Multidisciplinary Supports
Five Rivers Fostering Multidisciplinary Team provides support services to Foster Carers/ Young People in Care through different levels of support. We provide 1) In-House (within Five Rivers Fostering) support for young people and Carers 2) Assessment services for young people in care in Tusla/ Five Rivers Fostering or Alternate Care Placements and 3) Therapy services for young people in care.
(note: assessment and therapy services are provided subject to funding approval and the location of the young person’s placement; currently, all services are provided in the Leinster region. Currently, Social Care/ Psychology supports are available in all regions. In-house services are provided regardless of the location of the placement).
In-House Wellbeing
Our Multidisciplinary Team aims to promote relationships and wellbeing for carers and young people by providing a range of in-house supports. Through our multidisciplinary team, we provide support to young people themselves/ to foster carers as well as to the young person’s professional network. Please click on the tabs below for more information.
Supports for Young People in Care
- One-to-one/Individual Social care sessions
- Groups for young people
- Enhanced placement supports such as Psychology,Occupational Therapy & Speech and Language Therapy subject to resources
Supports for Foster Carers
- Foster Carer consultation with Clinical Team Staff
- Foster Carer training & Therapeutic Group(s)
- 6-week check-in for new placements
- support for birth children who foster
- Coffee mornings & activity days
Supports for Social Workers and other professionals
- Weekly appointments available with the Clinical team
- Extensive training for social workers and all staff. This includes, training in attachment and Trauma, Dyadic, Developmental Therapy, training in sensory issues, training to support play with children who have experienced trauma
- Professional supports
In-house supports for Five Rivers Foster Families, Young People and Staff.
Social Care Support
Our highly experienced Social Care team maintain contact with children in families who foster, to ensure their needs are met and to hear about their experiences
Group Therapeutic Support
Several groups for young people in care are running in Five Rivers Fostering, hosted by experienced Social Care Leaders who support children’s confidence, life skills and communication skills)
Enhanced Placement Tailored Support
Our Multidisciplinary Team can provide a range of support where young people who have high needs including Psychological/ Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language Assessments/ Carer support and Training and Psychotherapy/ Counselling/ Occupational Therapy/ Speech and Language Therapy depending on the needs of the child and their location
Social Care Support for Birth Children Who Foster
Our highly experienced Social Care team maintain contact with children in families who foster, to ensure their needs are met and to hear about their experiences
Individual Support
Foster Carers are encouraged to avail of Psychology support when a young person comes to live with them first by attending a 6-week check-in. This allows for any issues arising to be reviewed with the support of the clinical team. Carers may attend up to 6 support sessions with Psychology or Social Care Leaders throughout the year to discuss any matters arising in the placement.
Group Therapeutic Support
Our Multidisciplinary Team of Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Social Care Leaders provide therapeutic groups for Foster Carers using a trauma and attachment informed approach that focuses on developing the quality of relationships with children in their care. Using a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapeutic (DDP) approach, the team promote greater understanding of the needs of children in care while supporting Carers on their journey in Fostering.
Consultation & support for Link Workers & Tusla Teams
Our Multidisciplinary Team of Psychologists, Psychotherapists and Social Care Leaders provide therapeutic groups for Foster Carers using a trauma and attachment-informed approach that focuses on developing the quality of relationships with children in their care. Using a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapeutic (DDP) approach, the team promote greater understanding of the needs of children in care while supporting Carers on their journey in Fostering.
In-House Training in Attachment & Trauma
Our Multidisciplinary Team provides Training in Attachment/ Trauma and Dyadic Developmental/Psychotherapy/Practice for Social Workers and Staff within Five Rivers Fostering throughout the year. To date 45 staff have received training in this approach hosted by the Principal Counselling Psychologist and Social Care Leader/ Clinical Psychologist.
Case Discussion Group
Facilitated by Principal Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist and Social Care Leader/ Play Therapist, this discussion group promotes Dyadic Developmental Practice in Linkwork Visits and Casework and runs monthly throughout the year
Assessment Services for Young People in Care
Working Together to Understand the Needs of Young People
During Assessment, we work in partnership with Carers/Parents/Tusla/Five Rivers Fostering Link Workers to develop a shared understanding of the needs of each young person. We view Assessment as an ideal opportunity to understand where each young person has come from in a holistic way.
Assessment can help understand the needs of young people in care and guide professionals/ Carers towards the most appropriate/ effective approach to treatment
Find out more about the types of assessments we carry out:
If a child has needs in one area (e.g., motor skills OR communication skills OR emotional/ mental health/ learning needs) and other areas are developing well, then a single discipline assessment should be conducted.
Global or Multidisciplinary Assessment is recommended when there are many different issues happening at the same time for a young person, for example, learning and communication needs, social problems and trauma/ loss happening simultaneously. Global Assessment helps clarify which issues need to be dealt with first and what types of therapy may help.
Each Assessment is costed individually and assessments may be carried out locally to the young person’s placement, subject to funding approval.
Psychological Assessment
Aims to evaluate learning/ mental health and psychological issues for young people in care. Some of the following assessments may be conducted during a psychological assessment:
- Autism/ ADHD Assessment
- Intellectual (Cognitive) Ability Assessment
- Assessment of Academic Attainments/ Dyslexia/ Dyscalculia
- Adaptive Functioning/ Independence Skills
- School Observation
- Play Based Assessment
- Assessment of Emotional and Behavioural Concerns
- Assessment of Young Person’s Relationships in Fostering Context/ Family of Origin
- Assessment of Trauma/ Early History/ Relationships and Attachments
Occupational Therapy Assessment
Aims to assess a young person’s engagement with their environment through their senses. Some of the following assessments may be conducted during an occupational therapy assessment:
- Assessment of Fine and Gross Motor Skills
- Handwriting Assessment
- Adaptive Skills
- Assessment of Sensory Processing and Sensory Integration
- Evaluation of Dyspraxia/ Dysgraphia or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
Speech & Language Assessment
Aims to assess how a young person’s speech, language and communication skills impact their experiences, learning and relationships. Some of the following assessments may be conducted during a speech and language assessment:
- Assessment of Speech Sounds and Phonology
- Expressive Language Evaluation
- Receptive Language Evaluation
- Pragmatic (Social Use of) Language Evaluation
- Assessment of Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
We accept referrals of young people in Tusla/ Five Rivers Fostering/ Other Alternative Care placements.
If you are unsure about the needs of a young person, please get in touch and we can schedule a professionals meeting or provide consultation to identify primary and secondary needs.
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT ASSESSMENT OR CONSULTATION FOR A YOUNG PERSON IN CARE PLEASE CONTACT mdtreferrals@fiveriversireland.ie
Five Rivers Fostering Therapy Services
During Assessment, we work in partnership with Carers/Parents/Tusla/Five Rivers Fostering Link Workers to develop a shared understanding of the needs of each young person. We view Assessment as an ideal opportunity to understand where each young person has come from in a holistic way.
Individual Social Care supports
- Life Story Work
- supportive Ally
- Advocacy
- support for Communication/Life Skills
- Activity Days
- Social Skills
- support with Transitions
Relationship Building Therapies
- Relationship Building
- Therapy for Parents & Young People (eg., Filial Therapy)
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)
- Martemeo Therapy
- Parent-Child Counselling & Therapy
- Non Violent Resistance (NVR)
Individual Psychotherapy & Counselling
- Individual Counselling for young people in care
- Trauma-informed Psychotherapy/Counselling
- Play Therapy
- Clinical Psychology/Counselling Psychology
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing)
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy)
Developmental Therapies/ supports
- Occupational Tx
- Speech & Language Therapy
- Parenting supports for children with high needs
- Parenting Skills
- Psychological support
