Adopted DS two years ago and DD 4 months Ago - still no life story work

[oinker]

We are at our wits end.

We have been asking and fighting continuously to get Life story work for our children.
I have complained to the Head of adoption and fostering at the relevant local authority and still nothing.

What can I do?

Can I take it further? Any ideas?

Please help.

No advice really but keep fighting. We adopted our dd when she was 2.4 years. We got her life story book a few months ago. She's 6 now.

I get that SWs are really busy but life story work is so important to the child. As it was there was nothing in her book that we didn't already know. The book I made her is much nicer that the official one.

Are you in a position to start your own book and fill in gaps later?. What reason have they given for not doing it?.

That's exactly what I'm having to do.

It really pisses me off that they are not bothered once the children are adopted. It's as though they are saying... your problem not ours.

I am putting DC's life story work together and am going out to photograph relevant locations etc. I suppose I have a lot more info than most as we did concurrent planning with DS's sister. I was privvy to more info than you get through adoption process.

I think it's really sad as our children will eventually realise that this is work that should have been done by social workers.

I don't even have the later life letter. How am I expected to write down the reasoning as to why social services made the decision for them both to be adopted.

I second what NonnaMai said - keep pushing (especially for the later life letter). We didn't have to wait as long as you have for our life story, though it was several months after the adoption was formalised. I wish I had either done my own or reworked what we got as some bits could be better (spelling mistakes ). I feel it's too late, as dd knows her book now.

Perhaps you could try contacting Adoption UK for advice on how to force the issue with your local authority. They have a helpline 0844 848 7900 or you can contact them online. Fingers crossed for you.

SOUNDS rather unacceptable very important is life story work , children need as much information as possible with as many picture's helps at school and through life. Times when children are asked too bring things in too school photo's as a baby for example. There is no excuse
just ignorance, As FP's we do Two life story books one for birth mums and for child / new family also a PowerPoint presentation we start from day one, also a complete weekly log of child for new family , these are all
supposed too be in place as part of care standard's regulations , so should be no excuses. should be passed on too new FP if required so they can continue work.
Would state if they do not comply with your request you all would have too seek advice from OFSTED Adoption section at Piccadilly Manchester

This is really poor. F you adopted through an LA, write to your local councillors. Ours are very helpful. Failing that, go straight to your MP.
Good luck

Is the adoption order through for both of them?

We told DS social worker and the reviewing officer that we wouldn't apply for the adoption order once we had life story as I just knew that we wouldn't get it otherwise, as his SW was so slack.

I also pushed and pushed for the later life letter from BM to be rewritten. It was factually incorrect so I didn't feel like I would have been able to give DS it, so it wasn't worth having! His SW wouldn't, so In the end I brought it up at the review with the reviewing officer and she made her get it re-written. I have now got a beautiful, heartfelt letter rather than the angry rant I got the first time.

In hindsight I also should have done the same with letterbox contact contracts. We still only have 1 in place even though there were another 4 family members that wanted it. That reminds me. I need to chase again

We did hold off with DD's adoption order application. We held off for 5 months. They were even paying us as foster carers during this time. I kept telling them it was in their interest to sort out the papers because of costs. But, they didn't bother. In the end we had to decide what we wanted most. Selfishly we chose to adopt DD. In hindsight we should have held out for the papers.
Too late!!!!
We adopted DS over 2 years ago and naively put the application in straight away. We were too trusting of the LA and just believed they would do their job.

I emailed Ofsted today. Am waiting to hear from them.

Also would suggest you contact your solicitor who would have all relevant court documents including brief details of children's care history
These you should have copy's of., may be helpful too identify any future unforeseen medical problems etc. At the same time ask if any relevant details regards your present concerns were discussed but not included and Why. , could they follow up and pursue.

We don't have anything like this as we adopted our son from abroad. We just do our own photo book.