ADVOCACY SERVICES SUPPORTING PARENTS WITH CHILDREN IN CARE Presented by: Majella Hynan, Family Advocacy Service, Limerick Social Services Council, Limerick. Helen Walsh and Eleanor Comber, Clarecare Advocacy Services, Clare Care Ennis. Eilleen Healy, Partnership and Families Project NTCS,Loreto House,Nenagh.

OVERVIEW

BACKGROUND  LIMERICK  The Family Advocacy Service  Managed by Limerick Social Services Council  Clare  Clarecare Advocacy Service  Managed by Clarecare  North Tipperary  Partnership with Families Project  Managed by North Tipperary Community Services

Role of Advocacy Worker:  Child in Care Plan / Child in Care Process  Liaise with and provide information on appropriate services  Solicitor / Court  Meetings: preparation and accompaniment and follow up afterwards  Offer different levels of support

Role of Advocacy Worker Support  Individual  1 to 1 meetings  Telephone / text support  Group  Monthly facilitated group support and group supervision  Guest speakers  Activities

Role of Advocacy Worker

Advocacy Services do not:  Furnish written reports for case conferences / courts   Have any decision making powers   Facilitate access visits   Generally attend meetings unless the parent is present

Referral

 Signed referral form  Letter and Authorisation form forwarded to Social Worker

Publications within the services

Some issues identified by parents

Quotes from parents with children in care

CASE STUDIES

Benefits of an Advocacy Group (as identified by parents)  Sharing common experiences  We can identify our strengths and weaknesses  You can come in upset – but you leave with a clear mind  We hear other parents’ voices here  Finding out information helps, how this information is delivered is vital  The trust in the group helps parents to build trust with their children, even though it’s a different type of trust.

Quotes from parents with children in care: