North Team

As we move into Spring, it’s heartening to see brighter mornings and longer evenings returning. This season always feels like one of renewal and growth, and that theme certainly reflects what’s been happening across our team and FFI.  We want to begin by thanking you for the commitment, care and stability you continue to provide to the children and young people in your homes. We are constantly reminded of the difference you make every single day. 

We Are Growing North Team Expansion 

We are delighted to share some exciting news as our North Team continues to grow. In January 2026, we warmly welcomed Catherine Riordan to the team as a Link Social Worker, covering part of Dublin and Wicklow. Catherine brings with her a wealth of experience. She previously worked with Tusla in Dublin South West for six years on the Child Protection and Duty Teams. Following this, she moved to St Vincent’s Private Hospital, where she worked mainly with elderly and oncology patients. Catherine recently got married and has a real love of travel.  In her own words, Catherine shared that she joined FFI because she “wanted to get back to working with children and families in a supportive role.”  She has already settled in wonderfully and has commented on how welcoming and supportive everyone has been as she finds her feet in her new role. We’re thrilled to have you on board, Catherine! 

Welcoming New Foster Carers 

We are delighted to extend a very warm welcome to our newly approved foster carers who are beginning their fostering journey with FFI: 

·         Tracy and Jerome, Co. Sligo 

·         John and Mary, Co. Leitrim 

·         Leone and Paul, Co. Dublin 

Starting this journey is a significant step, and we wish you every success as you open your homes and hearts. Please remember that your Link Social Worker and the wider team are always here to support you. 

Growing Up – Milestones and Transitions 

This spring also marks an important milestone for one of our young people, Oscar who has recently turned 18. While this transition can bring mixed emotions, it is also a time to reflect on how far he’s come and the vital role his carers have played in supporting him to reach this stage of independence.  

Post Inspection Thank You 

Following our recent HIQA inspection, we would like to sincerely thank both carers and children for their participation and engagement throughout the process. Your openness, feedback and cooperation were invaluable and truly reflected the strong relationships and commitment within FFI. We appreciate the time and effort involved and are grateful for your continued support. 

Best of Luck with Exams 

It’s a busy and often stressful time for our young people who are sitting mock exams and preparing for their Junior and Leaving Certificate exams in June. We would like to wish them all the very best of luck over the coming months.  

A Gentle Reminder on Self-Care 

As carers, you spend so much time meeting the needs of others that your own wellbeing can easily be placed second. As we move into spring, we encourage you to take a few moments to pause and check in with yourself.  

A simple idea you might like to try this season is a “10-minute reset”: 

step outside, notice the signs of spring around you, take a few deep breaths, and allow yourself that brief space without distractions. Even short moments like this can help restore energy and perspective. 

As always, thank you for everything you do. We look forward to connecting with you over the coming months through visits, training, carer groups and events. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to your Link Social Worker or myself if you need support or guidance at any stage. 

Take care and enjoy the brighter days ahead. 

Warm regards, 

Joanna, Lorna, Lisa, Aileen, Helen and Catherine 

A Spring Reflection 

Spring whispers softly, 

Slow down, begin again. 

New light, new growth, 

Gentler days ahead. 

Care for yourself, 

As you care for another 

Roots grow strongest 

When tended too. 

Warm regards,
Joanna

Mid Team Update

We hope everyone had an enjoyable and relaxing Christmas full of lots of family time and food. We had a fabulous carer award night in a new venue Fitzpatrick Castle in Killiney. There we celebrated a number of carers from the mid team and some big milestones in fostering. We had Terri Clinton, the Sheehy’s and the Smyths all reaching 15 years of fostering. The Hughes, Casserly’s and the Ryans all reached 10 years. Our carers the Hennessy, Mary Furlong, O’Connell’s, Steven Fitzpatrick and Gareth Murphy and the Canavan’s celebrated five years in fostering. All remarkable carers making a big difference in children’s lives. The Dublin carer group had a lovely Christmas outing in the explorium in Dublin. We are hoping to see future scientists amongst the group in years to come. The Kildare group went to Kildare farm foods to see Santa. It is lovely to see carers and children meeting up informally and having a wonderful time together. It builds a sense of connection and belonging for everyone.

We  are also thinking of a number of families who have been through sad losses of close family members over the past few months and we’ve seen carers support each other at/ outside of carer group, this is so appreciated

We have been delighted to welcome some new carers in our area including the Flaherty family, the O’Dea family and the Baker family. We are also looking forward to welcoming new carers in the coming months. We know you will all be happy to have new faces in the carer groups and will continue to offer the wisdom and support gained over the years. .

The Mid team have had some lovely positive stories within the last couple of months. We have had some young people transitioning into independence. It has been lovely to be part of these young people’s stories and it is important to remember that leaving foster care isn’t just an ending; it’s a beginning. It’s the start of building a life shaped by their own hopes, talents, and dreams — and that’s something to feel proud and hopeful about.

At the other end of the scale we have had some positive outcomes for new babies coming into care in the form of a Pre-adoptive placement where a lovely newborn baby born premature in hospital the last 2 months has found a loving home within FFI with our wonderful carers until he finds his forever home.

There was also a Baby girl who resided with our dedicated foster carers within FFI in a bridging placement until she found her long-term home with new carers just through assessment and approved in November.  Both sets of foster carers did a lovely transition over about two weeks and worked together to ensure it was a very natural gradual move for this wee baby. They now have their first baby girl and is truly doted on. 

Looking ahead to 2026, we’re feeling hopeful and excited about what’s to come. We’re ready to keep growing, keep learning, and keep working together to create safe, happy homes where young people can thrive.

See you all soon, Mary, Elaine, Clare, Marguerite and Anthony

South Team Update

I hope the first few weeks of the New Year have gone well and that everyone had a lovely break over the Christmas period!

We ended 2025 with the completion of our inspection with HIQA, it was an opportunity to showcase the high-quality placements we offer to vulnerable young people in FFI.

A highlight from the winter period was our lovely carers party in the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, it was lovely to see so many of you present, a great opportunity to catch up and congratulations to all who received rewards.

The new year brought the beginning of changes associated with the Tusla reform and their move to 30 network areas across the country. Our focus over the coming weeks and months will be to manage these changes as safely and effectively as we can to ensure thorough handovers for any transfers taking place.

On the South Team we welcomed new carers to the area over the last period, welcome to Monica Conin and Lucy Neville and Sarah Sweeney!! We also wish Link Social Worker Sinead Grene all the best as she will be going on maternity leave in March, I know she will be greatly missed by her carer group!

Continuing with the theme of change, I am delighted and honored to take up the post of Principal Social Worker for Practice and Compliance in the agency, having been a part of the FFI family for the past 13 years I look forward to this new chapter.

Take care, Claire