40 ‘credible’ concerns raised to Tusla against foster carers

There were 40 substantiated child protection and welfare concerns made against foster carers last year, Tusla, the child and family agency, has said.

40 ‘credible’ concerns raised to Tusla against foster carers

There were 40 substantiated child protection and welfare concerns made against foster carers last year, the Child and Family Agency has revealed.

Tusla said the figure, provided in response to a Freedom of Information request, were based on cases where there was "credible evidence, on the balance of probabilities, to support the allegation".

The Irish Foster Care Association said there was a need for more link social workers to support foster carers and social workers to support children and is expected to raise those issue when it appears before an Oireachtas Committee today.

The figure of 40 founded child protection and welfare concerns as defined by Children First legislation is higher than in previous years when similar information was sought, but represents a tiny proportion of the approximately 5,550 children in foster care in Ireland.

The high profile case of “Grace” turned increased scrutiny on the investigation of allegations made against foster carers, while a Child Care Law Reporting Project report issued last January showed that in one case it covered from last year the Child and Family Agency sought an emergency switch of foster placement amid suspected sexual abuse of a pre-school age child while he was in foster care.

No further detail was provided as to the nature of the alleged concerns or whether there was any subsequent Garda investigation, but a Tusla spokesperson said: "A founded allegation is one that is substantiated - substantiation denotes Tusla’s official decision about the validity of abuse allegations ie founded or unfounded. The standard of proof required is the civil law standard of ‘on the balance of probabilities’.

In these cases, where an investigation into an allegation of child abuse (sexual, physical, emotional, neglect) is made, the social work team assessing the claim believe there is credible evidence, on the balance of probabilities, to support the allegation.

“Such allegations are comprehensively investigated by local Tusla social work teams, and reported to the local foster care committee responsible for the approval of foster carers.

“An appropriate decision is then taken as to whether a child is removed from care or allowed to stay with the family, according to what it is in the best interests of the child, and only where it is appropriate and safe to do so with a safety plan in place. The safety and welfare of the child is the paramount consideration always."

The Irish Foster Care Association said it was aware that an updated policy on for managing concerns and allegations of abuse or neglect against Foster Carers will be published shortly, replacing an interim protocol in place since April 2017.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "IFCA believes that every child has a right to be protected and heard.

"This can only happen when every foster carer has a link worker and every child in foster care has a social worker but along with this there needs to be time and space given to both the child in care and the foster carer to be able to talk with their social worker and link worker should there be any issues.

"It is critical that children in foster care and foster carers receive timely supports by social workers and other professionals when they seek support. Foster carers know the child, they are aware when behaviours change and when a timely intervention, such as a time away during the day, or a short respite will alleviate the tension in the placement.

"We know that there is a need for more link social workers to support foster carers and social workers to support children. Foster carers need support and guidance, in particular in caring for children with high levels of need."

The IFCA is presenting to the Joint Committee on Children and Youth Affairs in relation to the challenges facing the recruitment and retention of social workers tomorrow and will raise concerns over the recruitment and retention of social workers.

Tusla said it agreed that there were challenges, including the economic upturn whereby potential fostering applicants may both want to work full time, the high cost of living which means more pressure to have a double income household, and pressure on homes and having adequate space in a household.

“Given the circumstances of children who may need a foster placement, there is a need for potential fostering applicants to have adequate space in their home for another child/children,” Tusla said.

With the housing crisis, this can mean that people who could have offered a foster home may not be in a position to do so now as they don’t have security of tenure.

"And in particular in city areas, there are difficulties in people not having enough physical space in their homes, or who must now rent out a room.”

The number of children in general foster care and in relative foster care has fallen in the past three years, with a decrease in the past five years in the number of foster carers in both categories.

There was a rise in the comparably smaller number of private approved foster carers over the same period and at the end of last year there were 4,384 foster carers across the country.

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