to think there aren't Government targets for forced adoption that social worker have to reach?

[orlantina]

At a bus stop last night. Someone had put a handmade poster up about forced adoptions. Children being taken off parents by social services and put up for fostering and then adoption to meet targets. It was pretty hard hitting - pictures of children who had been 'taken'. The social workers and lawyers involved were named. Talk about Facebook groups. Talk about parents not being allowed to talk about it because of legal action and threat of prison.

I struggle to believe that social workers would not take a child from their parents unless there were real concerns. I also struggle to believe that children can be put up for adoption by the State to meet targets. I want to believe that any child put up for adoption has been removed from their parents because it is ultimately in the best interests of the child and that their parents pose a real danger to the child.

But this was a hard hitting poster.

Social services most certainly do have targets. But not of how many need to be taken, more in regards to getting the case into court so children can be given permanency.

I also feel That all too often dispite parents clearly needing help and in some cases asking for it because it's not enough of a priority it is ignored and in some cases then leads to adoption because parents haven't been given the support they needed.

I am aware as a birth parent that I messed up majorly. However I also remember begging social services for help and telling them my (now) ex was abusive and they signed me off with him as a "protective factor" the judge stated social services had clearly failed.

I however am one of few Birth parents who have engaged in adoption counselling, who has turned her life around, who didn't contest the adoption order, who pushed to meet the adoptive parents and who maintains contact, and who has addressed all concerns. The only remaining concern which I can't address is lack of family support- both my parents have passed but I have very close friends and would self refer to a community family worker as soon as I find out I'm pregnant.

As the adoptive mum of 2 I can concur that there are no targets for taking children into care. Our children's BM was given loads of help for many years, I have copies of all the SWers notes! She consistently put her own needs and or current BF's needs before her Child. So when she had her second child she lasted 4 months before both were taken into care. Help was then given to her to try and return the children but that never worked. 12mths later so got pregnant again and was able to keep her third child.

MissMoney I have bi-polar, I've been medicated 12 years and hospitalised twice.

The only time I had involvement with SS my MH was never really an issue.

I have a blonde, blue eyed angelic looking although not acting toddler as well.

Kit de Waal's novel 'My Name is Leon', about a young boy who is fostered, is very insightful about what it's like to be brought up by people who aren't your parents - and why this might happen.

Unborn I need therapy the NHS won't provide. Not everyone is treated the same way.

I would say there's not enough children removed from their abusive/neglectful parents/families.

Sorry, Unborn, I appreciate the reassurance. As I said, I don't think there is a target or hidden agenda in general - it's more that on a case-by-case basis I can believe terrible things happen. I wouldn't believe they stuff that happened to me, except it did...

@OurMiracle1106 the difference between you and other parents who are spouting the bs about ss having targets for adoption is that you also acknowledge that you messed up, and you've also put work in help yourself, as well as having a plan for a future pregnancy..

Ss have targets but not about number of children needing to be adopted, but the speed in which they must act on things

There are not targets to remove children.

But as has been said younger children are more vulnerable in a neglect situation.

I know personally of cases where ss have plowed lots of support into families in an attempt to keep children in the family home but the parents do not take these chances and support and the child is removed for their well being.

MissMoney sorry if that sounded flippant it really wasn't meant too

Unfortunately yes MH support and treatment massively, massively differs area to area. It's shit and unfair and really pisses me off.

Personally I did find children's services quite informed and none judgemental about MH issues but I realise that might not be the case everywhere.

Lots of things happen that seem unbelievable until they're exposed!

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3098468/Blood-chilling-scandal-thousands-babies-stolen-State-TV-agony-aunt-Denise-Robertson-s-spent-years-investigating-says-s-monstrous-injustice-age.html

Why have you posted a 2 year old daily mail article on a 6 month old thread, when the article is about a woman who was at the time using the daily mail to try and sell her novel and promote herself.

Hardly 'evidence'. Woman hears one side of a story and writes fiction based on it..

Indeed. Don't be so naive, dontbesonaive.