Crisis & respite care
Temporary Family Care (TFC)
Temporary Family Care (TFC) is a program to protect children particularly during a family breakdown. A family breakdown may be caused by problems such as poverty, isolation, domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse and mental illness. The program identifies those at risk of abuse and provides fostercare and access to other services to reduce that risk.
Trained foster carers provide twenty-four hour crisis or respite child care, working as part of the Barnardos team with the focus on finding permanent solutions for the family of children at risk of abuse and neglect so that they may be restored to the family as soon as possible.
The ultimate goal of Temporary Family Care is to avoid the long-term separation of a child from its family. The family is seen as a child’s strongest source of stability, identity and sense of belonging. For those children who are not safe within the family, TFC provides care while the court determines the child’s future. TFS staff and carers contribute their assessment to the court.
TFC crisis care
In cases of emergency care due to illness, emotional or mental crisis, where no other suitable family member is available, Barnardos offers fostercare. Children are placed as close to their home as possible with the minimum of disruption to school and daily routines. Siblings are kept together and all children in care are encouraged to keep in contact with their families as much as possible.
TFC respite care
TFC Respite Care provides respite carers who provide regular intervals of care for children whose families are isolated, have no other support or are under severe stress, and where there is a risk of abuse or neglect. Such respite carers often provide long-term support to the child and parent to enable the child to live at home safely.
Find-A-Family bridging care
In order to prevent unnecessary moves, children requiring permanent care placements, wherever possible, remain in their current placements whilst a prospective family is being sought. However, if there is no placement available, the child is moved into the Barnardos Intake Program and is looked after by intake or bridging carers.
Whilst waiting for long-term placement, Barnardos caseworkers assist children to begin to come to terms with their past and their future. Intake carers and caseworkers prepare children for the move to their new family. The caseworker also uses this time to give the child accurate information about their past and the process by which Barnardos selects a carer for them.
During the average ten month stay in Bridging Care, Barnardos aims to understand more fully a child's particular placement needs. Program managers and carers provide considerable support during this time.Ongoing carer training is also an important part of this program.
Thinking of becoming a foster carer? Click here for more information.
