A teenage boy in care, who had a series of foster placements that broke down over five years and a residential placement in which he was “deeply unhappy”, has been returned to his mother.
The decision to return him was made after the boy had a discussion with Judge Brendan Toale in his chambers and was subsequently assessed by a psychologist who recommended he be returned home immediately.
The Child and Family Agency sought an order discharging the boy from full care and also sought a supervision order for him for six months.
The boy’s social worker told the court that typically in a reunification case, there was a transition plan to bring mother and child back together over a period, but that would not have worked for the teenager.
The psychologist had recommended a swift return home, she said. She also said the supervision order would be “very much” about providing support services for the mother and son.
Supports would include one-to-one parenting advice, respite if required, a school attachment assessment and therapy with a counsellor at a later stage.
The mother consented to both orders and was co-operating with the agency, the social worker said.
Making the orders, Judge Colin Daly said it was an "extremely important and happy day" for the mother and son. There would "no doubt be some challenges ahead" for them, he said, but he hoped they would work with the agency to address them.
Relative’s home
In another case, Judge Daly was told a boy in the care of the State wanted to remain in the home of a relative where he had been remanded on bail on condition he resided there.
The relative and her partner also wanted him to remain with them, the court was told, but the agency’s fostering team had refused to assess the couple for suitability and the agency wanted him to move to a residential unit.
Judge Daly told the agency it had to remedy its situation; it could carry out an assessment of the relative or have an independent assessment carried out or else it could apply to the criminal court for a change in the boy’s bail conditions.
Judge Toale also made full care orders for four siblings until they were 18 years of age after a lengthy court hearing. Details of the case cannot be published at this time by order of the court.
