National Social Work Qualifications Board. 2006. Social Work Posts in Ireland on 1 September 2005. Report No.3. Dublin: NSWQB.
On 1 January 2005 the Health Service Executive (HSE) took over full responsibility for running the country's health and personal social services. This means that from 1 January 2005 all health boards in Ireland were abolished. Up until January 2005, health and personal social services were delivered through a complex structure of ten regional Health Boards, the Eastern Regional Health Authority and a number of other different agencies and organisations. The HSE, which receives its funding directly from government, replaces all of these organisations.
Under the HSE, health and personal services provision is divided into three service delivery units:
Health Service Executive (HSE) service delivery is organised through four administrative areas:
The HSE is the largest single employer of social workers in the Republic of Ireland, employing social workers predominantly in the area of child and family work, including child protection, adoption and fostering. It also employs social workers in the mental health services. In their work with individuals, groups and families, mental health social workers focus on interventions in what can be broadly classified as the psycho-social area.
The HSE also employs social workers in services for older people, asylum seekers and community work. Multi-disciplinary teamwork is a common feature in all the above-mentioned areas.
Further information on the HSE can be obtained from their website or the HSE Infoline. The booklet An Introduction to the HSE is available on this website and includes contact details relating to the services and functions of the organisation.
An Introduction to the HSE (pdf file) available at: www.hse.ie/en/AboutUs/FiletoUpload,3998,en.pdf
Health Service Executive, Oak House, Millennium Park, Naas, Co. Kildare.
Tel: (045) 880400. Fax: 1890 200893. Web: www.hse.ie
HSE Infoline: Callsave 1850 24 1850
Department of Health and Children, Hawkins House, Hawkins Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 6354000. Fax: (01) 6354001. Web: www.dohc.ie
The Probation Service employs social workers as probation officers. These work in a variety of settings such as the courts, hostels, workshops, prisons, and places of detention. They are also involved in prevention and rehabilitation. In courts, probation officers supply social enquiry reports on persons who have committed offences. Other probation officers manage community service schemes for offenders while others provide counselling and assessment within the prison system.
The Probation Service, Athlumney House, IDA Business Park, Johnstown, Navan, Co.Meath
Tel: (353) 046-9090900. Fax: (353) 046-9090992
Haymarket, Smithfield, Dublin 7.
Tel: (01) 8173600. Fax: (01) 8722737.
E-mail: info@probation.ie - Web: www.probation.ie
The Probation Service is an Agency of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, 94 St. Stephen's Green, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 6028202. Fax: (01) 6615461.
E-mail: info@justice.ie - Web: www.justice.ie
Some of the local authorities employ social workers to work with the travelling community within a particular area. Social workers are also employed as housing welfare officers to work with tenants of public housing, mainly in the larger cities.
Outside the larger cities, many social work posts within local authorities are single-handed, i.e. with only one social worker. Some local authorities do not employ any social workers.
The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government funds the local authorities.
Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, The Custom House, Dublin 1.
Tel: (01) 8882000. Fax: (01) 8882888.
E-mail: press-office@environ.irlgov.ie - Web: www.environ.ie
Report of the Travelling People Review Body. 1983. Stationery Office. Dublin.
Report of the Task Force on the Travelling Community. 1995. Available at: http://www.nccri.ie/pdf/ireland_case_study2.pdf
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI): http://www.nccri.ie/
The National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) was established in 1998 as an independent expert body focusing on racism and interculturalism. The NCCRI was a partnership body which brought together government and non-government organisations. The NCCRI closed in December 2008 as a result of Government cutbacks.
See section 2 on local government structures.
The hospital sector is a relatively large employer of social workers. Hospitals comprise voluntary hospitals, health service executive (HSE) hospitals and a lesser number of private hospitals. Social workers in this sector are most commonly referred to as medical social workers. They provide services to patients and their families who experience psychosocial or practical difficulties as a result of illness. This involves counselling, information-giving, facilitating aftercare plans and making representations and referrals where appropriate.
The HSE and the Department of Health and Children can provide more information on hospitals.
A list of public hospitals in the Republic of Ireland can be found at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/services/Find_a_Service/HospsCancer/
A list of acute care hospitals and a map of their regional distribution can be found at: http://www.hse.ie/eng/about/Who/hpspitalmap.pdf
There is a wide range of social work positions located in the voluntary, community and private sector. Social workers in these sectors work with a range of service users and agencies that receive funding from a variety of sources. Some private/voluntary organisations, such as some child guidance clinics, some adult mental health services and a significant number of intellectual disability services, are funded by the state to provide public services. The sector also encompasses, for example, organisations working with the travelling community, refugee groups and groups dealing with drugs issues.
Citizens Information Board Directory of National Voluntary Organisations and Other Agencies provides comprehensive lists of voluntary organisations, some of which employ social workers. http://www.cidb.ie/publications/voluntary_sector/downloads/directory_of_volunteers2008.pdf
The disability services for children and adults are a relatively large employer of social workers, primarily located in the voluntary sector. Social work in disability includes the areas of intellectual, physical and sensory disability.
National Federation of Voluntary Bodies (Providing Services to People with Intellectual Disability):
Tel: (091) 792316. Fax: (091) 792317.
E-mail: info@fedvol.ie - Web: www.fedvol.ie
Disability Federation of Ireland, Fumbally Court, Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8.
Tel: (01) 4547978. Fax: (01) 4547981.
E-mail: info@disability-federation.ie - Web: www.disability-federation.ie
The defence forces employ some social workers, who form part of each brigade Personnel Support Service (PSS) system and deliver a generic social work service to serving personnel and their families.
The Department of Defence funds the defence forces.
Department of Defence, Parkgate, Infirmary Road, Dublin 7.
Tel: (01) 8042000. Fax: (01) 8045000.
E-mail: info@defence.irlgov.ie - Web: www.defence.ie
Some social workers are employed as community workers, in both the statutory and the voluntary sectors. A social work qualification is not always required for such posts, and there are also separate training routes available for community workers.
Citizens Information Board and the Department of Social and Family Affairs can provide more information on community work in the voluntary and statutory sectors.
Occupational social workers are employed by certain agencies to provide a service to their employees. There is a small number of social work posts in occupational social work, located within large banks, private companies and semi-state bodies.
Primary Care is the first point of contact for the majority of people who need to access health services. The Primary Care Strategy "Primary Care: A New Direction" sets out a new direction for primary care as the central focus for the delivery of health and personal social services. It promotes a team-based approach to service provision which will help to provide a fully integrated primary care service. Currently some social workers are employed in pilot Primary Care Units around the country.
Primary Care: A New Direction, available at: http://www.dohc.ie/publications/primary_care_a_new_direction.html
The Liberties Primary Care Team www.libertiespct.ie
Some social workers in the Republic of Ireland set up private practices, in many cases combined with various specialist areas.
Social workers also work in a variety of posts that are not designated for social workers but where a social work qualification is advantageous. Such posts are available at various levels and include areas such as management, education, training and project work.
- back to top -