Enhanced Foster Care Placements

What are enhanced placements and who might need them, how to refer for them?

The reasons for an enhanced placement being required can vary for several reasons, and is often specific to the needs of the child or young person being placed.

Therefore, in Orchard Fostering, we have an Enhanced Placement service co-ordinator who will assess and review the support needs for all incoming placement referrals. This is to ensure support needs are identified in a proactive manner, and the necessary supports are implemented. Where an additional need arises within a current placement, the enhanced placement service co-ordinator will be notified, and the support needs of this placement will be reviewed. This is to ensure the best outcomes for all children, young people and foster carers within the service.

In addition to the benefits of a standard placement, an enhanced placement consists of:

More regular link work contact
Increased social work team leader and principal social worker oversight
Access to educational support(s)
Access to psychotherapeutic support

Up to two hours of social care support/respite per week
Specific therapeutic training
Interaction with the therapeutic team

Referring for an Enhanced Placement?

If you are a social worker who would like to make a referral for an enhanced placement, please complete the form below.

If you would like to make a referral for Play Therapy, we offer an open referral system meaning anyone can make a referral. Please click here to make a referral for Play Therapy

To make a referral request please complete this form and return it, along with any recent reports regarding the young person being referred.

Date of form completion

Step 1 of 6 - Agency details:

Name of responsible Tusla area:

Address of responsible Tusla area:

Name of person making referral:

Step 2 of 6 - Personal details:

Name of young person being referred:

Age

DOB

Step 3 of 6 - Placement details:

Reason for Referral

Family Composition / Brief History of Social Work Involvement:

Access Plan & Arrangements

Other Involved Agencies

Previous Placements

Step 4 of 6 - Young Person's Details:

Has the young person any experiences of the following; (if yes, please provide detail)

Prior history of placement breakdowns

Any additional and/or suspected diagnoses

Specific high needs (e.g. attention/regulation/sensory)

High level of exposure to traumatic events

Is the Young Person at Risk
(if YES, what risk?)

Behavioural Trends

Absconding Behaviour
(please tick where applicable)

HighLow

Criminal Offences (Previous & Current)

Is there a History of Violence?

Is there a History of Drug or Solvent Abuse?

Step 5 of 6 - Young Person's Health Details:

Are there any issues pertaining to Medical History / Alerts / Enuresis / Encopresis?
(If yes, please detail)

Is there a History of Sexual Abuse? Has the Young Person Been Sexually Abused or Abused Another Person?

Previous Doctor & Dentist Address and Phone Numbers

Is there Anythign that the Young Person Responds Well to? Anything the Young Person Particularly Enjoys?

EDUCATION - Does the Young Person Attend School?
What are plans for school runs in placement

PLEASE NOTE:

Initial Planning Meeting

Within the 72 hours of admission

Date of Planning Meeting

Time of Meeting

Venue

Previous Reports:

Please forward any/all previous relevant reports. Has there been an educational/psychological/psychiatric assessment undertaken previously? Are there any reports from other residential placements? Is there a social history prepared?

Attachment One (max:5MB - .doc, .pdf only)

Attachment Two (max:5MB - .doc, .pdf only)

Attachment Three (max:5MB - .doc, .pdf only)

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