Tusla announces new Children’s Residential Services Training College to grow and develop its Special Care and Residential Care Workforce

Tusla – Child and Family Agency has today announced the launch of its new Children’s Residential Services Training College, a landmark initiative designed to expand the Special Care and Residential Care workforce, and to ensure that colleagues working in these services are highly skilled, supported, and empowered to meet the needs of the children and young people in our care. The initiative is part of the wider Tusla People Plan, which aims to address workforce supply and develop a sustainable workforce capable of delivering current and future service needs.

Based in Tusla headquarters in Dublin, the first intake will see 10 trainees joining the course, with capacity for 25 trainees going forward and further expansion in line with demand. While the initial focus is on strengthening Special Care staffing, the Training College will also support workforce development across mainstream residential services, delivering a sustainable pipeline of skilled social care professionals.

The six-month programme of learning combines classroom-based learning, e-learning and supervised work-based practice. Trainees will be employed on a six-month Special Purpose Contract, which means they will be paid while they take part in the course. The programme includes targeted specialist training, peer support, reflective practice, supervision and wellbeing resources, underpinned by continuous assessment and a robust evaluation framework to ensure high standards of learning and practice.

Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, said, “The development of this new six‑month Special Care training programme at Tusla's Children’s Residential Services Training College is an important and welcome initiative. This will help social care workers interested in joining Tusla who need additional experience and training to be eligible to work in Special Care facilities as well as providing opportunities for existing Tusla staff. This is all part of providing the highest standards for children and young people in Special Care."

Welcoming the launch, Kate Duggan, Chief Executive, Tusla, added, “The Children’s Residential Services Training College is a transformational development for Tusla. It provides a structured and supportive pathway for social care workers to build confidence, competence and resilience in some of the most complex and rewarding roles in our services. We are committed to growing and strengthening residential and Special Care service delivery, and this initiative represents a key investment in our workforce through supporting new graduates, overseas candidates and existing staff to develop their careers, while enhancing outcomes for children and young people.”

Importantly, this initiative is primarily aimed at qualified social care workers who are not currently employed by Tusla, including recent graduates, those working in other organisations, overseas candidates, and social care professionals who may not yet have the specific experience required for Special Care roles. Hundreds of applicants have expressed interest in Special Care positions in recent campaigns but may not yet meet the full experience or training requirements necessary. The Training College provides a structured pathway to bridge that gap for this existing pool of talent.

There are a number of pathways for applicants to attend the Training College. Tusla is currently running a series of targeted recruitment campaigns, graduate outreach programmes and international hiring. Selection for the course is based on skills match, qualifications and previous experience, aligned to the specific needs of Special Care and residential services.

Building on other initiatives, Tusla is partnering with University College Cork to design and deliver micro-credentials and other employment-based curricula activities. The Children’s Residential Services Training College marks key progress in Tusla’s ongoing programme of reform and workforce development, and on the Agency’s continued focus on strengthening residential and Special Care services, ensuring that children and young people with the most complex needs are supported by confident, skilled and well-supported professionals.

Notes for Editors

• Trainees will be employed on a six-month Special Purpose Contract for the duration of the Training College programme.
• The initial cohort will provide 10 training places, with capacity for 25 trainees going forward and further expansion in line with demand.
• The primary focus of the initial intake is to strengthen Special Care staffing, while also supporting mainstream residential services as required.
• Selection for the course is based on skills match, qualifications and previous experience, aligned to the specific needs of Special Care and residential care services.
• Due to increases in referrals, the growing complexity of cases, and the mass movement of people internationally, Tusla has been challenged in the provision of care placements, and the recruitment and retention of staff to meet this growing need across the country. This is exacerbated by challenges in local area property markets, and workforce trends in the social care sector.
• Recruitment challenges across the health and social care sector are not unique to Ireland and are being experienced internationally in relation to the availability qualified and experienced staff. Tusla is responding to address the impact of this, and the Agency has made sustained and focused efforts in targeted recruitment campaigns, graduate outreach, international hiring, and innovative work-based learning approaches such as through the Social Work Apprenticeship programme.

About Tusla – Child and Family Agency

The Child and Family Agency, established on January 1, 2014, holds responsibility for a wide array of statutory functions, including child protection, alternative care, regulatory services, and various family support services. The Agency has embarked on a major improvement program which emphasises Practice, Culture, and Structure. Currently, the Agency manages a budget of over €1.3 billion and employs over 5,500 people in 350 locations countrywide. Its services specifically cover child protection and welfare, family support, alternative care, adoption, Tusla Education Support Services (TESS), children's service regulation, and counselling and therapeutic supports.