15,000 Kids And Counting - On Channel 4, starting on 3rd April

[OneOfOurLilkasIsMissing]

Heads up folks, Channel 4 are doing a new adoption documentary "15,000 Kids and Counting"

Series Description - Child protection levels in Britain are at a record high. Over 15,000 children were waiting to be adopted in 2013 - twice as many as five years earlier

With unparalleled access to the entire adoption process, this series follows social workers, foster carers, birth parents and adopters as heart-wrenchingly difficult decisions are made about the future of some of Britain's most vulnerable children

Episode 1 is on 3rd April at 9.00PM, is called The Decision

The adoption process begins with the most difficult decision of all: the decision to remove a child from their birth family

The first episode in the series follows the social workers whose job it is to take children away from their parents and recommend whether they should ever return; and meets parents who are desperately fighting to keep their children

Episode 2 a week later - The Search

This episode follows the search for adoptive parents for a two-year-old boy and a three and seven-year-old brother and sister

With the added challenges of having slightly older children, siblings and a child with possible health issues to place, the task for social workers Annette and Jackie is a massive one

With the future of these children in their hands and recently set government targets to meet, they struggle not to become emotionally involved as they strive to find adopters before time runs out

I'll certainly be watching, looks interesting

The whole system seems to be dealing with the end bit, not the whole process that got these women where they are now, about to lose their child. Which is arguably one of the most devastating things to happen to anyone. If we are all saying this why are social services not saying this?

Simple maths says that to deal appropriately with one vulnerable woman (who in some cases is little more than a child herself) is better and also cheaper (I keep coming back to money because I do get the feeling it is the bottom line) then numerous babes/children!

We are preaching to the converted; who can we talk to with any power in this? Does anyone know if charities like BAAF, NSPCC, Barnardps are involved in dialogue with social services at all?

That looks like a clear case of age discrimination to me Mrs DeVere!

Hi I am Sophie's mum from the documentary 15000 kids and counting any questions feel free to ask me thanks

Sophie's birth mother here

Hello Emily

Thanks for coming on the thread. You really impressed me when you said that you wouldn't contest the adoption as you wanted 'what was best for Sophie".

I also thought what a pretty young women you were and please please don't write yourself off because you don't have many GCSEs.
Have you had any more luck on the job front?

hi Emily

hope you are doing well x

I want to be on here so there is no
Complications or misunderstandings on the programme thanks

Can I ask any social workers a really stupid question?
I really don't mean to offend.

In that link where the family is living in pretty atrocious conditions in Bristol and the little boy has no bed! why don't social services provide one? Why do they wait for the parents who are struggling so much to try to provide one? The sw says, "how are you getting on with getting him a bed? Could you get him a mattress?"

I am puzzled why SS would not provide some basics in that situation.

I think they did provide a bed in the end, and the family didn't put it up? It was a long time since I saw the programme.

However, how far should the SW go in supporting the family? The boy needed a bed and the parents couldn't/wouldn't provide one - what about when he needs a car seat, or a desk to do homework? What I mean is, at what point should the family take responsibility for providing for the child? A SW is going to have a big caseload, it isn't going to be possible for someone to go into a home every day to ensure the basics are done - to an extent the family need to be self-sufficient.

Mary's
Yes, of course that makes sense. Thank you.

But how sad that there's a little boy sleeping where he falls (on a sofa according to the mum) with SS having to look on.

I know little of social work. I don't think I can watch anymore of that programme :(.

Grey Completely different situation but I worked with a man in his 30s with autism and severe learning disabilities. He lived with his parents. They were not living in impoverished situations by any means but my primary concern was that my service user was sleeping on a thin blanket on the floor. I applied for a grant (before it all changed) and obtained the money for a bed. It specifically stipulated that the money was for a bed. Did they buy him the damn bed? No.

You can lead a horse to water and all that.....

Emily please take a look at www.womensaid.org.uk

I really hope that you are safe.

I also don't think it is a good idea for you to post here.

I have arranged deep cleans for people's homes when they are in such a state that they don't know where to start. The onus is on them to keep it in a suitable state though and many of them are able to maintain basic hygiene in their homes. We are meant to empower people to make changes, not make them reliant on services and in a role where they are completely powerless.

Thanks Augusta Ada byron

Emily if that really is you (or if you are reading this), I so much hope you get help. Your baby will grow up and one day you may be able to meet again and (without holding out any false hope - as no one knows) but she may well see that programme or hear of it. If she does, she would see (what many of us who watched that programme saw) a very caring vulnerable young woman who really loves her daughter.

I just wanted to wish you well for the future, God bless you.

Just want no
Misunderstandings of what happened on the documentary and I just want to be here to
Correct any mistakes thanks