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Children in Care

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 October 2013

Tuesday, 8 October 2013

Questions (508)

Sandra McLellan

Question:

508. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if there are advocacy groups to assist parents whose children are in care; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41798/13]

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Written answers

There are a range of groups working in communities whose general remit includes providing assistance to families whose circumstances may include having a child or children in care. These groups provide services which complement a variety of dedicated services provided or funded by the HSE. The Family Support Agency (FSA) also has an important role to play in this context. There are 106 family resource centres around the country, and they aim to combat disadvantage by supporting the functioning of the family unit by offering services and supports to children and families. The FSA also provides funding to voluntary and community organisations providing marriage, relationship, child and bereavement counselling services. These services aim to support people in dealing with difficulties they are experiencing in their relationships and to help children whose lives have been affected by parental separation.

The important thing to acknowledge and address is that if a child is in need of care and protection and is unlikely to receive it at home, then the HSE has a duty to ensure they receive appropriate care. In cases where parents are unable to cope due to illness or other serious problems they may agree to their children being taken into the care of the HSE on a voluntary basis, under Section 4 of the Child Care Act, 1991. While the HSE has care of the children in such instances it must consider the parents' wishes as to how the care is provided. The HSE is obliged to provide care for these children for as long as their welfare requires it.

A child protection social worker assigned to a child placed in a care setting has a duty to prepare and regularly review the care plan for the child. Intrinsic to this process is ensuring that the wishes of the child and his or her family are considered, that access and contact is facilitated between the child, parents and siblings (unless there is a court agreed reason not to do so), and that full engagement takes place with the child and their family with a view to planning the child’s return home. A significant amount of work takes place between social workers and parents to create a situation where a child could return home, including referrals for parent(s) for relationship counselling, substance misuse or mental health issues.

In addition to social work services, HSE Children and Family Services also provide a broad range of family support services. These include family centres, community psychology, child care work and family support work e.g. counselling and parenting skills.

The Child and Family Agency will take on the crucial roles played by Children and Family Services and the FSA, and will continue to provide supports and assistance to ensure that children, where possible, are allowed to grow and develop within a supportive family environment.

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