Protecting Our Children

[B00]

Did anyone watch this last night?

I watched it open mouthed, incredulous from beginning to end. Please tell me these kind of people (the parents I mean) are not becoming the norm for our future generations?

[daffy654]

Thankfully the children are no longer with her, they were taken in by an aunt from the father's side who is a residential social worker (after a long and complicated court battle).

[annie0000]

sounds like they are in a better place - hope that things improve for them daffy.

[Ric.ror]

I dont think I shall stop crying tonigh after just watching this

[arwyn]

I used to live in a street that was full of this type of people

Mothers would sit at their front doors getting drunk till 3 - 4am.

Babies asleep in buggies wrapped in towels, while the other kids aged between 2 - 9 would be running around the street.

The next day when the kids cried because they were tired they would be swore at.

I've seen the Mothers light candles when it was too dark and put up brollies if it spitted with rain.

Where I live now people don't believe a word of this.

[ladybirder]

hc, as promised I have spoken to my daughter and can now answer your question, at least for the company she works for so here goes. At 16 years old the children are moved to another house (which will be in the same area, same schools) where the emphasis is to teach them how to look after themselves. By this I mean cooking, cleaning, shopping (handling money and quantities to buy etc) and explaining about bills and that the gas just doesn't come out of the cooker when you turn it on unless you sign up to a utility company etc. At 18 they will be put into a flat, either owned by the company or rented on their behalf and then let out to the youngster. They will be helped to apply for jobs, will be supplied with any furniture they need and will still be supported by mentors who they can call on at any time. They can go to any one of the "homes" in their area where they will be helped even if they just need to borrow a tenner until payday. With the company my daughter works for they provide care and support for as long as that person wants it. There are not many companies like hers and they can pick and choose which children they take as there is always a waiting list. When a council asks them to take a child, when they have a vacancy the manager and my daughter or another senior will visit that child and see if he/she will fit in with the children they already have. That is paramount as they cannot have the balance upset. They are always reluctant to take a "runner" because should that child decide to take a hike they might take one or more of the little ones with them. It is very expensive to place a child with them and therefore councils will only place children when everything else has been tried and failed, hence they get the most disturbed ones. As I have said before on another thread, they have been awarded Outstanding by Ofsted 8 years in a row and I wish there was more places like them. Sorry if I've gone on a bit.

[hc4361]

Thanks for that, ladybirder.
It's good to know that some of the children in care are supported beyond the age of majority.
It must be a very odd experience for a young adult who is possibly instituionalised to be suddenly 'home alone' in a flat and responsible for themselves.

:)

[ladybirder]

Yes indeed hc, very scary for them. Most, unfortunately, as daffy says, don't get that care and as things stand at the moment I don't think any of us are expecting to see that changing any time soon.
I wonder what tomorrow's programme will bring? Harrowing but compelling viewing.