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Post by vickyvixen on Nov 11, 2014 9:08:24 GMT
Hi, not sure if you've seen the new adoption guidelines announced this morning. The govt & Martin Narey said that the number of children getting placement orders has reduced by 54% since September 2013 (as those of us still searching for a match can testify!) and the numbers are still reducing.
They said this was because "LAs have misinterpreted a recent court case" (we know the one!) and this fall in numbers has to stop. They said that sometimes adoption is better for the children than looking within the wider family and friends of the birth family. Hurrah! I've seen some CPRs recently where the child has been sent all over the country to odd relatives (& even the ex-wife of a second cousin - yes, really) before ending up getting a placement order probably 2 years after they should have got one.
While they said the new guidelines will take months to implement this has to be good news for the kids.
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Post by knight on Nov 11, 2014 20:40:42 GMT
Yes, I've seen the same too VV ~ SS were actively assessing and/or placing with extended BF members before B-S so SS might just have been more cautious since resulting in less proceedings; the guidance issued to SS today should help to protect these children.
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Post by nomoretears on Nov 11, 2014 23:15:10 GMT
I've seen a couple of articles on this today and what none of them seem to mention is that although the number of children being brought into care is increasing (as is usual in times of economic hardship) so is the age of the children. For at least the past 4 years the number of babies (under 12 months) brought into care by my LA has been falling radically.
When the children are finally removed from home the damage they've suffered is often so bad that SS don't even ask for a placement order, they go to court looking for a care order and a long term foster placement.
The whole system needs a shake up, but sadly I don't think it's what this government intends - privatisation seems to look nearer every day (in fact it's top of the agenda for discussion at my latest FC support group, suggesting its VERY close for my LA!)
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Post by moo on Nov 12, 2014 5:15:12 GMT
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Post by nomoretears on Nov 12, 2014 10:52:26 GMT
Moo you're right, it is very scary.
The government tried to bring in privatisation of child protection in May this year but was forced to back down by an outcry from social services and the general public. Now only LAs that are classed as "failing" by Ofsted can approach private firms to outsource child protection.
Hm. How many links does this government have to Ofsted? How many links do they have to the firms bidding to take on the child protection services? How many LAs are now being run into the ground with inadequate funding and ridiculous targets?
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Post by imp on Nov 12, 2014 15:58:01 GMT
Sadly I agree with you nmt, which makes the situation not only crazy but highly damaging for the children-------
-----and while we are talking about scarping the barrel for 'family' placements, how about this one:
Looking to half brothers (shared mother) paternal grandmother!!
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