Annual Report 2009+2010 PDF Print E-mail

Special Interest Group of Children and Families

Chairperson: Paul McCarthy

Secretary: Mieke Ryan and Fiona Power 

Children and Families SIG AGM January 2010; Kirsten Byrne stepped down as chairperson after two years. Paul McCarthy was elected as chairperson for 2010. The role of secretary has been empty for a number of years. Mieke Ryan and Fiona Power were elected joint secretary for the coming year. 

Meetings; The Special Interest Group met every six weeks over the past year in various venues. In recent months the regular venue for meetings is the IASW office, St Andrews Resource Centre. The meetings have been attended by a small committed group of members. Other members continue to have close contact with the SIG via email. 

Representation at Council; Kirsten Byrne represented the SIG at IASW Council meetings throughout the 2009. 

Issues for the Children and Families SIG in the past year; Roscommon Incest Case, The Monageer Report, The Ryan Report, Dublin Diocesan Report, Report of the HSE Task Force, Children’s Rights Bill and referendum, the Care of Unaccompanied Minors in the state, HSE plans for standardization, Barry Andrews Town Hall meeting, National Social Work Panel, HIQA Reports on Fostering, Residential and Special Care, General Media attention on Social Work, HSE’s Annual report on Children and Families, Appointment of National Director of Children and Families in HSE. 

Achievements in the past year

  • Ongoing media responses by the SIG on issues including: the Ryan Report, The Monageer Report, report into Service Users Perceptions, HIQA, Children in Care, Roscommon Incest Case, Children’s Rights, letter to news broadcasters re misrepresentation of Shane Dunphy in the media as a Social Worker.
  • Merger and strengthening of subgroups within the SIG.
  • Appearance by Ineke Durville and Gavin Mulhall on Questions and Answers.
  • Declan Coogan speaking on radio (The Last Word) regarding the Roscommon Incest Case.
  • Correspondence from Pavee Point welcoming our information that negative stereotyping of Travellers by Shane Dunphy was not supported by Social Workers or IASW.
  • Conference on standardization of Children and Families Social Work processes and assessment held in September 2009 in the Aisling Hotel.
  • Children and Families Workshop at 2009 Annual Conference/AGM.
  • Attendance at Children’s Rights Alliance AGM – building links and finding common ground.
  • Meeting with Barry Andrews to discuss wide range of policy issues affecting Social Work.
  • Meeting with Jan Sullivan (Labor) to discuss policy issues affecting Social Work.
  • Meeting with Alan Shatter (FG) to discuss broad policy issues including Fairecare policy.
  • Meeting with PA Consultants re: “Strategic Review of the Delivery and Management of Child Protection Services” – association able to highlight crucial role of supervision in Social Work.
  • Position Paper completed in conjunction Ineke Durville in response to recommendations of Ryan Report and submitted to Department of Children and Youth Affairs.
  • Networking with GLEN re: Child Centered Family Reform.
  • Establishing constructive relationships with relevant media outlets in relation to better informed coverage of social work issues.

Priorities for 2010

  • HSE Standardisation plans.
  • Children’s rights referendum/Constitutional Change.
  • Role and Powers of Social Workers (e.g. Barr Judgment, Investigation of child Sexual Abuse)
  • Positive image and Accurate Information about social work for the public, other professions and the media.
  • PA Consulting report and plans for restructuring Social Work.
  • Hearing the Voices of Children OMYCA Consultations. Meeting with Phil Garland as a priority for the SIG.
  • HIQA Inspections and the need for dialogue with HIQA.
  • Children coming into care due to Parents being detained prior to deportation.
  • Special Care Placement and the lack of these. Social Workers holding Risk.
  • Outsourcing of Social Work roles.