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ABSTRACT
In response to the unhealthy, threatening living arrangements separated children seeking asylum were provided with in Ireland in the early 2000s, the Social Work Team for Separated Children committed itself to replacing the inadequate care with care that truly meets the needs of children. However, the transition to the level of service provided today has only been achieved after years of criticism and a slow, steady commitment to transparency. Increased levels of discretion afforded to the social workers has led to an evolving definition of the best interest of the child and given rise to a child-protection service that provides safe environments for children to thrive and grow. This report serves to briefly sketch the history of the service, outline several distinctive features of the service, and place the service in a broader European context.
Acknowledgements
The author of this report would like to acknowledge those who have assisted in the creation of this report. The author would like to especially thank Thomas Dunning, Principal Social Worker, and the Social Work Team for Separated Children as part of TUSLA, the Child and Family Agency, for their support and guidance in the undertaking of this project and their insight in providing extensive details about the many facets of the service. Additionally, the author would like to recognize William Tobin and Suzanne Shanahan from Duke University for their continued assistance in the creation of this paper.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes on contributor
Louden Richason works for the Kenan Institute for Ethics at Duke University, an interdisciplinary “think and do” tank committed to promoting moral reflection, conducting research, and shaping policy and practice.