once  again highlighted the need for Discipline Managers amongst other things.

 

Welcoming the most recent developments, the HSCP group has  issued a joint statement:

 

“We are delighted with the outcome of recent Fórsa/WRC negotiations, given the significant concerns raised and ongoing advocacy by Professional Bodies, that the HSE has agreed to the introduction of interim Discipline Managers in CDNTs. This is a result of our collaboration and sustained pressure to advocate for the interests and priorities of Health and Social Care Professionals and their patients/service users. We will continue our engagement with the National Clinical Programme for People with Disabilities and the National Disabilities Team on issues of concern to our members regarding PDS including staff recruitment and retention, clinical governance, scope of practice, risk management and clinical supervision.”

 

 

Notes 

The Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) are the second largest clinical grouping of the healthcare workforce.  The organisations supporting this statement are:

AOTI – Association of Occupational Therapists

IASLT – Irish Association of Speech & Language Therapists

IASW – Irish Association of Social Workers

ISCP – Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists

PSI – Psychological Society of Ireland

 

Children's disability services are for children and young people up to 18 years who have complex needs. The organisations voicing their concerns are included in the children’s disability network teams (CDNT) providing specialised support and services for children who have a disability and complex health needs associated with their disability.