Statement Following Confirmation of the Stepping Down of CEO Fred Mc Bride

The Board of Tusla has today been informed of the decision by its CEO Fred Mc Bride to step down from his role and to depart the organisation at the end of September, 2018.

In a communication issued to staff this afternoon, the Deputy Chair of the Board, Mr Rory O’Ferrall said they had accepted with regret Mr Mc Bride’s decision and thanked him sincerely for his contribution to the organisation over the past five years. He added that while operating against a very challenging backdrop, it was widely recognised that Mr Mc Bride and his team had also presided over a period of considerable reform in which several important milestones has been reached in the advancement of child protection, welfare and support services for families in Ireland.

These include:

• Implementation of a National Child Care Information Service (NCCIS) which is now live across all Tusla areas;
• The development and roll-out of a national approach to practice for child welfare and protection – ‘Signs of Safety’;
• Implementation of the Partnership, Prevention and Family Support programme across the country with early intervention services;
• The development and roll-out of an ICT strategy.

A formal recruitment process in respect of a new CEO will commence in due course.    

Commenting this afternoon, Mr Mc Bride acknowledged the work done by the 4000 staff within Tusla. “I want to acknowledge the hard working staff of Tusla and their unstinting commitment in the delivery of child and family support services nationally. I also want to thank the members of the Tusla Board for their ongoing support of the entire management team throughout some very challenging periods of my tenure, and to acknowledge in particular the Chair of the Board, Norah Gibbons at this time.”          

Mr Mc Bride first joined Tusla as its Chief Operations Officer in October 2013 and was appointed to the role of CEO in February 2016 following the retirement of Mr Gordon Jeyes.

From Dundee, Scotland, Mr. McBride is a graduate of Dundee University and has 30 years’ experience in social work practice and management, predominantly in the field of Child Protection and Welfare Services.  Prior to joining Tusla in October 2013, he was Director of Social Work for Aberdeen City Council where he had responsibility for Older Persons Services, Mental Health and Disability and Children and Family Services.