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In the UK we are recently finding that child protection services are now being supplied by private companies on behalf of Social Services. I'm sure other places around the world this has been happening for years but in the UK child protection services have been virtually the last public agency given over to private companies to help provide services. We have already seen what happened when adult social care was handed over to private entities. It's not pretty and it's quite apparent that care suffers and abuses are hidden to protect the share price of the companies involved.

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I fail to see any logic in this or how it will improve social services terrible record in protecting the most vulnerable in society, children.

Private companies can now take our children from their homes.

In 2014 in the guardian published an article in criticism of the proposed changes. The government rolled out the usual sales pitch to support privatization.
That it would "open up child protection services to innovation and third party expertise" which would produce "better outcomes" for children.
In the article it stated:

Professor Eileen Munro, whom Gove commissioned to carry out an independent review of child protection published in 2011, said establishing a market in child protection would create perverse incentives for private companies to either take more children into care or leave too many languishing with dangerous families.

"It's a bad idea," she told the Guardian. "It's the state's responsibility to protect people from maltreatment. It should not be delegated to a profit-making organisation."

New model, Same Problems!

In the UK private companies now provide child protection services for the local authority. Children at risk are still identified by the same agencies, schools, the police, doctors etc but then social services hand over care of the children to private companies.
After the scandal of predominantly boys childrens homes through the 70s and 80s, that model of "care" has been changed.
In the past, children were taken from their homes and placed into segregated institutions, sometimes secure, where they lived and attended school. This obviously gave the staff of these institutions enormous power over those kids.
Kids, often from problematic home lives and often isolated from family and support were abused and when they tried to tell anyone in authority of the abuse (often sexual, physical and emotional) they were disbelieved and given back to the very people who were abusing them. Imagine the fear and the effect it had on their mental health.
I went through this myself and can attest to the fact that it devastates you and leaves you living in incredible fear.

That system was changed for one that uses private companies who provide foster care services and small family units in the community and the kids go to school. Only the most unmanageable will be locked up in an institution now.
As they are in the community and attend school and do all other activities that other children do there is much more opportunity to keep on eye on and support these kids, so you would think protect them from harm.
But it hasn't! Children are still being ignored and let down..

courtesy of azcapitoltimes.com

Close to Home

A member of my immediate family is being"cared for" one of these private companies in England. They are a private company called second Step.

Kate(name changed) is 18 and recently had a baby. Her baby was born three months ago. The father of her baby was a control freak and she was suffering from domestic abuse in my opinion. He had hit her when she was pregnant and so she broke up with him.
However, as a care leaver social services got involved and the company Second Step got involved in the care of her baby. Before she even had her baby this company were positioning themselves as her friend and protector against social services! They convinced her that her baby was at immediate risk of being taken from her.
Then, with social services they made a care plan. when she left the hospital she was moved to one of second steps foster homes where she lived under what can only be described as "house arrest". She had to endure that for 3 months. Then. second step convinced her to move to a house, that they have rented for her not far from mine in a city not close to her ex partner.
The support workers that work for second step will help her make plans to do thing's that social services have deemed not advisable. like remaining close to her ex partner. I'm sure to justify the need for their continued intervention.
She doesn't drink or take drugs and she has never been in trouble with the police. She has full support from a stable mother and family, yet this company still peddle fear of social services to her, while recommending further care for her. She is under the impression that social services will take her baby at the drop of a hat and maybe that's true but this company is quite obviously protecting it's profits and the "support workers" looking at loss of hours when they recommend further care for her.
The house she lives in has been rented for 9 months. It's in disrepair and in a terrible location for a young mother but no doubt this company are charging social services the top rate for a good house in a good location. Now the support workers are saying that if she doesn't have any "hours" from them she can't live in the house and would be homeless which would trigger the removal of her baby.
She needs no more help than any other young, first time mother. She has support and the only threat to her baby is her ex partner who is abusive to her, he's never shown any aggression around the baby when he has contact in the contact center he has to use.

There is an obvious contradiction in private companies providing this kind of care. She is being held hostage by support workers who are on zero hours contracts. So they manipulate both Kate and social services to keep their managers happy and to keep their hours and their money. How can this be fair?
Kate made the mistake of not consulting a lawyer from the start. She was concerned for her baby and was told at the start that after the first 3 months with the foster carer she would then move into her own home. But they moved the goalposts and with threats and promises, manouvered her into their house!
She is now getting a lawyer to protect her interests. Even the social worker is unhappy with the support workers of second step!!
She is 19 and at a time in her life should be ecstatic. but she's scared and worried. She hasn't even been out for a night with her friends in fear she will be censured for drinking and going out. She is a great and responsible mother. but a teenager the same.

As with all the scandals and failings of social services, it's working class kids, predominantly who are suffering and being used as pawns in a game where the goal is profit.
Yet again as with the children home scandal of the 70s and 80s, the grooming gangs of more recent times, it looks like privatization will follow the same script! One that doesn't hear the views, aspirations or fears of working class families and especially children.
I have come to the conclusion that the only people we can rely on is us. We have to share our stories and complaints. we need to support each other with help, advice and just listening. We need to protect our own before they are commodified further and sold to the highest bidder.

#familyprotection is such a great tool for us to use to help each other. I am gaining valuable knowledge and building friendships that help in this fight. Our voices on the blockchain cannot be silenced!
If anyone else has a similar situation it would be great to hear your views and any advice on courts, social services and the law would be very much appreciated...

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