Aftercare Service for Separated Children Ireland

Transcription

1 Service for Separated Children Ireland 15 September 2017 Metasebia Kereta What is? What does it involve? Support with transition from care Voluntary service Advocacy Sign Posting Education, training and employment Housing/ accommodation Independent living skills Financial support and management Asylum and immigration Family reunification Health and other supports as appropriate e.g. counselling, key working, assistance Agency, TUSLA

2 Legislation / Law Governing Provision in Ireland Section 45 of Child Care Act, Section 45 Child Care Act, 1991 (as amended in 2015) will come to effect in September Eligibility Age Length of time in state care Developing in-house procedures Needs Assessment Plan Reviews Standardised Allowance Structure of Our Service 6 Workers Principal Social Worker Children In Care Duty 5 Social Workers 1 Fostering Social Worker Fostering Admin Agency, TUSLA

3 Journey of our Service 5 children s hostels (when there was crisis in referrals) Closing of hostels (under the Equity of Care Principle) Residential units and supported lodgings placement (through private agencies and our own recruitment) Hostels and Residential Units Closing of Hostels State provided accommodation for adult asylum seekers Private rented accommodations Shift in Service Provision and Change of Roles Project Workers No more hostels for children Children in family placements (fostering or supported lodgings) Adult asylum seekers hostels (State provided accommodation for adult asylum seekers) Emergency response Workers Planned support during leaving care Leaving Care plans Supports through with plans and reviews Agency, TUSLA

4 Statistics for Team for Separated Children Age Breakdown under over 21 Currently we have 80 aftercare cases allocated to aftercare workers. Waiting list (currently none) Referral and Allocation System Referral Allocation and Leaving Care Plan Needs Assessment Plan and Reviews Drop-in Duty Service, Sign-posting Agency, TUSLA

5 Legislation / policy Challenges No mention of Separated Children and their specific needs Eligibility criteria Age, length of time in care, residency status Lack of knowledge within other SW areas, Gov. Agencies, NGO s Length of asylum process Lack of coordination between agencies Conflicting priorities between government agencies Challenges continued... Family reunification Conflicting opinions between social workers, aftercare workers and the young person Access to basic entitlements: social welfare, education, housing, location Challenges for the YP: financial burden, exploitation, restrictions on travel Agency, TUSLA

6 Proposed Solutions Advocacy Creating discussion platforms between government and nongovernment agencies Recognition of UAMs in policy and decision making Coordination and planning Child/Young person centered approach Case Study 1 The K Family Agency, TUSLA

7 Contact Details Metasebia Kereta: Worker Asylum Sir Patrick Duns Hospital, Lower Grand Canal Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Child and Family Agency, TUSLA Agency, TUSLA