West End Letters: Debate | Ethnicity of social workers

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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 12 September 2008

Debate about ethnicity of social workers

• I WRITE to you to correct a number of serious and misleading inaccuracies in last week’s paper (Now race is an issue with foster care, September 5).
First, the article incorrectly stated that at the full council meeting in July a discussion about the ethnicity of foster parents took place.
In fact, the debate was about the ethnicity of social workers.
As such, my reported comment “irrelevant… what matters is placing a child in a loving, dedicated home” was in response to a question about the ethnicity of social workers – not foster parents.
Secondly, figures referring to foster parents’ ethnicity in your story were completely incorrect as the figures provided to your paper were – once again – related to social workers.
Thirdly, your story questioned the council’s understanding of race, culture and parenting, but disappointingly, we were not given an opportunity to comment.
Indeed, it is untrue and irresponsible of Councillor Aziz Toki to say that we are “robbing children of their heritage”. Whenever possible, the council seeks to put children in placements that match their ethnic origin.
When this is not possible, we only place a child in a household where their cultural and ethnic background are respected and nurtured.
Cllr Sarah Richardson
Cabinet Member for Children’s Services

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
Please include a full name, postal address and telephone number.
Letters may be edited for reasons of space.

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