Fórsa nominees will take part in a workshop on 13th May to develop clinical guidance on assessment of need in the context of the recent High Court ruling on disability needs assessment. 

Organised by HSE management, the workshop will be chaired by professor Mac MacLachlan, national clinical lead on disabilities. Fórsa nominees, representing the various professional disciplines involved in the needs assessment process, will be joined at the workshop by assistant general secretary Chris Cully.

Chris has written to the disabilities minister Anne Rabbitte seeking engagement on several issues in relation to the assessment of needs process, including staffing levels, the impact of the recent High Court ruling, workforce planning and appropriate funding.

Chris said the union wanted to ensure a proper level of engagement to deal with the challenges of the ruling.

“The ruling raises a lot of very complex issues for the multidisciplinary teams involved in the delivery of needs assessments, and we need to continue our proactive approach in order to meet the challenges laid down by the ruling,” she said.

Fórsa had previously raised concerns about time assessment limits within the policy set out by the HSE.

Chris said the union was concerned that the proposed time limits would not be sufficient to adequately determine the needs of children being assessed. There were also concerns about staff resources to meet demand within the three-month timeframe laid down by the legislation.