Press releases

Daily Mail coverage of childcare social workers

Issued: 23 August 2005

BAAF is appalled by the Daily Mail’s recent front-page headlines, describing social workers as ‘child stealers’ and suggesting children are taken away from their parents for being ‘too poor’ or ‘too stupid’

Having your children taken away when you have done nothing wrong is every parent's nightmare. But accusing social workers of "tearing children away from loving families to meet performance targets for adoption" is both dangerous and wrong. Vulnerable children are often only able to stay with their families because of the crucial care and support of social workers. There is absolutely no financial incentive for local authorities to remove children from their families - it is nonsensical to suggest that there is.

These accusations will fuel mistrust in the system and could lead fewer parents in need of help to come forward. Tragically, it is children who will suffer the consequences. We are also worried about the impact on prospective adopters and foster carers, and on the recruitment and retention of social workers - public trust and respect for their role is critical.

Social workers face an incredibly difficult balancing act on our behalf to ensure children stay with their birth families where possible, but also to ensure that they are safe and properly cared for. Where there are concerns for their safety and wellbeing, the court is rightly responsible for making the very difficult decision about what is best for the child.

Ten years ago, social workers were condemned for leaving children to ‘languish’ in care. In 1999, the Daily Mail ran the front-page headline ‘Travesty of the unadopted’. It claimed: "The lives of thousands of vulnerable children are being put at risk by politically-correct social workers flouting a Government drive to increase adoption." The article also went on to say: "Social workers are compounding the situation by refusing to consider adoption in the hope that they can reunite families torn apart by drugs, sexual abuse and violence." How can the paper reconcile its current stance with this blatant contradiction?

Responsible journalism - not sensational newspaper-selling headlines - should be of paramount importance when writing about the most vulnerable members of our society.

We have written to every MP to alert them to our concerns.

> Download the letter (pdf)

Ends

Notes to Editors

1. The British Association for Adoption & Fostering is the UK's leading adoption and fostering charity.
2. For more information, please contact Esther Freeman on 020 7421 2632 esther.freeman@baaf.org.uk or Jane Elston on 020 7421 2633 jane.elston@baaf.org.uk or out of hours mobile on 07767 444589.