Tusla Donegal awarded for recruitment and retention initiatives at ceremony

Tusla Donegal was awarded for recruitment and retention initiatives at the 2025 Excellence and Innovation Awards.

The third annual ceremony, which took place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, once again shone a spotlight on the inspiring initiatives developed by staff across the Agency to deliver better outcomes for children and families throughout Ireland.

Tusla Chairperson Pat Rabbitte opened the event and speaking to attendees, he said: “The daily work that staff engage in is immensely worthwhile. These awards are an attempt to recognise how much that work is valued.”

Among the standout entries this year were two impressive initiatives from Donegal which targeted staff recruitment and retention.

Kathleen Doherty, Business Support Donegal Tusla; Marie Crawley, Donegal Area Manager, Tusla; Dr Anthony O’Leary, National Director of Quality and Regulation; and Mary T Gallagher, Social Care Leader Family Support Team Donegal at the Tusla Excellence and Innovation Awards

Donegal received a silver award for a new awards programme for employees ‘Aitheantas Thúsla Dhún na nGall’. 

Speaking about the programme Marie Crawley, Area Manager Donegal said: “Working on this project gave us a valuable opportunity to acknowledge some of the exceptional approaches to work that we see across the service. We didn’t have a systemic way to recognise colleagues for the value base which underpins their work. 

“We wanted to recognise the positive actions that take place on a day-to-day basis, quietly and often unrecognised. Qualities to work that make a world of difference to the children, young people, and families we work with, and to us as colleagues. We also wanted to reinforce that retention is every bit as important as recruitment. Winning the Award affirms just how deeply Tusla values and invests in its people.”

The programme recognises colleagues who demonstrate exceptional practice of Tusla values in their work - Trust, Respect, Empowerment and Kindness. It also recognises those who demonstrate child centred, collaborative, and inclusive work and those who go above and beyond.

The Donegal team were also presented with a Bronze Award for ‘Best Retention Initiative’. The Donegal Recruitment and Retention Working Group set out to address a clear challenge: how to attract, inspire, and retain high-quality candidates in an increasingly competitive recruitment landscape.

Their project has had an impressive impact. Donegal noted challenges in retaining colleagues over the last number of years. The working group provides front line colleagues a chance to provide feedback in relation to recruitment and retention, while also providing the opportunity to identify challenges and suggest recommendations. They also set up an agreement with ATU Sligo to facilitate social care colleagues to complete their Master’s in Social Work, on a part time basis over a four-year period, while remaining in full time employment. There are currently 15 colleagues completing their Masters from the region.

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Paddy Martin, Regional Chief Officer for West North West, added: “The Excellence and Innovation Awards continue to provide a platform for showcasing some of the remarkable work happening across Tusla every day. The awards celebrate a workforce that continues to find new ways to improve experiences for children and families, innovate in practice and service delivery, and develop an inclusive workforce where teams feel valued and respected.

“As the Agency continues to expand and evolve, these initiatives highlight the importance of staff-led ideas in shaping Tusla’s future, to ensure that recruitment, retention, and culture remain at the heart of how we work.”