Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 March 2013
505. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 572 of 22 January 2013, if she will ensure that a national register is compiled of foster parents who are not deemed suitable to have children placed with them in order to prevent the scenario whereby foster parents suspended or refused in one health area on child protection grounds are not employed in another health area. [15120/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, each local HSE area holds their own register of approved foster carers. A national register for foster carers is currently under development by the HSE. The HSE plans to pilot a register towards the end of 2013 in a number of sites across the country and subject to the findings of the review of the pilots, it is expected that the national register will be finalised in 2014 . There is no national register of foster parents who are not deemed suitable. However, it is policy that any approved foster carer who is later found to be unsuitable is removed from the panel of persons willing to act as foster carers.
Prospective foster carers or applicants undergo an assessment and training process to establish their suitability and competence as future foster carers. The assessment procedure is carried out by a social worker from the local fostering team and includes Garda vetting, internal HSE checks to establish previous involvement with child protection services, a medical assessment, personal interviews in the applicant’s home and if the applicant(s) have children, the social worker will also talk to them about being part of a foster family. Garda vetting includes adult children and extended family members residing in the home. The applicant(s) will also be asked to provide referees who will be interviewed by the social worker as part of the assessment process. The social worker then prepares a report, which is shared with the applicant(s) and their views are represented. This report is then presented to the Foster Care committee for approval, including a recommendation as to the age of the child and type of foster care suitable to the applicant(s). All approved foster carers are entered on a panel of approved foster carers.
When a child is being placed in foster care, the suitability of a placement with relatives is explored in the first instance. Where the HSE is satisfied that an immediate placement with relatives is in the interests of the child, such placement may occur before full approval of the committee is in place. Such emergency placements are provided for in the regulations. Prior to placement, the relative is assessed by a principal social worker, including early garda vetting. This is followed by a full assessment and approval by the foster care committee as outlined above.
Any concerns about the welfare, safety or well-being of a child in foster care should be reported to the HSE Children and Family Services, in line with Children First: National Guidance for the Protection and Welfare of Children, was published in July, 2011.
