Foster carers forced to supervise families’ access visits

FOSTER carers are being forced into impossible positions whereby they must supervise access visits with the family of the young person for whom they are caring.

The Irish Foster Carers Association have said that, while some foster carers don’t mind this additional duty, it is “highly undesirable” to place the foster carer in the position where they have to supervise access where there might arise a conflict of interest.

“There is strong evidence from our membership that these demands are increasing. It would appear that new foster carers, in particular, are being asked to take on these added responsibilities. When foster carers challenge such demands, they are told that the HSE’s budget intended to support access has been slashed.