Alienating Children from Parents - A tactic for forced adoption

Dear Somerset County Council,

A. Please could you tell me since 1 April 2009 how many
applications for a s34.4 Order you have made?

B. Of those cases identified in question A. how many 'statement of
expectations for contact' have you written and sent to the client?

C. Of those cases identified in question B please could you state
which statements you include in your 'statement of expectations for
contact' from the following statements:

The Local authority expects:
1. (the parent); to come to contact alone, to wait in reception
until a worker arrives to take her to the contact room. If another
person or child is present, they will be immediately asked to leave
or the contact will not take place, and the children will be
returned to the placement without having seen Ms Rises or any other
adult or child, or being involved in those negotiations.
2. Not to talk to the children about care proceedings, not to share
court papers, not to disclose forthcoming dates;
3. Not to talk to the children about the allegations made about
their care contained in the Guardian report,
4. To tell the children they will be remaining in the local
authority care until the judge decides but without giving them any
suggested timescales or dates,
5. To tell the children about her own difficulties, stresses,
negative emotions but to offer them positive reassurances that she
remains their loving mother,
6. To allow (older children) to visit the toilet facilities alone
during contact and if (toddler) goes to the toilet the door can be
shut but must not be locked,
7. Not to take or allow photographs to be taken during contact,
unless agreed and taken by the contact supervisor. (the parent)
will be given copies.
8. Not to disclose any information or pictures regarding the
children on social web networking sites or media,
9. Not to comment negatively regarding the children’s clothes,
10. Not to share texts with the children or put them on the phone
to anybody,
11. To intervene as appropriate in ensuring the physical safety
during contact, and to act upon the guidance of the contact
supervisors,
12. To say appropriate goodbyes with a kiss and a cuddle without
showing the children she is distressed at the end of contact (this
means no tears, no telling the children she is doing everything she
can to get them back, no hanging on to them). If the supervisor
says the goodbye is going on too long, they will take the children
and leave contact.
13. To continue to leave the contact venue prior to the children
leaving and to drive away and not wait outside for them to emerge,
14. Not to go to the home of (the foster carer) or the vicinity of
her address;
15. Not to attend (the children's) school or any other venue where
she believes the children might be without prior agreement of the
local authority;
16. (the parent) and contact supervisors will respect each other’s
personal space;
17. There will be no discussions during contact about the wider
issues; These expectations will be continually reviewed and
updated.
The Local authority have the right to bring contact to an end
and/or to suspend contact for up to 7 days.
If these expectations are not met the local authority will;
a. End any contact session immediately, and return the children to
their placement.
B. Give further consideration to seeking a s34.4 Order to remove
the duty to promote contact.”.

D. Since April 2009 Please could you state how many s34.4 Orders
were made due to:

1. Failing to comply with the statement of expectations.
2. Alleged assault of the children in contact (no evidence but
finding of fact by Judge based on balance of probability ie hearsay
of social worker)
3. Assault of children in contact based on firm evidence (doctor's
report, police conviction, video evidence)

E. Of all families subject to care proceedings since 1 April 2009
how many have unsupervised contact?

F. Of those cases identified in question A, please state how many
of the care proceedings resulted in:

1. A s31 Order.
2. An adoption Order
3. A Special Guardianship Order
4. Return of the children to the parent.

G. Of those cases identified in question F as being permanently
removed from the parent's care, please state how many had made a
complaint to the Local Authority complaints department prior to the
making of the s34.4 Order.

Yours faithfully,

Sophie Rises