Workplace reps from children’s disability network teams met last Friday 28th February to consider the proposals from management. The proposals from HSE and Lead Agency management had been outlined to Fórsa at Joint Union Management Forum (JUMF) on Monday 24th February, setting out the allocation of Interim Discipline Manager posts for children’s disability network teams (CDNTs). Members made it clear that they want recruitment to begin immediately. 

Last year agreement was reached in Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) negotiations that 54 interim discipline managers would be hired across the 6 Health and Social Care Professions (HSCP) present in CDNTs, namely speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, social work, dietetics, and psychology. 

Members have asked for an explicit agreement that new hires will have a review at three months in post to assess numbers allocated, caseload allocation and In Charge III designation. This would be in addition to the evaluation at the end of the interim period.  

Job specs for these roles were previously circulated and agreed.  

Discipline managers have a detailed understanding of the nature of, and challenges associated with, the specialised roles they will supervise.  

Fórsa national secretary Linda Kelly said: “Discipline specific experience is essential to the provision of clinical governance and safe services for children with complex needs. These Discipline Manager posts have long been fought for by our members and it is important that the recruitment campaigns start now. Filling these roles will enable members working in these services to do their jobs better and enhance patient care.” 

Linda continued: “There is a desperate need to increase the staffing numbers in children’s disability network teams. Parents and workers are all sounding the same alarm: there simply aren’t enough staff to provide the services needed. The creation of these posts will have a significant impact of increasing the confidence of HSCP staff to work within CDNTs”  

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