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Children in Public Care
There are about 80,000 children in the care of local authorities in the UK. Under national legislation where children cannot live with their birth parents, the preferred option is to place the child with extended family, if appropriate, and if this is not possible, every effort should be made to keep contact between children and family members. However, if family members reside in another country, many children are at risk of losing contact with them. Research shows that there is a disproportionate number of children in longterm care from ethnic minority backgrounds, and whilst the majority of these come from families who have been settled in the UK for some time, others still have close relatives abroad. Attempts are not always made to see whether there are family members overseas who could offer a home to a child, or at least offer a link with the family's country of origin, culture, language and lifestyle.
The Role of CFAB
Through its partners CFAB can arrange for the tracing of relatives overseas and for the establishment of contact between children in care and these relatives. If appropriate, CFAB can ask for an assessment of the home environment overseas with a view to the child being placed or returned there, and make the appropriate arrangements for the child to be received, supported and protected.
Tobecki
Tobecki was sent by her parents from Nigeria to live in the UK with her Aunt. She was 11 years old.
Two years later - aged just 13 - Tobecki was raped by her uncle. She eventually felt brave enough to report the rape to her teacher, but when her aunt heard about this allegation she kicked her out of the house. Police and social services eventually became involved and Tobecki was taken into care. Tobecki was receiving death threats from family members in the UK and Nigeria warning her to drop the allegations of rape. She was scared.
Children and Families Across Borders (CFAB) were contacted and asked to complete an assessment on her parents back in Nigeria. Our specialist inter-country social work contacted our partner agency in Nigeria to investigate and assess the family out there to ascertain whether it would be safe for her to return.
Her parents told the CFAB social worker that they would be unable to protect Tobecki and could not afford to keep her. In addition, her mum and dad were opposed to any return of their daughter as the whole family were relying on her to provide them with better living conditions by remaining in the UK and sending money to them. They couldn’t see the reality of the danger that Tobecki was facing.
As a result of this negative assessment, it was decided that the best opportunity for Tobecki was for her to remain in foster care in the UK where she is now happy, able to access education, and receiving ongoing counselling to help her overcome her traumatic experiences of the past few years.
Telisha
Telisha is an eight year old child of Jamaican origin. Telisha's mother decided to study in the UK and after some time Telisha came to visit her mother during the school holidays. Sadly during the visit Telisha's mother died unexpectedly and Telisha came to the attention of a Local Authority. The Local Authority was unsure what to do so contacted CFAB for help. CFAB was able to contact its correspondent agency in Jamaica and with their help find Telisha's grandmother. Telisha is now living happily with her grandmother in Jamaica who sends CFAB regular updates on Telisha's development.
Useful Links
Department for Children, Schools and Families
British Association for Adoption & Fostering
Commission for Social Care Inspection