UK Foster Children Had 192 incidents Where They Were Removed from Foster Parents Amid Safety Fears

“Social workers took the drastic action after the child moaned he had also been pulled by the arms in a bid to make him get out of bed.

The case was one of 192 incidents in England last year where kids were removed from foster parents amid safety fears.

In some cases, it was alleged that carers had physically abused children entrusted to them – often by smacking them.

Other incidents saw kids taken away because foster parents had not done enough to look after them.

In Wigan, Lancs, a child was removed after their carer refused to give them medicine they had been prescribed.

Social workers also said the carer did not give the child enough stimulation.

In Birmingham, seven children were taken off foster parents because they kept running away and put themselves at risk of sexual abuse.

Social workers in the same city took a baby away from a carer who could not cope with the tot’s drug withdrawal symptoms – passed to it by its addict mother.

And Oxfordshire Council took eight children from foster parents for their own safety.

The figures were revealed in a Freedom of Information survey of local authorities.

It found that in Wolverhampton seven children were taken away from carers because of worries they had suffered physical abuse by being smacked.

In Portsmouth, three youngsters were taken off foster carers amid allegations that they had suffered “physical chastisement”.

And in Kent – where the duvet-row child was living – a foster parent’s own child was taken from them after social workers raised concerns about the youngster’s safety.

The NSPCC said: “Going into care is a huge upheaval for any child so it’s important they are placed in homes where their wellbeing and safety are the top priorities.

“Too much disruption can contribute to long-term harm, mental health difficulties and relationship and learning issues, so it’s vital that carers are alert to any problems.”

They added: “It’s important that social workers are vigilant, putting a child’s security and safety first.”

Boy taken away from foster parents because they pulled his duvet off [Daily Star 5/22/16 by Matthew Davis]

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