46 HEALTH MATTERS Foster care
The IFCA is advocating for the following health and social service improvements to support foster care: • A 24-hour social work service for children in care or their families.
• A consistent aftercare policy for those over 18 who are either in or out of care.
• IFCA, along with the other members of ‘Action for Aftercare’, are campaigning for aftercare to be put on a statutory footing.
• A Care Plan for every child in care. • An allocated social worker for every child in care.
• A link social worker for every foster family. • Access to necessary ancillary resources for every foster family to allow them to properly care for the child in their care, for example speech and language therapy or psychological services.
• Appropriate vetting and assessment for all foster families whether relative or general.
• ongoing training and support for foster families to enable them to better understand and care for the child in their care.
The IFCA is advocating for these resources and sees them as a right for children in the care of the State. It is commendable that the embargo on recruitment for social workers has been lifted and that the HSE is honouring its commitment to appoint 200 social workers.
TYPES OF FOSTER CARE The terms foster care and foster parents refer to all individuals and families involved in foster care, be it general, relative, emergency, day, respite or high-support foster care.
Day Foster Care Day foster care is an alternative form of care that provides a support system in the community. Specially selected and trained foster carers provide care on a daily basis in their own home. In this way, the child’s family gets the chance to tackle and hopefully deal more effectively with their difficulties. This form of care can prevent the child being placed in full-time care.
Short-Term Foster Care Short-term foster care can provide temporary care for a child or children separated from their birth family. The reasons are varied and can include illness,
+ Phil Garland, HSE Assistant National Director Children and Families Social Services after he launched the IFCA Survey, The voice of Foster Carers with deirdre mcTeigue, IFCA director of Services and Brenda Irwin, IFCA Support/mediation officer (Author of Survey).
“emergency care is where a child comes into care very quickly, or an existing placement breaks down and a child needs to be moved quickly. in both instances, a child is placed with emergency carers.”
death, physical or sexual abuse, and neglect. A short-term foster family can offer family care on a temporary basis to such children. Being short term, the children will, after a period, move back to their family or move on to a long-term family or an adoptive family.
Long-Term Foster Care Long-term foster care is needed for children who are unlikely to be able to live with their birth family, and who, for a variety of reasons, cannot be adopted. Long-term care requires a commitment on the part of the foster family for a number of years. This could be until the child grows to a point in adolescence where he or she is entitled, and able to make, his or her own decisions.
Emergency Foster Care The health authorities around the country operate various ‘emergency’ care schemes. Emergency care is where a child comes into care very quickly, or an existing placement breaks down and a child needs to be moved quickly. In both instances, a child is placed with emergency carers.
Respite Care Respite care is provided by some foster carers to provide a break for a child’s family or other foster carers. Where a family is under stress and a child may be displaying very difficult behaviour, a break gives breathing space to all concerned. Whether this break takes place during the week, at weekends or at other times depends on the needs in each child’s case. Where a child is
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124