to think Rotherham council have lost the plot over UKIP foster-carers?

[londonone]

bbc

I really really hope there is more to this than is being reported, otherwise I am utterly speechless.

Oh dear lord we're trying to engage with an idiot.

Most children in care have extended family of some description. Do you think the care system is filled entirely with orphans?

Ooh I made discussion of the day! How exciting!

ethnicity is not the same as political views.

Believe me, if you were a child living in a family who thought people like you shouldn't be in this country, you'd know it.

Of course that is not wha UKIP say though is it. It is perfectly possible to believe that immigration should be controlled and that immigrants are an asset to be welcomed.

Can i just ask a stupid question? If the children came from a religious background that viewed homosexuality as a sin, then would that mean they couldnt be put with parents who were members of the labour party since they dont think it is a sin but (like other parties) promote it? or should foster carers be not allowed to belong to any political party or some clubs - i find the title "working mens club" offensive because it promotes the view that only men work and is imo sexist. is this more about someone in the council making a point about UKIP and indirectly promoting their own political views.

If the family thought the children shouldn't be in the country, why would they choose to adopt them?

Please don't call me an idiot LoopsInHoops.

In this case, it's not about the foster carers' ethnicity. It's about their views clashing with the children's needs.

You might have been unaware of your parent's views as a baby, but where do you think 5/6 year olds spouting opinions in the playground get it from? And how do you think you'd feel if your carer's views were targeted at a group that includes you and your family? And how do you think you'd feel if you faced comments about 'immigrants' from other children at school to come home to your carers and have them say well yes, that was very mean, because it's not the immigrants fault it's the government! And of course they are unlikely to say that to the child directly, but DC have ears, and they hear their parents talk to friends etc.

I've only read good things about these foster parents - other than the fact they joined UKIP the council had no problem with them whatsoever and it seems an assumption has been made that they were racist. There was nothing mentioned about the children not being allowed / encouraged to speak another language or being "forced" to call them mum and dad. That's come from this thread and assumptions about people who support UKIP.

I don't like UKIP policies. I don't think being a UKIP member automatically means you are scum bag who shouldn't be around children though.

I can see the logic of the council's decision but I think removing the children was an overreaction. I also think there is massive amount of speculation about the foster parents on this thread because of their politics which isn't fair. A quote from the couple:

"We feel that we were meeting the cultural needs of these children. We were actively encouraging these children to speak their own language and to teach us their language. We enjoyed singing one of their folk songs in their native language.
"Having been told of the religious denomination of these children, we also took steps to ensure that a school of their denomination was found."

I had the same thought, Cozy9. I just hope there is more to this, as others have said.

Why are you talking about adoption?

No.

The other way round (homophobic religious zealots fostering gay child or child of gay parents) would not be OK, as the foster parents would be likely to hold views that affect that child. The way round that you describe would probably be best avoided as it would likely be unharmonious, but the harm would more likely be offense to the foster carers not the child, and as the carers can choose who to foster, not really an issue.

And since when did the labour party actively promote homosexuality?

Anyone who thinks an emergency foster placement is the same as adoption is an idiot.

Fostering pays. Fostering a 3xsibling group can pay quite handsomely.

no I'm not sure full facts are known or accurately reported
ukip are strident about migrants in uk,seeking to block entry
the children are non white,and it is reasonable to ask foster parents are they respectful of children heritage and culture

Narked - I think that if i is as dye has seen reported then then they were more than fulfilling their duties. These people appear to have been professional foster carers whether they were good or not we don't know but assuming they were good foster carers then I have no doubt that they are able to manage to hold views and support children. As many SW teachers etc do.

Scottish I a fairly sure the children are white.

Just as an aside, I was aware of the political views of my parents from about five. But, that may just have been me as my parents were well known political animals.

Fostering pays. Fostering a 3xsibling group can pay quite handsomely.

It varies massively. I don't think anyone gets paid "handsomely" for fostering (but maybe they ought to considering the importance of what they are doing), some people don't get paid anything at all for it.

Is it really part of a foster carer's contract that they declare their membership of a political party? I'm surprised. Ukip are only as anti-immigration and anti-europe as half the tory party, so I hope this policy is being applied to them as well!
It's a legitimate political party so I don't have a problem with people being members of it and fostering. This reminds me of the 80s all over again

SW and teachers aren't with children all day everyday. There's a reason that - as MrsDeVere said - foster carers aren't supposed to be members of a political party. They have a huge influence over the children in their care.

Woozley I can certainly pay well and this does mean hat some foster carers don't have the best motives

So let me get this straight. The issue isn't UKIP it is that foster carers can't be members of any political party. That is insane. Social care is more of a disgrace than I realised andi had set the bar of expectation pretty low.

Woozley, lots of people get paid handsomely for fostering. Less so in LAs, but private fostering agencies advertise rates from 350GBP per week per child.

And the only people who don't get paid at all are kinship carers.

UKIP / foster parents

Where I found the quote from the couple.

I agree, londonone, if that really is the case. And tbh you'd think if you were going to take that line, you'd also want to rule out those who are members of religious organisations. And the women's institute, and scouts, and ...

Surprise (for some of us on this thread I imagine)

Telegraph now reporting rotherham council is set to u-turn on this decision