Tusla Mid-West is inviting Expressions of Interest from organisations for the Provision of Young Parent Support Programme (YPSP) Service in Co. Clare.

This Young Parent Support Project is European Social Fund + (ESF+) co-financed programme. 
This ESF+ Action is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union.

ESF+ Co funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the EU's main instrument for investing in people, focusing on improving employment and education opportunities as well as enhancing social inclusion and tackling poverty.

The ESF+ is implemented by Member States in partnership with the European Commission and the ESF+ Managing Authority in the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has responsibility for implementation of the ESF+ in Ireland.

1. Background

a.) Young Parent Support Programme (YPSP) Service

The Teen Parent Support Programme (Name transitioning to YPSP) was established in 1999 and has provided support to 8,995 young parents since 1999. Currently, there are 11 projects across Dublin, Louth, Wexford, Carlow/Kilkenny/South Tipperary, Donegal, Limerick, Cork, and Galway. Nationally, the YPSP structure consists of a National YPSP Manager employed by Treoir and a National Advisory Committee, (NAC), with a ministerial appointed chairperson which provides a forum for information sharing and interagency collaboration.

At local level the YPSP structure consists of an employing organisation from either the statutory or voluntary sector, and the YPSP staff. Treoir employs the National Manager of the YPSP who supports the YPSP projects through training, policy development, raising awareness of the services, liaising with statutory and non-statutory agencies and organisations. The YPSP working model is based on offering support in all areas of the young person’s life – health, relationships, accommodation, social welfare entitlements, education, training, child development, parenting, childcare, legal issues, antenatal education, and anything concerning the young parents' life.

Typically, referrals to YPSP come from young parents themselves, family members, antenatal clinics, maternity services, friends, teachers, youth services, training agencies, social workers, public health nurses and others interested in the welfare of young parents. Support is provided on a one-to-one basis, through group activities and through referral to other services. One-to-one support is delivered through home visits, office appointments, ‘drop in’ facilities and meetings away from the YPSP site.

The support offered to young parents is dependent on the family system and varies from universal guidance, signposting, and advocacy to working in partnership with the local Tusla Office in a wraparound service responding to more complex needs. The YPSP Service tailors the service to the needs of the local population it is serving.

b.) The Aims and Objectives of the Young Parents’ Support Programme

• Provide services that are evidence based and are support the wellbeing of young parents and their children.
• Ensures ownership by the young person in the co-design of plans specific to each young parent.
• Systemic in approach and explores the wider barriers, supports and opportunities which impact Young Parents and their children.
• Working collaboratively with existing services to enhance the capacity of the Child and Family Support Networks and other fora in responding to the needs of young parents and their children.
• To build up the young parents’ parental capacity and therefore increase their confidence.
• To enable young parents and their children to achieve positive and sustainable outcomes by their inclusion in service, access to information and opportunity for education.
• Through an integrated approach, proactively ensure access to adolescent health education and services.
• To raise awareness of sexuality and sexual health issues.
• To provide access to information and links to other service providers.
• To work in partnership with all relevant agencies being inclusive of participation of young parents and their families.
• To support throughout pregnancy and up to the first 1000 days of the child’s life, or until the identified needs have been met.
• To advocate with and on behalf of young parents.
• To ensure active participation of YPSP with Tusla services including Meitheal, Child Protection, Children in Care, and aftercare.
• To ensure that best practice is adhered to in terms of Children First legislation, reporting to the funder and data collection from the service.
• Develop expertise across YPSP, by contributing to the shared learning between YPSP Sites and engagement with advisory support of the National Treoir YPSP Manager.
• Collect, collate, and disseminate information on the experiences of the targeted young parents.
• Monitor and evaluate programmes targeting young parents, disseminate the findings and stimulate any necessary change at policy level.

2. Provision of a YPSP Service in Clare

Young Parent Support Programme

Tusla, the Department of Children Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY) and ESF+ wish to identify an organisation who will host the provision of a Young Parent Support Programme to be based in Co. Clare area.

Successful Applicants should have the following:

• A proven track record of community engagement and managing projects.
• Evidence of collaborative work undertaken with community-based services to achieve outcomes.
• Established funding relationship with statutory bodies such as.
  •  Tusla/HSE/Department
• Experience in delivering evidence-based child and family support services such as.
  •  Family Support – including working with young parents an advantage.
  • Intensive Family Support
  • Home visit programmes
  • Counselling – focusing on self-development.
  • Childcare services
  • Youth Projects
  • Parenting Support – parenting programmes, peer work, parent, and toddler groups etc.
  • Training programmes – promoting and encouraging learning and development.
  • Summer projects focusing on peer/ group work.
• Organisational principles which endorse social inclusion and ensure equity across population groups.
• Demonstrate a community development approach to YPSP Site initiation, implementation, and practice.

3. Tender Details

Applications submitted must demonstrate the following:

• A governance framework within which the new site would be placed, in adherence with National and Organisational policy.
• Experience of child protection legislation and policies, mandatory reporting, Children First training for all staff and a current Safeguarding policy.
• HR Policy and Protocols including organisational structure, management, and supervision. Submission to include detail of the organisations’ practice model of support and supervision.
• Awareness and understanding of implementing a Trauma informed approach.
• Financial Compliance and Administrative support to procurement, budget projection and planning, audit, and risk management.
• Experience in managing funding streams from a range of statutory and non-statutory bodies.
• Non-Financial Compliance to Monitoring and Evaluation for reports to funders.
• Experience in Service Review and Evaluation
• Commitment to compliance with ESF requirements.

4. YPSP Budget Guidelines

The total funding available for the development of a new Young Parent Support Programme to be based in Clare is €125,000 per year for 4 consecutive years.

Staffing guideline proposal for a new YPSP Site is 2 whole time equivalent staff to be newly recruited. If your organisation has an alternative staffing proposal, please give details of this as part of your submission.

The following staffing numbers are recommendations:

• 0.5 Project manager
• 0.5 x 2 Project Worker
• 0.5 Administration

5. Criteria for Selection will include:

• Organisations Interest in providing a YPSP Service in Clare (10%)
• Track record of working effectively to deliver programmes that improve outcomes for Young People, Parents and Children (20%)
• Evidence of working in partnership with Statutory and Voluntary Service providers (20%)
• Evidence of organisational capacity to deliver the commissioned service (40%)
• Examples of the ability to provide timely and accurate data to facilitate monitoring and evaluation of projects or services (10%)

Interviews may be conducted for shortlisted candidates. The tender evaluation process will be conducted in a manner that ensures tenders are evaluated fairly to ascertain the most suitable organisation for the development of a YPSP Site.

6. Terms and Conditions

• Tusla will not be liable in respect of any costs incurred in the preparation or presentation of tenders.
• It is expected that the successful organisation will be able to commence work immediately after the contract is awarded and in compliance with ESF+ Funding requirements.

To be considered, please complete the application, and submit no later than 12noon on April 26, 2024, to: Áine Mellett, Senior Manager Prevention, Partnership & Family Support (PPFS) Clare
E. aine.mellett@tusla.ie

Please note, if your organisation is shortlisted, the Interview date is Friday the 16th of May.