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From our own correspondent..... 25 May 2006
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Camilla
Cavendish states " “A significant number of (abusive) parents,” say
the guidelines, “are likely to report having experienced genuine
medical problems. They may or may not have been substantiated by
medical investigations.” Come again? Their children may “present a
rosy picture to the outside world”, “have been seriously ill” or have
a medical history that started early in life. This is a charter for
Little Hitlers and busybodies."
What the MPs have not yet taken up is the labyrinthine links of the
'Little Hitlers' and the charities that benefit so substantially from
the 'conflict of interests' that are document.
Here are just some examples:
1......In Essex County Council....Liz Railton ( Director of Social
Services ) and Tony Sharp ( County Adoptions Manager) are also named
in document with Companies House as Directors and trustees of the
charity, thru British Association for Adoption & Fostering ( BAAF).
BAAF is the foremost membership 'union' for fostering and adoption and
all adoption and fostering agencies espouse to be members of BAAF.
2......Douglas Alexander ( Chairman of CAFCASS ....advises the courts
on children and families and provides guardians ad litems ) is also a
director and trustee of BAAF.
3......A total of 10 out of 18 directors and trustees of BAAF are also
senior social workers. This must constitute a substantial 'conflict of
interests' that raises suspicions that a momentum of adoptions is
maintained, to supply BAAF.
BAAF sells a huge volume of publications and published material
to...... the local authorities. In the year ended March 2005, BAAF
sold £656,000 worth of books....A majority to local authorities. This
is a phenomenal amount for a commercial book seller; let alone an
adoptions charity with this ancillary 'business'. There are suspicions
that the 'conflict of interests' is fuelling a business arrangement
that is not in the public interests.
BAAF is paid about £12,000 for each adoption it arranges by way of
finding suitable parents for the children in council care. However,
these close links and the 'conflict of interests' raises suspicions
that they are either 'cherry picking' the children that best suits
BAAF...Or children are being taken into Care ...on a sort of....... '
by order'.
It is noticeable that the children adopted from the children in
council Care, exclude almost completely, black/ethnic children and
disabled children.
That the most sought after children for adoption are white, young/very
young and fit .......And this group is what is reflected in the
recorded statistics I have received from a number of local
authorities, including Essex County Council; raises suspicions that
the 'conflict of interests' has indeed gone beyond the theoretical.
4..... Social workers are local government officials. They are not
required to complete ' a register of outside interests'.
Unlike members of parliament ( MP ) and elected councillors, social
workers might well have a financial interest in an adoption agency,
fostering agency, their husband/wife/family member might be running
the adoption/foster agency....We will never know....This is not in the
public interest.
There is a suspicion that there are these links. The public are
ignored and face hostility when these issues are raised....Why ?
5......Essex County Council has been reported to the Office Of the
Deputy Prime Minister ( ODPM ) for submitting a false and fraudulent
application for Beacon Status Award in 2002-3 ( adoption).
Essex County Council was awarded the Beacon Status Award, which
included among other 'prizes' a cheque for £42.215. ....This was to be
spent on 'adoption'.
The Beacon Award Dept at the ODPM's office in London has confirmed it
is dealing with this complaint. which includes the demand that Essex
County Council be stripped of this award, in a public announcement,
and the £42,215 returned to the ODPM's department.
There is concern that the ODPM's Department might seek to mitigate the
investigation and ensure a 'cover -up'.
6....There is evidence that has been submitted to the Council for
Racial Equality, that current legislation concerning the equal
opportunities legislation has been breached with impunity by Essex
County Council ( and many other councils around the country ). This
from the council's own records.............Black/ethnic children are
almost completely excluded from being adopted, from the pool of
children in council care.
7.......There is evidence that the Disability Rights Act has been
breached with impunity by Essex County Council ( and other councils ).
This from the council's own records that show that disabled children
in council Care are almost totally excluded from being adopted.
6 & 7 are concerning because they refer back to the suspicion of the
links between the charities and local government officials.
8.......There is more.........!!!!
It is time some of the members of Parliament started asking some
questions....Don't you think? |
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