Delivering Family Support Services in Rural Ireland

Abstract

The delivery of family support services is a key target in the planning of child-care services in the Republic of Ireland. The research study investigates a cross-border partnership project between a Health Board in the South of Ireland and a voluntary agency in the North of Ireland to deliver an 'at home' family support service in rural County Donegal. Samples of users, social workers and managers were interviewed to evaluate the effectiveness of the service. Findings reveal that family support is provided to families with long-term difficulties, including those with children at risk and with a history of admission to care. In the absence of family centre provision, this family support service might be more correctly described as a family preservation service. In a rural context, the effective use of limited resources is constrained by the time and cost of travelling long distances to provide an 'at home' service. Family support intervention is often long term and part of a wider package of domiciliary care. The key mechanism for change is the worker-parent relationship. The experience of what works in parenting drawn from the worker's own experience as a parent is shared, not as an expert, but in a bond of solidarity as fellow parents with the family. Professionals view the scheme as effective in maintaining children at home, and users report positively on the family support worker involvement.