Mr. Ger Brophy:

We endeavour to support the carers in the first instance and to have an advocate with the carers, and our link worker is part of that process. We screen all those concerns through the intake, just as we would any concern that comes in. We try to take an independent and objective approach to the matter. Where concerns are founded and an investigation begins, they will form part of the new child abuse substantiation procedure we are introducing in June and have been part of an independent process up to now. That will be a new approach. The details will be clearly stated and there will be clear information for the carers as they go into the process. There will also be clear information for the children and it will be an independent investigation. It is important that while we are independent, we will support the carers as part of that, and we try to take that balanced approach.

Obviously, when we look at the complaints, they can be unfounded or founded. Where they are founded, we take the appropriate steps to, first, safeguard the child and if the child has to be removed, we do that quickly where we find there is a need, and in the longer term, we support the family to move on. Often, it can be upsetting for the foster family to be under considerable inspection and that can present difficulties for the family to continue fostering. We are conscious of achieving a balance in that for carers and, as my colleagues said, appreciating the significant work families do. A foster home is not a workplace. It is a place where children grow and live and parents parent their children. It is not a work environment and we very much appreciate that.