Ms Siobhan Greene:

I agree with what has been said. As Ms Swann said, it is really important to take a systems approach to how it all interacts, because maybe that is what is wrong. The system is not working effectively in all of the parts coming together. There are definitely road blocks or barriers, whatever term we want to use, in terms of the system supporting the active participation of parents in these processes. Much has been mentioned, and even in the early stages we are seeing things like financial issues. Reunification is being planned and families are not able to afford it. That is a simple barrier. Another example would be a parent so stressed that their behaviour means they are excluded from the process. The system is unable to realise that it needs to be able to engage that parent, realise why they are stressed and respond effectively. Some of the general barriers we see to access, contact and quality in Barnardos is that parents talk an awful lot about the stress that contact brings on them. This can be in terms of the money to get there, or that the place where access is held is not accessible when they get there. They also do not know what to do when they are there. I think that has been touched on by other colleagues today. We have a lot to do in terms of supporting parents and children, and make access a positive place that can help nurture that parent and child relationship.