Press releases
Statement on Blewitt verdict
Issued: 13 January 2005
This statement applies to the UK
Felicity Collier, Chief Executive of the British Association for Adoption & Fostering said:
"This tragic case demonstrates the huge responsibility which social workers carry in recruiting adoptive families and assessing their suitability to care for children who have had difficult early experiences and may be challenging to care for. So often, the public criticises social workers for asking too many questions, or carrying out too many checks. But the tragic case of Christian Blewitt emphasises how important this assessment is. It is always difficult to predict how new adopters will cope with the stress of parenting a child who may be sad about leaving their previous foster carers and may be initially very rejecting. Social workers do not take the decision on their own to place a child with a new family. Cases are always considered individually and with great care by an adoption panel.
"We are pleased that Sandwell Council have commissioned a Serious Case Review and we will read the findings of this report and its recommendations with interest and care. I hope there will be learning experiences that may reduce the likelihood of this happening again. We must remember that human behaviour to some extent will always be unpredictable and that children even die in their own homes at the hands of birth parents, who, in many cases, never had any concerns raised about their ability to parent. Let us remember that the judge in this case made no criticism of Sandwell Council social workers.
"Children do thrive in stable loving families. Local authorities try hard to make this possible for children who sadly cannot live with their birth families. It is very important that families are given a lot of support after a child has joined them. It is never going to be easy to place three small children together, but the value of doing so is that it allows children to be brought up with their brothers and sisters and to maintain a close relationship.
"BAAF extends its sympathy to everyone involved and most particularly to all those who loved and cared for Christian and for his brother and sister.
Ends
Contact:
For members of the press:
If you need more information or would like to arrange an interview about child care issues members of the press can call our media team on 020 7593 2054.
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Notes to Editor
- The British Association for Adoption & Fostering is the UK's leading adoption and fostering charity. For more information about adoption, please contact 020 7593 2000 or visit www.baaf.org.uk
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