Why policy on contact with children and birth families needs a rethink

[Alison J Stevens]

http://www.communitycare.co.uk/2018/02/13/policy-contact-children-b...

KINCARE CLAUSE YET AGAIN.

If the Local Authority's used the Kincare clause by placing Children with immediate Family Members  such as Grandparents in the first instance or even Aunties and Uncles, this would be the far cheaper option than placing Children into Foster care.

Foster carers can earn up to £700 per week per child if working for private Foster Care Agencies.

Why not consider this option?

But no we have now Foster till you adopt, where prospective Adopters foster Babies from within hours of birth, when they have been taken straight from a Hospital ward,on an Emergency Protection order.

Babies are earmarked for Adoption before they are even born, and are being chosen by the adoptive Parents , to be fostered by them as soon as the baby is born.

Dreadful for the birth Parents when they could be given the option of being assessed in a Mother and Baby unit, or a Family Member taking on a Special Guardianship or kincare role, and are given the financial incentive as much money as a normal foster carer gets, to prevent financial hardship.

BUT MONEY IS THE REASON, IF THEY ARE GOING TO GET MORE MONEY FOR  TRAFFICKING BABIES FOR FORDED ADOPTION  THAT IS WHAT THE OPTION WILL BE.

A MOCKERY OF THE LA MANDATORY OBLIGATION TO CONSIDER USING THE KINCARE CLAUSE .

IF THE CHOSEN OPTION IS FORCED ADOPTION IN THESE CASES, THEY ARE HARDLY GOING TO ENCOURAGE CONTACT WITH BIRTH FAMILIES, AND LETTER BOX CONTACT IN MANY CASES IS NOT EVEN LOOKED INTO.