Fostering

Information

Fostering in Ireland means taking care of someone else's child in your own home. Often, a child cannot live with his or her family either on a short- or long-term basis. This could be because of illness in the family, the death of a parent, neglect, abuse or violence in the home. Sometimes, it could be for economic reasons, like unemployment. In an ideal situation, the child placed in foster care will return to his or her own family as soon as this is possible. Foster care in Ireland is governed by the Child Care Act 1991 and the Child Care (Placement of Children in Foster Care) Regulations 1995. In addition, the National Standards for Foster Care, 2003 (pdf) have a major role to play in ensuring that the foster care placements are adequately supported and that children in foster care are receiving the best possible care. There are currently about 4,500 children in foster care in Ireland.

The Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland assesses, recruits and trains foster families according to the needs of the area. The HSE also places children with foster families who have been recruited and trained by non-statutory agencies. The HSE is responsible for each child in care but support to the foster family may be provided by the non-statutory agency. Each foster child has his or her own social worker who monitors the growth and development of the child and ensures that the best interests of the child are always kept in mind. Each foster family also has its own social worker, who may have helped assess the family as suitable to foster children and who will support the family throughout the foster term. An important part of the social worker's role is to develop the relationship between the foster child and the foster family and between the foster child and his or her own family. It is important to note that fostering a child differs from adoption because a foster child always remains a permanent part of his or her own family.

Under Section 4 of the Child Care (Amendment) Act 2007, which came into effect in July 2007, the foster parents or relatives who have been caring for a child for a continuous period of at least five years may apply to the court for an order. The consent of the HSE is required and the consent of the parents or guardians may be required.

The order may, subject to conditions, give the foster parents or relatives broadly the same rights as parents have to make decisions about their children. In particular, they will be able to give consent for medical and psychiatric examinations, treatment and assessments and sign the forms for the issue of a passport.

Children can be placed in foster care in two ways:

• Voluntarily: This happens when a parent or family asks the HSE Area for help and/or
• Court order: This happens when a judge decides that it is in the best interests of the child to be placed in the care of the HSE.

When a child is placed in foster care, the HSE assigns responsibility for the child to a social worker. Based on the child's needs and circumstances, the HSE makes a decision on the type of fostering that is most suitable for the child. There are three different types of fostering:

Day foster care

This involves specially trained foster parents/carers providing foster care for a child on a daily basis. Day foster care takes place in the home of the foster parent and the child returns to his or her own home each night. This type of care gives the child's own family an opportunity to deal with difficulties each day as they arise. The goal of day foster care is that the child can return home on a full-time basis.

Short-term foster care

This involves a child being cared for by a foster family for a short period (ranging from 1 week to some months). The aim is for the child to return to his or her family full-time at the end of the short-term period. Sometimes, however, the child may remain in foster care on a longer-term basis.

Long-term foster care

This involves a child being cared for by a foster family for a number of years and may continue until the child reaches adulthood.

Relative foster care

Relative foster care happens when another family member becomes foster parent of the child. For example, a grandparent, aunt, uncle, adult sister/brother, etc.

In this situation, the relative of the child is assessed by the HSE in exactly the same way as all other foster parents.

Children in Ireland are not taken into foster care in the first place, unless the HSE assesses that the child is at risk. In making their decision about the relative being foster parent to the child, the HSE will decide what is in the best interest for the child. Assessment will also take into account the needs of the child and the abilities, suitability etc. of the relative to be a foster parent.

The child's family

When a child is placed in foster care on a daily, short-term or longer-term basis, maintaining links with his or her own family is very important. The child's own parents are involved as much as possible and are always kept fully informed of how the child is getting on. The child will see his or her own family as much as possible and even though he or she may live (even for a longer-term period) with another family, the child's identity and name is his or her own.

Who can become a foster carer?

Any person or family can apply to the HSE to be assessed as a foster parent or foster family. You do not have to be married in Ireland to be a foster parent. In fact, you could be a single person, civil partners or a cohabiting couple. You must be able to provide adequate and appropriate accommodation for the foster child. The HSE assigns a social worker to carry out an assessment of suitability. These assessments include meeting all members of the family (particularly the foster parent(s)) over a number of months. References, Garda clearance and medical examinations will also be required as part of this process. Every effort is made to ensure that those selected as foster carers and foster families are suitable.