Ms Iris Mockler:

I would like to make the point about family visits and how difficult, and challenging at times, they are for parents. The family's world has been turned upside down and it really important to then offer appropriate and relevant supports; both to the parents and to everybody involved. At Clarecare we are looking at a piece of work with Aoife Bairéad who I know was a witness recently regarding foster care. We are looking at putting a framework in place where all the stakeholders, including the parent, are involved and around that table and have an opportunity to look at the strengths and the challenges involved in their individual visit. The Senator is right in the sense that sometimes things can be taken for granted and the assumption made that it is grand, everybody is settled. However in every family and in every family dynamic there always will be strengths and challenges and it is important to acknowledge those and to work from the strengths to build a visit that is a positive experience for all and one which is working towards the long-term relationship between the parent and the child. When I talk about participation, the foster carers then would also be involved; along with the access worker, the social worker and the advocacy worker. All parties, and the child as well where appropriate, are involved in building a plan together to make visits as rewarding as possible.

That is one idea that came to mind when the parents and visits were mentioned, involving foster carers and building on the relationship between the parent and the foster carers. There are different opportunities in all these different processes and how it can be done and to do it in such a way that there is focus and an aim. Ultimately, the focus and the aim is that the wellbeing of the child is to the forefront; including their relationship with their parent. I thank the Senator for that question.