Photograph: family photo
My dad, Paddy Barry, who has died aged 84, had a long career as a social worker, working mainly with children. From 1974 to 1997 he was the principal officer for children’s residential and day care for Wandsworth council, in south-west London, which in those days ran more than 25 children’s homes across the borough.
Paddy always viewed the care system from the perspective of the child, working hard to ensure that children’s life chances would be improved by being in care. He remained in touch for decades with young people whom he had placed with foster families.
