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Children in care must be able to meet parents
• THE plight of the mother of two children in Islington Council’s care who has been fighting for two years for contact with them made disturbing reading (Mother pleads for return of children taken into care, July 13).
For the children to lovingly draw Christmas cards to their mother last year and then for Islington Council not to post them to her until Councillor Richard Greening’s recent intervention cannot be acceptable in this day and age. Equally worrying is that this is not an isolated case.
The Litten Tree Group was formed two years ago to campaign for improvement in the outcomes of children in care. We are aware of a number of cases where contact with family and friends has been refused despite there being no evidence of any abuse.
Similar to last week’s story, we are also aware of two other cases involving children in the care of Islington Council where money sent to them as Christmas presents over six months ago was only received last month.
Under the legislation, Islington Council must allow a child in care reasonable contact with the birth family. It is important for the wellbeing of the child to receive this contact in order to develop a sense of identity. Continuing contact protects the child against the more adverse effects of public care. Indeed, it has been argued that denying that contact can be, in itself, a form of child abuse.
TREVOR JONES
The Litten Tree Group
Hanley Road, N4
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