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Fostering

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on fostering.

Original poster

What checks do SWs/police make before placing unaccompanied asylum seeking minors with FCs?

31 replies

Surburbia · 23/01/2023 18:25

In light of today's Times story about an asylum seeking man from Afghanistan who stabbed a man to death and was subsequently found to have murdered two others in Serbia I ask the question above.

This man was fostered by a family having pretended he was 16 when he was actually 20. The family were very worried about him and felt he was disturbed and that he carried a knife. Surely you'd think they might have told him to leave once they found him with a knife?

One has to ask: what checks do SWs do before placing these young people with foster carers?

From what I have read, I suspect none. As asylum seekers are advised by their smugglers to get rid of all ID before entry into the UK (as described by Waheed Arian in his book, 'In the Wars..') and age testing is not encouraged by SWs/councils, foster carers will inevitably be fostering young people who are a lot older than they say they are. That doesn't personally bother me as I feel - judging by my own kids, even a 20 year old needs support.

However, the absence of police checks for a violent background is potentially terrifying.

OP posts:
Greenshake · 23/01/2023 18:26

There is a big recruitment campaign right now for social workers to work with age verification cases.

Illegaleagle · 23/01/2023 18:50

IME - none.

earsup · 23/01/2023 18:57

Seems to be very little....dreadful...Ireland has had enough...beheadings....rapes...assaults....very little being reported by mainstream media...all supressed.....nightly marches and demos over in Ireland...

Nimbostratus100 · 23/01/2023 19:00

hmm, what "checks" do they do before placing any young person with foster carers??- The ones that prove the young person is disturbed and dangerous? And what difference does that make? They still need care

ThePoshUns · 23/01/2023 19:08

They don't do any.
They used to do the dental checks for age but then were told not to.
Very often the UASC has no documentation they rely on the 'child' telling them the truth.
I think the whole system is ridiculous and have seen a number of these 'children ' in schools. It's a real risk and a problem that is not allowed to be discussed for fear of being accused of racism.

FlickFlackTrap · 23/01/2023 19:11

You’ve answered your own question OP.
If asylum seekers have no ID, how can any accurate checks be completed. Additionally they may be from countries that aren’t signed up to an information sharing agreement so there’s not a hope in hell anyone is accurately assessing their risk.

PoinsettiaPosturing · 23/01/2023 19:17

A forearm X-ray can accurately age someone between the ages of 12-25 within a year either side, but it's considered inhumane or unnecessary to carry this out on men who claim to be children Hmm

Original poster
Surburbia · 23/01/2023 19:20

@Nimbostratus100 Do you care for young people?
In the UK the SW has a long history of where the yp has been living, who their family is. Not so with UASMs who mostly come with zero ID or history.

OP posts:
Reugny · 23/01/2023 19:21

This has been going on for decades - well since I was a teen and I'm in my 40s. I only know because I was asking a social worker I knew as a teen some questions about news stories.

Though to be fair around the same time healthcare workers and teachers were telling me stuff on other matters I didn't want to know which have subsequently blown up.

Original poster
Surburbia · 23/01/2023 19:27

@Greenshake - have you any more details?

OP posts:
Greenshake · 23/01/2023 19:36

Surburbia · 23/01/2023 19:27

@Greenshake - have you any more details?

Next time I see the ad on social media I will screen shot it and post it here 🙂

Original poster
Surburbia · 23/01/2023 19:37

Thanks

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 23/01/2023 19:39

Surburbia · 23/01/2023 19:20

@Nimbostratus100 Do you care for young people?
In the UK the SW has a long history of where the yp has been living, who their family is. Not so with UASMs who mostly come with zero ID or history.

yes, foster carer .... and yes, I have taken in young people who have a history of violence and crime . What do you think happens to young people with a history of violence and crime? We dont leave them on the street to starve. Young people with a history of assault, GBH, arson, robbery, etc and worse, are all fostered. So what "checks" are you talking about? The ones that say "yes we know all about this young person's long history of violence and crime".... and then what? then they are placed and fostered anyway, what else?

I dont know what point you are making, and I dont know what "checks" you think make people less violent, or less in need of care?

slamfightbrightlight · 23/01/2023 19:41

earsup · 23/01/2023 18:57

Seems to be very little....dreadful...Ireland has had enough...beheadings....rapes...assaults....very little being reported by mainstream media...all supressed.....nightly marches and demos over in Ireland...

Beheadings? That seems unlikely to have gone unreported

Original poster
Surburbia · 23/01/2023 20:26

@Nimbostratus100 tell us about your experience fostering violent teens with a history of assault, GBH etc. It would take a special person to foster these teens. They used to go to Borstal/go into custody.

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 23/01/2023 21:00

Borstals were abolished in the early 1980s. And children rarely go into custody

Greenshake · 23/01/2023 21:40

This reply has been deleted

Apols but we are removing to be on the safe side, as the poster appears to have left a name on the image

Original poster
Surburbia · 23/01/2023 23:17

So @Nimbostratus100 : reassuring stories about your experience fostering disturbed and violent teens? To encourage others to foster them.

OP posts:
Original poster
Surburbia · 24/01/2023 04:58

Oh yes, I've just read about this actually. Thanks for posting.

OP posts:
Kokeshi123 · 24/01/2023 06:12

Nimbostratus100 · 23/01/2023 19:00

hmm, what "checks" do they do before placing any young person with foster carers??- The ones that prove the young person is disturbed and dangerous? And what difference does that make? They still need care

Don't be stupid. If there is reason to believe that a young person is dangerous, this will affect where they should go and who should be taking them on.

Nimbostratus100 · 24/01/2023 07:17

Kokeshi123 · 24/01/2023 06:12

Don't be stupid. If there is reason to believe that a young person is dangerous, this will affect where they should go and who should be taking them on.

Show quote history

I dont think you have the faintest, tiniest clue of the realities. Thousands of children have histories of violent, abusive and criminal behaviour. Thousands and thousands. They are all cared for. Do you think they are NOT cared for because they are dangerous? Where do you think all these dangerous children go? What do you think we do with them? Think about it for about three seconds.

Wittow · 24/01/2023 07:43

The age assessment of a UASC has to be "Merton compliant" which basically means that they are given the benefit of the doubt.

DancingLeaves · 24/01/2023 07:56

@Nimbostratus100 What do you think we do with them? Think about it for about three seconds.

There is no need to be so patronising. I hope you don't speak to your clients like that?

Those who are not familiar with this area can't be expected to have the knowledge that you do.

If you want people to understand the system then they need to be given information or be pointed to where they can find it.

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