Hi everyone,

I feel the weather has dominated all conversations since the start of 2026. We are officially in Springtime, a time of renewal, growth and hopefully brightness😊.

Good News Stories:

So, on the good news front, our HIQA Report is due to be published on 23rd February, and we are very proud of the feedback received throughout the report. You will receive a copy of the report once it is officially published and thank you sincerely for all the work you have done and continue to do which was well recognised by the HIQA Inspectors. 

We will also send out the results of our Foster Carer Survey 2026 which highlighted that 95% of those who responded were happy or very happy with FFI. Feedback like this is important to us; it is essential that we have a mechanism to sense check how our Foster Carers feel about FFI and that when suggestions/ comments are made that we are responsive to them.

Current and Pending Changes:

Change is also on the agenda as the Reform programme across Tusla is starting to have an impact with notifications that several young people with transfer to different Tusla areas. This is a major change management programme, and we expect that many young people with FFI families will transfer to the local Tusla area where their fostering family resides. We recognise that when this happens it will mean building new relationships and communicating with new teams. We will work with you to ensure that there will be no impact on any supports/arrangements already approved and in place from Tusla for young people and will be monitoring this closely.

We will also have some changes in the management structure in FFI in the coming months. Elaine O Byrne will move to a new PSW post responsible for Children’s Services, Therapy, Quality and Learning and MDT Service. Claire Lohan will take up the post of PSW for Practice and Compliance with responsibility for the Social Work Teams. Congratulations Claire 😊

We are currently in the process of recruiting a new Team Manager to replace Claire and we will let you know when all the changes are scheduled to take place.

Planning for Recruitment:

We are also and always in planning mode and at the moment Jess is busy preparing for Focus on Fostering Week which she will give more details about. I would like to say a big Thank You to everyone who supports FFI in the recruitment of Foster Carers. You are our most important resource as someone who wants to know about fostering wishes to speak directly with a Foster Carer who has real life experience of fostering. We have also seen an increase in the number of successful applicants who have come through the Refer a Friend process and we appreciate all support.

Unfortunately, the placement crisis in Tusla is ongoing with many young people unable to access a fostering placement. The demand for short term, emergency and bridging placements is especially strong and again we are delighted that so many families have agreed to take an additional placement for a baby or young person on a short-term basis as this avoids them moving through the Tusla Out of Hours Service. If you believe you have space and availability to provide such a placement please speak with your Link Social Worker.

Planning for Summer 2026:

We are starting the planning for our summer outings, and your Link Social Worker will talk more about this in the coming weeks. Last year we had four very successful family days, and it would be great to have a big turn out again this year.

Again, in planning mode we have booked Fitzpatrick’s Hotel in Killiney again for the Christmas Carer Party and while it seems like a long way away. It’s good to have the booking secured and we hope that you will join us for what is always a night of great fun and celebration.

Chatter Matters and Young People’s Participation:

I had the pleasure of chatting to our young person’s group Chatter Matters when they held their midterm meeting in Grantham House on 17th February. They have agreed to apply for the Investing in Children award again this year and are currently working on a booklet on transitions where they will have specific advice/feedback from a young person’s perspective for foster carers. We also hope to recruit a care experienced young person as a second Participation Ambassador before the summer. This will be targeted at young people in aftercare placements and more information will follow.

I hope to meet many of you over the coming months as myself and the other members of the Management Team visit the Carer Groups across the country. It is another important opportunity for us to get your views, answer any queries that come up and keep connecting.

I am always delighted to hear from you and I mean it sincerely when I say that if there is anything you want to bring to my attention, please do through email marie.faughey@ffi.ie or call me on 0879790135 and you will be assured of a warm welcome if you visit us in Grantham House!       

With best wishes

Marie.