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O'Brien, Valerie
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O'Brien, Valerie
Official Name
O'Brien, Valerie
Research Output
Now showing 1 - 10 of 53
- PublicationTowards a Standardised Framework for Inter-Country Adoption Assessment Procedures: A Study of Assessment Procedures in Inter-Country Adoption for Department of Health and ChildrenThis report on Inter-Country Adoption was commissioned by the Department of Health and Children in November 1998, with Terms of Reference as set out below. (i) the current assessment procedures in health boards to be reviewed in consultation with the relevant interests (this review should encompass both social work practice and service management) (ii) an overview of current assessment procedures in health boards which identifies any particular issues which need to be addressed to be provided; (iii) a standardised framework for carrying out of future assessments which accords with best practice in the field and delivers the service in the most efficient and sensitive manner possible to be proposed. Within this standardised framework, health boards should be able to exercise a degree of flexibility in the management of the service and in the detail of its delivery so that they can adapt it to the particular circumstances prevailing in their functional area. (iv) the resource implications (on current application rates for assessment) of this proposed standardised framework to be estimated (this estimate to include staffing levels, management and administrative requirements etc.). The feasibility of introducing charges for assessments should also be considered in this context. (v) any areas in which legislative or administrative change would improve the quality of the assessment process to be highlighted Since the report was commissioned, there has been considerable media (print, radio and television) coverage of the subject of assessment for inter-country adoption, where prospective adopters have detailed objections to their experience of the assessment process. It was not part of our terms of reference to investigate individual complaints. However the views expressed have, in the general sense, formed part of the underlying enquiry. In our field work we have had the opportunity to hear many views of the issues involved. We have taken a systemic view of the issue, and made positive recommendations to improve the service. The report was commissioned at a time when the Government’s Strategic Management Initiative, which focuses on quality, efficiency and openness of public services delivery, is being implemented. We believe this is an opportune frame through which to review the ICA service and to make recommendations. The report contains discussion of aspects of the process. However, it also contains clear guidelines and recommendations which are our view of how this service can best be progressed into the future.
75 - PublicationRelative care : issues for social care workers?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.
550 - PublicationContributions from an Irish Study: Understanding and Managing Relative CareThis chapter is drawn from a PhD research study conducted in Ireland between 1993-97 (O'Brien, 1997) and further developments arising in the field since that date. The study is the only one of its type conducted to date in Ireland and has contributed significantly to an understanding of this care option for children, This chapter is divided into two sections. Section one outlines the aims of the study, the development of relative care in Ireland and key findings in relation to the children's and relative' biographical details, and the care career of the children. Section two describes and traces the processes involved at the decision-making, assessment and post-assessment stages. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the implications for practice and puts forward a model that may assist future practices.
78 - PublicationDifferent models of service delivery for family welfare conferencing(2001)This work presents an overview of the factors that need to be taken into account in the decision making in respect of providing a coordination service in respect of family group conferencing
160 - PublicationContact kinship and a ‘fifth province’ systemic perspectiveContact or contact is seen as an integral part of foster care. It is generally seen as a key barometer of the state of relationships between all the parties involved. It is accepted that while there are rewards, albeit different for different people, there are also many challenges. So, what are the key issues in kinship care placements? Does the family connection make contact easier or more difficult? If family relationships are generally collaborative, what position does the child welfare agency take in managing contact? If family generally organise contact with minimum agency assistance, how is the agency satisfied that the child is protected? How can life cycle change be accommodated in a way that builds on the cooperative relationships as opposed to threatening its stability? Likewise, if family relationships are acrimonious, how does this impact on the agencies’ responsibility towards the child in terms of maintaining ongoing contact? How does the child make sense of the conflict in terms of their ongoing relationships with all parties? How can the conflicts be navigated to ensure that the stability of placement is not jeopardised and that a level of respect can be reintroduced into the network? How can the sibling relationships be maintained if the children are placed in different family members’ homes where there are tensions among the adults involved? This paper/powerpoint draws on a fifth province systemic framework. Through an application of this framework, the child’s care plan, the needs and wishes of the different participants and differences in the kinship network of relationships can be brought together for purposes such as understanding dynamics, working clinically with the dynamics involved and facilitating inclusive contact decision making in the kinship network.
353 - PublicationCourse notes for train the trainers : intercountry adoption education and preparation course(2003-04)The course notes for the train the trainers intercounty adoption education and preparation course covers the following topics: objectives of course, values of course, terms used pre course trainer preparation, pre-course planning, letter of introduction to course participants to include, administration and pre course planning issues, principles of adult learning, introduction to methods and skills, individual methods, individual skills.
318 - Publication
179 - PublicationAdopt an open approach to historic secret : Irish-American child legacy needs state help to unravelFollowing the release of the film 'Philomena', the light has been shown on the untold stories of Irish American intercountry adoption. As the year of the gathering 2013 draws to a close, the people involved should be help to have their own gathering. This will not be achieved by many unless urgent goverment and religious organisation action is provided to help people in families seperated through adoption to find one another.
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