Hi
I have been given
quite a difficult query here and am hoping some of you may have had past
experience in this and I know things work differently here in Scotland but shall
explain below.
Our Social Work
Department have removed a child from a couple who will not ever be able to look
after the child i.e. they have no understanding of how to feed, bathe or
generally look after the child sometimes they left the child whilst they went
out drinking/taking drugs. All the professionals involved took the
decision to remove the child and intend to free him/her up for
adoption. The child is currently with foster parents. In Scotland
when this goes to Court the Social Work Department must be able to satisfy the
Sheriff that they would be able to place the child with a family.
Unfortunately, our Social Work Department have made enquiries with other local
authorities as well as this authority and have been unable to place the child
with suitable prospective parents.
The Council now want
to advertise the child in a national magazine called "Be My Parent" but the
parents have refused consent as obviously they do not want the child to be
adopted. The Council has determined that the parents will never ever
regain custody of this child although they do have supervised visits
occasionally. I am not sure that this is totally a Data Protection issue
and would have thought as we had been able to remove the child then the Council
would have rights and be able to give consent on the child's
behalf.
Any help would be
gratefully appreciated. A very difficult one though.
Thanks,
Doreen
Doreen
Broom
Access to
Information Officer
Scottish
Borders Council
Corporate
Resources - Corporate Administration
Tel: 01835
826516
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