Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
  • Publication
      298
  • Publication
    Relative foster care : a family state discourse
    (Family Therapy Association of Ireland, 1997)
    In this paper, preliminary analysis of research by the author in the area of relative care is presented. Four main areas relevant to the family : state discourse with respect to relative foster care are examined : The historical evolution of state care within which relative care is located, The changes in family : state relationships arising out of the increased use of relative foster care, The systemic ideas used in my research, and showing how these ideas assist in understanding the evolving relationships between family and state, The issues concerning the orientation of future development of this care option.
      472
  • Publication
    An Application of the Fifth Province to Kinship Care Networks
    (Human Systems, 2014)
    Kinship care represents a significant option for increasing numbers of children in need of state care (Nixon 2007; Colton et al 2008). There are many positive outcomes from such placements (Hunt et al 2008, O’Brien 2012a). While there have been some interesting systemic developments (Crumbley & Little 1997; Portengen & DerNeut 1999, Ziminski 2007a, 2007b), a level of confusion remains as to the nature of the relationships involved in kinship networks. Furthermore, a service delivery model, characterised by the professionals holding much of the power, expertise and regulatory responsibility has dominated (O’Brien 2012b). This has led to disquiet among many practitioners, family members and managers. This paper contends that an understanding of the different networks is a critical starting point to aiding development. Building on earlier work (O’Brien 1997, 1999), the 'fifth province model' from the systemic field, is shown to provide a conceptual and intervention framework to aid this development. The model provides a means to understand various networks that can evolve. This analysis is achieved through an application of 'diamonds', which are a hallmark of the fifth province. Discussion of the author’s journey towards understanding of the fifth province model is central to this appraisal of its application in kinship care.
      309
  • Publication
    Relative foster care : practice implications arising from the 1995 Relative and Foster Care Regulations
    (Irish Association of Social Workers, 1997)
    This paper examines the history that led to two separate sets of kinship and foster care regulations, the difference and similarity between the regulations, and the implications arising out of the changed framework for kinship placements. It focusses particularly on the practice implications arising from emergency placement of children with relatives, and the process of conducting assessments when the child is already placed in the home. The article is drawn from the author’s PhD research study, which examines the evolution of relative care networks / placements, and the characteristics of the families and children involved in relative care in the Eastern Health Board.
      295
  • Publication
    Relative care : issues for social care workers?
    (Irish Association of Social Care Educators, 2002)
    This article is divided into two sections. In section one, the emergence of relative care is traced, together with the regulatory framework that has developed (Dept. of Health 1995a). A snap shot of a cohort of ninety-two children and their families is presented to give an outline of the persons currently using or involved in relative care in Ireland. This data-set is compared with known international trends. In section two, the key stages in the evolution of the relative care placements are considered. These stages and associated processes are initial decision-making, assessment of relatives, access arrangements and future planning. Key points that need to be considered by the social care worker at each of these stages are identified. The article concludes by identifying a number of principles that need to be considered for the development of relative care in an Irish context.
      546
  • Publication
    Evolving networks of relative care : alliance and exclusion
    (Ashgate, 1999-05)
    The chapter traces the processes involved through the decision-making, assessment and post-assessment stages of kinship Care. It examines the ways in which case management practices, derived primarily from an application of a traditional foster care approach, impact on the evolution of the kinship care networks. A process-oriented descriptive account of the evolution of the networks is presented. The multiple perspectives on issues offered by the birth parents, children, relatives and social workers involved was an important feature of this Irish study. A post-Milan systemic framework, drawing principally on the 'fifth province model', is the main theoretical frame used to orientate the study.
      466
  • Publication
    Kinship Care : Enhanced Support
    (International Foster Care Organisation, 2012-11)
      396