Children Being Taken Into Care And Adoptions

Question

I would like the following questions to be answered under Freedom of Information. I’d like you to address all questions over the last five full years. I’d also like you to give me the population of the area you cover and, if also possible, the number of children that includes.

1. How many families have had children removed from them temporarily by your authority?
2. How many of those were single-parent families and how many of those were lone mothers?
3. In all three categories, how many of those removals became permanent?
4. How many children in your authority have been freed for adoption, how many have been adopted and how many have remained in care?
5. In cases where children were removed, how many of them were classed as having additional support needs or learning difficulties?
6. How many parents were given IQ tests, how many of them were fathers and what was the average score in those IQ tests?
7. Did a low score in an IQ test have any impact on whether to keep the child or children from parents?
8. Were the IQ scores ratified by a second test?
9. How many parents affected by having their children removed were assessed for mental health conditions previously undiagnosed, and in particular for Munchhausen’s Syndrome by Proxy?
10. How many children adopted in your authority went to same-sex couples or to lone parents, and how many went to other blood relatives?
11. In cases where a blood relative wanted to assume care of a child or children, what percentage succeeded and what percentage of children in this category were adopted by same-sex couples?
12. Does your authority have any sort of targets or bonus scheme for staff relating to numbers of adoptions, and in particular for same-sex-couple adoptions?
13. Looking at the latest available full-year statistics for adoptions in your area, specifically in reference to the questions above, how do your statistics compare with ten years ago?
14. How many children do you currently have in care and away from their families?

Answer

Our electronic case management system does not currently capture any of the data requested in questions1,2,3, 5 and 11.

1) How many families have had children removed from them temporarily by your authority?

2) How many of those were single-parent families and how many of those were lone mothers?

3) In all three categories, how many of those removals became permanent?

4) How many children in your authority have been freed for adoption, how many have been adopted and how many have remained in care? 3

5) In cases where children were removed, how many of them were classed as having additional support needs or learning difficulties?

6) How many parents were given IQ tests, how many of them were fathers and what was the average score in those IQ tests? No

7) Did a low score in an IQ test have any impact on whether to keep the child or children from parents? N/A

8) Were the IQ scores ratified by a second test? N/A

9) How many parents affected by having their children removed were assessed for mental health conditions previously undiagnosed, and in particular for Munchhausen’s Syndrome by Proxy? The number is not held centrally.  All parents affected have their mental health status considered by the authority.

10) How many children adopted in your authority went to same-sex couples or to lone parents, and how many went to other blood relatives? None

11) In cases where a blood relative wanted to assume care of a child or children, what percentage succeeded and what percentage of children in this category were adopted by same-sex couples?

12) Does your authority have any sort of targets or bonus scheme for staff relating to numbers of adoptions, and in particular for same-sex-couple adoptions? No

13) Looking at the latest available full-year statistics for adoptions in your area, specifically in reference to the questions above, how do your statistics compare with ten years ago? Over the last six years there has been a 300% increase in the authorities use of permanence plans including adoption

14) How many children do you currently have in care and away from their families? As at 31/7/2017 is 23 children.