Specialist fostering gives children with complex needs a placement within a family setting. Specialist fostering was developed to provide family placements for children who are in residential care or who may be at a high risk of entering residential care. FFI is striving to provide long-term sustainable specialised foster care placements for children and young people with a history of multiple placement breakdowns and behavioural issues.
The model of work involves a ‘wraparound’ of support services including social work, childcare support, education and therapy which would sustain highly demanding placements.
Specialist fostering placements will have three distinct stages following matching and planning. Making the right match between the foster carer and the child or young person is the most important factor in determining the success of a placement.
All foster carers will receive additional specialist training to enable them to deal with the most challenging situations including:
The following services are also provided by FFI as an integral part of the Specialist Fostering service building on the supports provided as part of our enhanced placements.
The individual assessment and therapeutic needs of the child will remain the responsibility of Tusla.