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Limerick Childhoods Greatly improved by Barnardos Homemaker Service

Limerick Childhoods Greatly improved by Barnardos Homemaker Service

Barnardos children’s charity has launched an evaluation of its Homemaker Family Support Service. First established by Limerick Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) in 2013 as part of a citywide Parenting Strategy, the service became part of a wraparound approach to children’s needs in ABC Start Right Programme Limerick, as well as evolving to a wider remit across Limerick in partnership with Tusla and Limerick Regeneration.

The service provides home-based family support that helps parents in a practical way in their day to day tasks at home. Results of the evaluation found: Children reported feeling happier in themselves, Children were better able to express their needs, Parents were feeling better able to manage stressful situations in the home, Parents reported improvement in the home environment.

Melinda Hughes, Barnardos Homemaker Service Coordinator said: “Our research at Barnardos found that the Homemaker Family Support Service was beneficial to families in Limerick City and surrounding areas. Being a parent is tough and when there are added pressures on the family. Sometimes parents can become overwhelmed, it can be difficult to maintain a sense of routine in the home, and keeping the family home going can create additional pressures and a little help can go a long way. However, we are delighted to say that the families that worked with the service reported a marked improvement in their day to day lives.”   


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Fergus Finlay, Barnardos CEO said: “It’s fair to say the results speak for themselves. The Barnardos Homemaker Service has provided over 80 families in Limerick with support and tools to improve their family life and relationships.  Children involved in the service have seen an increase in confidence, are adapting better in school and have built closer relationships with those around them. It’s heartening to see family’s go from strength to strength.”

Intervening early to prevent issues escalating to crisis point is more effective in improving outcomes for children and families. Parents who received a service found that their time with the service encouraged emotional development by acknowledging feelings and naming them for the child. 

The Homemaker Service is the outcome of an interagency approach to responding to an unmet need – that of responding to children’s needs earlier when they emerge. Key partners in this are Limerick CYPSC, Tusla, ABC StartRight, and Limerick Regeneration.

Ger Brophy Chair of Limerick City CYPSC and Area Manager, TUSLA Mid-West, Child & Family Agency said: “Limerick CYPSC developed the Homemaker Family Support Service in response to an identified need to provide support to families as needs are emerging. This can often help families from reaching a crisis situation, and we know that supporting families as early as possible means that outcomes are often far greater. We are delighted with the results of the Homemaker Evaluation, which shows that the model, based on a partnership approach that is tailored to the individual needs of a family, has worked so well to meet the needs of families in Limerick.”

Maria Dwyer Programme Manager of ABC Start Right Limerick said: “Part of the aim of the ABC area-based approach is to be responsive to parents’ needs at the right time, in the right way. Homemaker is part of the Community Wraparound suite of integrated supports available to families in Limerick and the service plays a fundamental role in effective, outcomes-focused prevention and early intervention work”.

 

The evaluation of the Limerick Homemaker Family Support Service found it to be an effective early intervention support service, benefitting children and families across the city.

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For more on Barnardos click here

Richard is a presenter, producer, songwriter and actor. He was named the Limerick Person of the Year (2011) and won an online award at the Metro Éireann Media and Multicultural Awards (2011) for promoting multi-culturalism online. Richard says that the ilovelimerick.com concept is very much a community driven project that aims to document life in Limerick. So, that in 20 years time people can look back and remember the events that were making the headlines.