Expectations, capacity and sustainability: Introducing a commissioning model for child and family services in Ireland

This chapter explores the experience of Tusla in introducing a commissioning framework for children and families in Ireland. The study focused on the pre-implementation phase aimed at building the foundations for the long-term sustainability of the agency’s commissioning approach. It includes reflections on the perceived expectations, the capacity of stakeholders to engage and potential challenges to embedding a commissioning framework among organisations delivering services for children and families. The chapter examines Tusla’s adoption of a partnership model to engage with external organisations as well as the internal restructuring and capacity-building activities undertaken within the agency. The authors also reflect on the value of the methodological approach and the role of the agency–researcher team partnership in generating useful research findings.