Meitheal Strengths and Needs Record Form with Case Study- Tusla Ireland

Form 2: Meitheal Strengths and Needs Record Form – Confidential

4. Services supporting the child or young person and their family

• Has this child or young person been previously assessed by a service? (If yes please give details below)
• Is this child or young person currently receiving or on a waiting list for a service? (If yes please give details below)

5. Identifying strengths & needs

This part of the form is to talk about what’s going well for the child/young person and what they might need help with. The My World Triangle guidance questions can be used by the lead practitioner with the parent/guardian and child/young person to help complete each of the three sections below:

5.1 How I grow and develop

Strengths – What’s working well?

Parent or guardian’s view

Child or young person’s view

Needs –What are you worried about?

Parent or guardian’s view:

Child or young person’s view

5.2 What I need from people who look after me

Strengths – What’s working well?

Parent or guardian’s view

Child or young person’s view

Needs – What are you worried about?

Needs – What are you worried about?

Child or young person’s view

5.3 My wider world and community

Strengths – What’s working well?

Parent or guardian’s view

Needs – What are you worried about?

Parent or guardian’s view:

Child or young person’s view

Anything else you would like to add:

6. Summary of needs and outcomes

7. Agreement to participate in Meitheal meetings

Please return this form to the Child and Family Support Network Coordinator. Note that at least one parent or guardian and the lead practitioner must sign this form before it can be accepted by the CFSN coordinator.

Case study 1: Michael

Michael, nine years of age, is a Ukrainian Roma boy born to Irena (mother) and Credi (father). He has two older half siblings who live with their maternal grandparents and have intermittent contact with him.

He was recently placed in the care of a family with a Traveller mum, Cheryl, and dad, Pete, who is not a Traveller. They reside in the same town as his birth family. They have three older children, 14, 17 and 20, all living at home.

Michael has many delightful characteristics including a good sense of humour and an enjoyment of life. However, at home he can be oppositional and is at times aggressive towards his carers.

Michael’s current difficulties exist within a history of trans-generational trauma and abuse. He has witnessed significant family violence and has been the victim of early neglect, and ongoing physical and emotional abuse.

He has had many out-of-home placements throughout his early childhood, including several periods in the care of his Auntie Aisha and Uncle Bruce, and a brief number of short term foster placements. Michael has not seen his mother, Irena, since he was five. She has bipolar disorder and this has at times gone untreated. Her whereabouts are currently unknown. It appears that Michael’s father, Credi, was very violent to Irena, with past police reports indicating significant injuries to her body.

Michael was removed from his father’s care following an assault by Credi in which Michael sustained a fractured skull, and currently his father is not allowed to have contact with him. Michael appears confused and anxious about his situation; he wants to be with his family and does not understand why he can’t see his father. His carers believe that he has ‘many feelings bottled up’ inside. He often says things that indicate to them that he hates himself and blames himself for his father’s assault and his family breaking up.

At school, he is easily distracted. His grades are well below average. His teacher describes him as a likeable boy, but one who ‘attracts trouble’. He is liked by his peers, although his friendships appear somewhat superficial; for example, he often acts as the class clown. Michael has increasingly displayed aggressive behaviours during playtime and some children are beginning to become wary of him. Michael has a diagnosis of ADHD and is on a high dosage of medication.