Publication of the HIQA Reports
The Irish Foster Care Association (IFCA) welcomes the report into inspections of the foster care service in HSE areas in North Dublin.
It can never be acceptable that children who are in the care of the State be placed with carers who have not been properly vetted or assessed in accordance with the statutory regulations.
Over 5,500 children are in foster care in this country and the majority of these children receive excellent care by the families who care for them. Increasingly more children are being placed with relatives or with families who know them and while this is good as it minimises the separation and loss the child experiences, it can be difficult for the carers. Relative care is very complex and relative carers need to receive the support, commitment and back up that mainstream fostering families receive. IFCA understands that the HSE is addressing these issues.
IFCA is cooperating with the HSE in providing training for relative carers using the training programme "Fostering Relations"; a preparatory training course for relative carers.
IFCA continues to call for the allocation of social workers for each child in care, an out of hours service and a comprehensive after care service for children who are or have been in care in compliance with the Child Care Act 1991, the Foster Care Regulations 1995 and the HIQA Standards.
Deirdre McTeigue,
IFCA Director of Services,