Fostering News: Government consultation on sibling groups and contact

The English Government has issued two consultations today (19 July 2012) one on placing sibling groups for adoption and one on contact. In response to the proposals on sibling groups, Chief executive of the Fostering Network Robert Tapsfield said:

"The relationships we have with our brothers and sisters are often the longest and most enduring relationships that we have in our life. We must do all we can to keep them together.”

"If it is decided that siblings must be separated in order to give them a good experience of family life, there must be a consideration of how they can be helped to maintain these lifelong relationships.
 
"There must also always be a careful consideration of children’s needs and views before a decision on separation is made and these decisions are always difficult and complex.

"Where it is in their interests to stay together long term fostering should be considered with adoption and when it is possible for siblings to remain together with foster carers, they should not be separated in order that one or more can be adopted.

"We are encouraging our members to respond to this consultation. We need to stand together and use our collective voice to have a say and make changes in the best interests of children."

Details of the consultations are on the Department for Education website. 

You can send your responses to these consultations to [email protected] by Friday 31 August.

Source: www.fostering.net/media/2012/government-consultation-sibling-groups-and-contact