The text here is from the Essex Enquirer which is available on the web, but only as a PDF which is quite difficult to negotiate. What it demonstrates is the court deciding that a child should be adopted after it had been confirmed that the parents were good enough parents for a newer child. This is one of the things that happens that I really do not think is right.
Inept Social Services have written to a mother of five telling
her she is a good parent – despite taking four of her children away
for adoption. The 33-year-old was told she could keep her fifth child just days before a four-year court battle with Essex County Council ended with her fourth child released for adoption.
On Friday, the judge also took the unusual step of insisting the
Brentwood woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, be
given regular access to the fourth child when he was re-homed.
But on 21 September social services wrote to the woman,who
is in a “committed” relationship, stating “no further action” would
be taken against a fifth youngster born since the initial proceedings
started because their parenting is “good enough”.
The letter concluded:
“Integration with [the child] is good and he was appropriately
dressed and is regularly fed. Suggest no further action at this
time as parenting is good enough.” Three of the children
were successfully released for adoption in 2005 after the county
council first took action to remove all four in 2003.
The mother called the council officials dealing with the case
“hypocrites” with “too much power to ruin lives”.
She told The Enquirer:“I’m angry they can do this – it shows that
children are being taken away from parents who don’t deserve
to lose them. “And they shouldn’t the power to do that. They said I was a good
parent and went on to take my child away anyway.” Her ward councillor Barry
Aspinell demanded an investigation into Essex County Council’s procedures and
particularly the social worker involved in the case. “These people have gone
through absolute hell for four years and I’m so angry that things like this are being allowed to happen in my town,” he said.
“They’ve clearly said her parenting skills are OK and there’s no problem with her youngest child.” But he praised the court’s “major” decision to grant the
mother access to one of the children in his adoptive home. Eric Pickles, Tory MP for
Brentwood, said: “If this lady would like to get in touch with me
then I will be happy to do my best to try and help her.”
A spokesman for Essex County Council was unavailable for comment as The Enquirer went to print.
Inept Social Services have written to a mother of five telling
her she is a good parent – despite taking four of her children away
for adoption. The 33-year-old was told she could keep her fifth child just days before a four-year court battle with Essex County Council ended with her fourth child released for adoption.
On Friday, the judge also took the unusual step of insisting the
Brentwood woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, be
given regular access to the fourth child when he was re-homed.
But on 21 September social services wrote to the woman,who
is in a “committed” relationship, stating “no further action” would
be taken against a fifth youngster born since the initial proceedings
started because their parenting is “good enough”.
The letter concluded:
“Integration with [the child] is good and he was appropriately
dressed and is regularly fed. Suggest no further action at this
time as parenting is good enough.” Three of the children
were successfully released for adoption in 2005 after the county
council first took action to remove all four in 2003.
The mother called the council officials dealing with the case
“hypocrites” with “too much power to ruin lives”.
She told The Enquirer:“I’m angry they can do this – it shows that
children are being taken away from parents who don’t deserve
to lose them. “And they shouldn’t the power to do that. They said I was a good
parent and went on to take my child away anyway.” Her ward councillor Barry
Aspinell demanded an investigation into Essex County Council’s procedures and
particularly the social worker involved in the case. “These people have gone
through absolute hell for four years and I’m so angry that things like this are being allowed to happen in my town,” he said.
“They’ve clearly said her parenting skills are OK and there’s no problem with her youngest child.” But he praised the court’s “major” decision to grant the
mother access to one of the children in his adoptive home. Eric Pickles, Tory MP for
Brentwood, said: “If this lady would like to get in touch with me
then I will be happy to do my best to try and help her.”
A spokesman for Essex County Council was unavailable for comment as The Enquirer went to print.
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