Shortage of ‘perfect’ tots for adoption

THE head of Swansea Council’s child and family services said it did not have many “perfect” babies for parents who were keen to adopt.

Julie Thomas said the department was handling more complex cases, such as babies whose mothers drank too much during pregnancy.

She said placing babies who suffered “foetal alcohol syndrome” with adoptive parents was difficult.

The condition can affect the baby’s growth, learning ability, movement and coordination - even head size.

Addressing a scrutiny committee, Ms Thomas said the percentage of children placed for adoption by child and family services was very small.

She said: “The idea that adoptive parents have is a perfect baby. We don’t have an awful lot of perfect babies coming through child and family services.”

Ms Thomas said the cut-off age for adoption was usually seven years old, and staff faced tough decisions when siblings faced being placed with different adoptive parents.

Such a decision was needed in one instance, she said, when five siblings had come into care.

“Sometimes you have to look if it’s appropriate to separate siblings,” she said.

“It’s a very, very difficult decision to make.”

Ms Thomas said the three main factors which led to babies and children being put up for adoption were domestic violence, substance abuse and mental health difficulties.

“They (the factors) result in children who have experienced trauma,” she said.

The committee heard that Welsh Government inspectors found good quality practice when they visited Swansea’s child and family services department in July, although they said relationships between children’s services and education could be strengthened. Ms Thomas added that social services staff were co-located with other agencies in a domestic abuse hub in Swansea.

“One of the biggest issues is domestic violence, and violence in general,” she said.

Councillor Jeff Jones said: “It’s a bit of a sad reflection on society, isn’t it?”

Councillors also asked about the success of a Welsh Government scheme to help two-yearolds in deprived areas before they started school.

The Flying Start initiative helped 2,955 youngsters in Swansea in 2017/18.

Joint cabinet member for children services, councillor Will Evans, said he felt Flying Start was proving itself because children who benefited from it were not behind their peers when they started school.

“I think it has been very successful,” he said.

“The ones who say it’s not don’t fully understand what is delivered in schools.”