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Submission on the Review of the Child Care Act 1991
Get PDFPaperBarnardos welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs on the review of the Child Care Act 1991 (CCA). Barnardos works with more than 14,000 families each year. For many of these families the CCA has a profound effect on their lives. The CCA provides the legal framework for the intervention of the state in family life to ensure that all children receive the protection and care they need and that families are supported, where possible to provide this. In practise, however there are shortcomings both in the legislation and in how it is put in to practice. This legislation was enacted more than a quarter of a century ago. During this time there have been huge developments in our thinking on child development, child protection and welfare practice, as well as legislative and constitutional changes in relation to children. It is appropriate this legislation is updated in line with these developments and with a new generation of children in mind. In general, the focus of the CCA should move away from responding to issues when they arise and towards putting measures in place to prevent problems arising. In recent years investigations have highlighted many cases in which the State failed to protect children in its care. If the State is to act in loco parentis it must act as a parent should and provide the ongoing safety, care, security and consistency a child needs
National Collection Day
Get PDFFlyerBy supporting Barnardos National Collection Day kindly supported by Dell EMC on Friday 14th September – you are helping end the nightmare that is child poverty
Barnardos Glór na nÓg Monitoring and Evaluation Report
Get PDFReportBarnardos supports children and families across Ireland through 42 centres, addressing issues such as education, health, child protection, poverty, and housing. The organisation’s advocacy team works to influence government policies and laws to improve outcomes for children, emphasizing the importance of including children’s voices in decision-making. In line with national strategies and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, Barnardos aims to embed children and young people’s participation in advocacy work. In 2017, a dedicated Advocacy Officer was appointed, shifting the focus to more project-led, child-centred advocacy. Initiatives like Amplifying Voices and the Glór na nÓg project, funded by the QCBI Innovation Fund, were developed to pilot effective models of children’s participation. Glór na nÓg involves workshops with children in urban and rural settings, aiming to develop, test, and evaluate engagement methods. The project’s goal is to create a sustainable policy for embedding children’s voices in all Barnardos advocacy efforts
Winter Waiting List Update: Speech & Language Waiting Lists (Infographic)
No full textInfographicInfographic with the numbers of children waiting for speech and language therapy
Children's Perspective of Budget 2019
Get PDFPaperBudget 2019 demonstrates some effort to tackle child poverty through much needed social welfare changes; but the Government failed to deliver the ambition and vision required to meet its own target of lifting 100,000 children out of consistent poverty by 2020. It is clear this Budget represents the start of the next election campaign; offering a little for everyone. It is clear children, as non-voters, were not a priority in Budget 2019. Additional help for families accessing childcare, greater capitation funding for schools, further parental leave and increases in social welfare payments are all welcome. However, it is doubtful these measures and others will fully address the thousands of children who are homeless; or waiting months and even years to receive vital healthcare; or adequately support families living with disadvantage. Below are the key changes introduced in Budget 2019 affecting children, with analysis of their likely impact
Expanding the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme
Get PDFPaperSince its announcement in Budget 2009, the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Scheme has been an undeniable
success. Take up of ECCE places has risen to almost 100 per cent with over 100,000 children availing of the scheme in any given
term.1 With initial issues, such as low capitation rates and lack of contact time payments, resolved the scheme has become a trusted and valued initiative by both parents and providers alike. Recent developments have seen the ECCE expanded to give children two years of free pre-school from the age of two years and eight months until five years and six months.2 Barnardos works with more than 14,000 children and their families each year, many of whom attend one of our seven early years services.
We see the benefit of early years care and education first hand, particularly for children facing challenges such as poverty or homelessness. We are supportive of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs efforts to increase access to ECCE to more
children. Barnardos believes ECCE should be expanded further to give children the best possible start in life
Hidden Homelessness: Key Recommendations
No full textReportThe housing crisis engulfing the country has been steadily expanding over a number of years. As time has gone on,
Government initiatives aimed at tackling the crisis have failed to stem the tide of homelessness, curb rent increases or build
enough social and affordable housing. There has rightly been much media coverage of the worsening crisis and public outcry
at the ever-increasing number of people living in emergency accommodation; yet there are thousands more individuals,
families and children who are homeless but go largely unnoticed. These are the hidden homeless. The hidden homeless do not have a secure place to call home. They are often staying with friends or relatives, doubling and tripling up, as they have nowhere else to go. These housing situations are often short-term and unsustainable, meaning people are forced to move around or enter emergency accommodation. Hidden homelessness is often characterised by overcrowded and unsuitable accommodation. Overcrowding has significantly increased in recent years. Despite the fact that they have no home, are residing in temporary accommodation and experience many of the same challenges faced by those living in emergency accommodation; the hidden homeless are not counted by Government and don’t qualify for many support services
Developing Policies, Procedures and Statements in Early Childhood Education and Care Services: A Practical Guide
No full textBookIn June 2018, Tusla’s Early Years Inspectorate (EYI) published its Quality and Regulatory Framework (QRF). This framework was developed in consultation with the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector, and informed by national and international best practice. It sets out the EYI’s interpretation of the Early Years Regulations 2016 and the conditions under which the EYI will assess services to see that they comply with these regulations. The QRF promotes greater consistency in how we carry out inspections. It also serves as a valuable resource to show service providers what they need to do to comply with the Early Years Regulations 2016. A significant challenge under the Early Years Regulations 2016 is that all service providers must develop and put in place a broad range of policies, procedures and statements specific to their service. Against this backdrop, we are committed to providing specific and targeted help and training to make sure services are able to comply with the Regulations. To accomplish this, EYI has the support of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. We will also work and collaborate with our ECEC stakeholders in this area. Mindful of this, the EYI, in partnership with Barnardos, has developed this document as a practical guide to help services to develop and write the various policies required
Parental Leave
Get PDFPaperParents have the biggest influence on a child’s early life, particularly in their first year. The experiences children have during their first year lays the foundation for the rest of their childhood and for the adults they will become. Paid parental leave, shared between both parents, is increasingly recognised as both in the best interests of the child and a social good by policy makers internationally. An ever increasing number of countries are adopting paid parental leave policies which span a child’s first year (and often beyond) giving families the flexibility and support they need at this crucial point in a child’s development. This tidal shift towards shared paid parental leave threatens to leave Ireland behind. Barnardos works with over 14,000 children and their families each year. We work with parents to improve their understanding of their children’s needs and equip them with the knowledge and skills to meet those needs. We see first-hand the positive affect a nurting parent-child relationship can have in a child’s life. Barnardos is calling on the Government to introduce a paid parental leave system for a child’s first year to better help parents to support their child’s early development