Should parents contribute?

[shoppingismydownfall]

I'm aware this may be a contraversial topic. I work in social care and see children brought into the care system from all backgrounds, from the extremely wealthy to extremely poor. I'm not debating the rights and wrongs of social workers here.

My Aibu is, if it costs the local authority on average £3,000 per week to look after that child, should parents be financially assessed to contribute towards their care?

And if they declined?

If they were able to, yes of course. Why not?

I don't think so, there would be too many people saying their children were taken for financial reasons.

Also how are parents supposed to better themselves/environment when they are being hit financially.

Welcome to Mumsnet.
I'd have thought someone working in social care would know enough about the system to realise that a child going into care is about safeguarding the child and often families have multiple issues that complicated the situation.

£3000 per week sounds a bit on the high side, to be honest. I am just surprised it is that high.

I think it would lead to more abuse as people tried to avoid paying.

Parents should be made to. You choose to have kids, if you choose then not to look after them, you should be made to pay as much as you can.

What % of children in care come from high earning families?

I’m questioning where the £3,000 needed is spent?

Blimey, I’m amazed anyone’s taking your question seriously. And I’m amazed that anyone who’s even met a family with a cin or having more than 2 seconds knowledge of children’s services would entertain the thought.
There are about 20 things to factor in when a child enters the care system- cost shouldn’t feature.

@Iworkedhardforwhatihave

What % of children in care come from high earning families?

I imagine a low % as money can help solve many issues.

@BluebellsGreenbells

I’m questioning where the £3,000 needed is spent?

£3000 is at the low end Secure residential can be £250,000 a year

No, the priority should be the welfare of the child, not wasting both time and money trying to get a few quid from birth parents.

Where appropriate yes! My dd had 3 friends at college who were in care because their parents threw them out for being gay, in my opinion the parents should be charged for the housing and support they received, every penny (all families concerned were middle to higher earners). But I suspect they are quite unusual, it's not that richer people are better parents, it's just we buy in help

£3,000 is 'cheap'
Some children are in residential homes for £7-9000 per week!

If you work in that area you’ll know the threshold for a child to be taken into care is eye wateringly high, with parents facing extreme levels of challenge - I don’t know of a child removed from parents who could afford to pay the local authority towards that child’s care.

It’s not just abused/neglected children taken into care for safeguarding, it is also severely disabled children where the parents cannot care for them. So, no I don’t think the parents should be means tested for help from social care.

Similar to how adult children are not means tested for elder social care of their parents.

Only the actual recipient of social care should be means tested, and then only if they are an adult.

No. The parents with the means to pay are also more likely to have the money and education to fight ss.
Unfortunately I didn't even hit any serious radars with ss, let alone have the luck to be taken into care because my parents were lovely established middle class, and therefore marvellous in every way. Nowadays they wouldn't get away with that shit so easily, but even so, if parents like mine thought they might be forced to pay to have their public image disgraced they'd have more reason to cover up their behaviour.

For those of you missing the point drastically...in the 90s social care means assessed parents AFTER their children we in the care of the LA. So a looked after child, not CIN, not CP.

Why not? Doesn't impact safeguarding the child.

If being removed because of safeguarding issues and against the parents wishes - no.

If the parent is ASKING for their child (usually teenager) to be taken into care because they do not wish to parents them anymore - yes!

Yes they should have to pay maintance to the state. Just like any non resident parent. Should be deducted from source of they refuse to pay.

Just for example, I was raised in care and my parents were very comfortable finacially. Why shouldn't they contribute?

@BluebellsGreenbells

I’m questioning where the £3,000 needed is spent?

Really?

Good point @Milkshake54