500-600 children leaving care each year after reaching the age of 18 will
have the right to an aftercare plan from 1st September which will identify
required supports, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Dr
Katherine Zappone has announced.
Answering questions in the Dáil the Minister confirmed that funding will be
available to ensure proper resources are in place, including aftercare
workers, to meet what will be a new statutory obligation.
Minister Zappone said:
“I am conscious that the transition to independent adulthood can be
challenging for many young people.
This is particularly true for children and young people in care. Planning
for leaving care needs to begin in the years prior to leaving care and
continue as part of the care planning process.
This preparatory work is facilitated by a social worker and is based on
collaboration with the young person, their carers and partner agencies.
It is specific to the individual young person's needs. During the
preparation for leaving care an aftercare worker is introduced to the young
person. They are involved in the preparation for the leaving care process.”
The Minister added:
“There are pending amendments to the Child Care Act 1991 which will place a
statutory obligation to provide an aftercare plan before the young person
leaves care. I intend that this provision will be commenced with effect
from the 1st September 2017. I have secured the funding needed to recruit
additional aftercare workers to enable Tusla to deliver this new commitment
in full.”
ENDS//
NOTE TO EDITORS
Aftercare Provision
Young people leaving care need ongoing support in order to achieve their
potential. The provision of an appropriate aftercare service has been
highlighted as a key element to achieving positive outcomes for young
people upon leaving care. It is essential that young people leaving care
are provided with the type of transitional support that their individual
situation requires.
Aftercare provision incorporates advice, guidance and practical support.
The social worker, aftercare worker, young person, carer and others
identify what the young person will need for support and how this will best
be met. This may include education, financial support, social network
support, and training. One of the key features of aftercare support is to
advocate on behalf of young people to promote their development as a
fulfilled adult in their community. The most important requirements for
young people leaving care are for secure, suitable accommodation, access to
further education, employment or training and supportive relationships.
Aftercare – Legal Provision
Section 45 of the Child Care Act 1991 places a statutory duty on Tusla to
form a view in relation to each person leaving care as to whether there is
a "need for assistance" and if it forms such a view, to provide services in
accordance with the legislation and subject to resources. Young people who
have had a care history with Tusla are entitled to an aftercare service
based on their assessed needs. The core eligible age range for aftercare
is from 18 years up to 21 years. This can be extended until the completion
of a course of education in which a young person is engaged, up to the age
of 23 years.
The Minister has decided to strengthen the legislative provisions regarding
aftercare to respond to past concerns that there was insufficient focus in
this area and that such planning was not taking place on a properly
structured and consistent basis.
The approach adopted is to impose a statutory duty on Tusla to prepare an
aftercare plan for an eligible child or eligible young person. The aim is
to create an explicit, as opposed to implicit, statement of Tusla’s duty to
satisfy itself as to the child’s or young person’s need for assistance by
preparing a plan that identifies those needs for aftercare supports.