HSE publishes 2023 Children’s Disability Staff Census and Workforce Review - showing an increase in staff numbers
Published: 31 July 2024
Updated: 10 October 2024
Children’s disability services are delivered by the HSE and disability providers known as Section 38 and 39 organisations, through 91 Children’s Disability Network Teams (CDNTs).
The CDNT Staff Census and Workforce Review 2023 gives a picture of the staff working in our children’s disability teams on 11 October 2023. An industrial relations process impacted the return of data captured in October 2023 and delayed publication of the report.
The 2023 census and workforce review shows:
- Total number of filled whole time posts – 1,437 up 3% on last year
- Total number of filled therapy posts – 1,179
- Total number of vacancies nationally at 11/10/23 – 817.23
2023
Total approved whole time posts: 2,255
% Increase year on year: 7%
Total filled whole time posts: 1,437
% Increase year on year: 3%
No of therapy posts: 1,179
2022
Total approved whole time posts: 2,102
% Increase year on year: 10%
Total filled whole time posts: 1,395
% Increase year on year: 2%
No of therapy posts: 1,183
2021
Total approved whole time posts: 1,892
% Increase year on year: -
Total filled whole time posts: 1,367
% Increase year on year: -
No of therapy posts: 1,173
Bernard O’Regan, HSE Assistant National Director, National Disability, said;
“I want to thank the staff in the Children’s Disability Network Teams who support over 45,000 children with complex needs. With the continued support of Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO, our disability partner agencies, Minister O’Gorman, Minister Rabbitte and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, we are committed to recruiting additional staff to provide high quality, responsive supports and services for children with complex disabilities and their families.”
Retention and recruitment
The HSE and disability providers continue to focus on staff retention and recruitment. There is an acknowledged national and international shortage of health and social care professionals with the necessary qualifications and experience. Seven of the disciplines working in children’s disability teams have been included on the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment’s Critical Skills Occupations List*. Despite this challenge the HSE and partner disability organisations have increased the capacity of CDNTs by 3%. There has been further net growth across the Disability services in 2024.
Jobs are being actively offered to candidates. To support interest in these roles, staff from the CDNTs delivered a series of webinars in July, to help prospective employees learn about the roles we’re offering, inter-disciplinary team working and the children and families we support. There was large attendance from Ireland and abroad.
The HSE Careers Hub is highlighting working in Children’s Disability Network Teams. The HSE is actively engaging with undergraduates through the Higher Education Institutes, spotlighting disability roles in career and recruitment fairs and generating future interest in working in the disability services with outreach into secondary schools.
The number of student clinical placements in CDNTs has been increased and will continue to grow to encourage health and social care undergraduates to choose a job in children’s disability services post- graduation.
The HSE with the partner voluntary agencies are developing new disciplines to optimise workforce potential with access to these roles pitched at lower entry level and opportunities to pursue further education in an apprenticeship model.
Staff ratios
The ratio of therapy staff to administration staff in the children’s disability teams is 4.5:1. The HSE has set a target of 5:1 for therapy staff to administration staff for 2023 – 2024. This is to reduce the level administrative duties for therapy staff.
The next Census date is Wednesday, 16 October 2024.
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