Live webchat on adoption with children's minister Edward Timpson MP, Tuesday 6 January 1-2pm

[KateHMumsnet]

Hello,

We're pleased to announce a webchat this week with children's minister Edward Timpson MP. You may remember his recent webchat to discuss the 2014 SEND changes, and we'll be welcoming him back to MNHQ to answer your questions on all things adoption-related (though of course, questions about other aspects of his government brief are welcome too).

Prior to entering Parliament, Edward was a family law barrister in Cheshire, specialising in the cases of vulnerable children. He has two adopted brothers and his parents have fostered 87 children over the last 30 years, many of whom Edward grew up with.

Until his ministerial appointment he was Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Groups on Adoption & Fostering and Looked After Children & Care Leavers and Vice Chairman for the Runaway & Missing Children group. He is married with three children.

Please join us live on Tuesday 6 January from 1-2pm if you can. If you can't make it on the day, please post up your questions in advance here.

Thanks
MNHQ

Hey, KateHMumsnet, was that more like it

Thanks MN, that was good

I echo Devora's point about the number of sad, desparate posts though

Given the hit and miss nature of social worker's understanding of attachment/trauma/FAS etc, why are we allowing them to be gatekeepers for access to therapeutic services? All the adopters I know have detailed understanding of attachment, loss, and trauma - they live it day to day and do massive amounts of research to help their children. If they say they need help, they need help. There should be a triage system, yes, but a 6 month delay in a pilot area to get an urgent referral? Its ridiculous.

Also, what will prevent the money being siphoned off to other SS projects, as they are getting cut to the bone financially. I can see the new fund ending up like pupil premium, where its absorbed into a general pot never to be seen again.

Also, please please please can we have him back to talk about fostering?

Didnt want to disrupt the adoption chat, because its so important for this to be heard and understood, but fostering needs an overhaul too, especially things like agency carers getting 2-3 times the benefits that LA carers get, meaning there's less money available to LAs to cover things like therapy for foster and adopted children.

We shouldnt be subsidising agency owners lavish lifestyles off the backs of the taxpayer and at the expense of the children.

Sorry to miss it all. Thank you to Edward Timpson for coming in.

Does anyone know the geographical area and population/number of adoptions that 19 Million in post adoption support covers please?

I know Edward Timpson is Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education, can I ask if Mumsnet any plans to have Tristram Hunt (Shadow Secretary of State for Education) in for a web chat, please?

Can I be super suggestive and say that for anyone whose question was not answered or not answered as fully as they liked it to be that they start a new thread here about their specific question?

The threads went rather quiet over Christmas and this may be a way to liven things up, please!

Between us we share some degree of knowledge and there is strength in numbers too so we may find that a number of us have similar concerns or issues and can inform each other of initiatives that are going on.

For example I had not heard of the potato group for adopted teens, and my little lad will not be a teenager for another 11 years but I may well be checking out their website sooner rather than later thepotatogroup.org.uk/ and some of the questions on here might be ones that others can at least offer support on.

Oopse, for another 9 years! Basic maths deserting me!

HQ I appreciate you trying to help us, but yet again I feel fobbed off by mps answer.

Cos money will solve everything?

okkkaaaay.

Wont bother next time someone comes on to 'help'.

Just as bad as social services and Camhs.