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Written evidence from A. Kornas (CFA0063)
HOUSE OF LORDS CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ACT 2014 SELECT COMMITTEE INQURY
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Summary
The Childrens Act does not protect the best interests of children and families. The authorities look blankly when you refer to its contents and ignore the childs views and feelings.
Authorities should be legally obliged to implement or be held accountable. There should be an organisation for reporting breaches. Do you monitor its use?
Misogynistic system.
There are 100’s of parents that have lost their children to their abusive ex due to neglect by the authorities who blatantly ignore reports of harm through domestic abuse and child abuse. The authorities then continue to ignore the protective parent or listen to the child who expresses their wishes and the child is then given untrue details regarding the alienated parent. Reports are fabricated by the authorities in line with their decision.
The childs best interests are not considered. Maintaining a loving, safe relationship with their mother is paramount.
These parents have had no recourse and difficulty comprehending the traumatic process. The above issues are not addressed and are still occurring.
Families are destroyed having suffered psychological harm and trauma caused by unnecessary separation. Siblings are separated.
Human Rights are breached by the authorities. Mothers alienated by the Courts & LA with no evidence.
Yes, children at risk due to evident abuses, drugs, alcohol, exploitation etc should be removed yet these cases are ignored.
Childrens Act 2014
Having read the Childrens & Families Act 2014 summary I note several issues that I feel are cause for concern:
No mention of emotional support/ counselling services. An important welfare issue. New specialist organisations are needed to support victims of the Family courts involved in wrongfully removed children. Financial support & housing
No mention of keeping siblings together
Harm is caused by removal (unless vital) especially when custody is given to abusers
No mention of responsibility/accountability of workers with doubt being able to raise their concerns without repercussions and having a duty to do so
No support or advice for natural parents who have no knowledge of the process
Investigation & Assessment process is not adequate – police logs, medical history etc
Human and Family Rights are not maintained. Mothers alienated with no evidence. Child put at risk
Part 1 Adoption & Contact
No provision for return of wrongly removed/adopted children
Reunification with previously adopted children & parents date should be prior to 2005 i.e. 1980’s Many children were forcibly adopted.
Nothing should be completed swiftly if the natural parents object to adoption due to any genuine concern over removal. There are cases where the child has a genuine medical reason for an injury. Abuse allegations dismissed.
Cultural history should be considered
Adoption agencies are too business like. Not in the best interest of any child.
A public inspection/search system would make a child feel “objectified, dehumanised and belittled”
Financial & emotional support for natural parents before a child is removed for these reasons, not just adoptive parents
Emotional harm is caused to the child long-term when they become aware their natural parent always wanted them however was not supported at that time.
Part 2 Family Justice
Private Family Law
Specialist training for all involved including Judges, in all aspects of recognising abuse and understanding child development and their ability to understand
Joint mediation is not suitable for the abused
How will you determine safe when abuse allegations are not believed? Judges ignore evidence.
What activities and who will facilitate? Consider all the facts. Ask relevant questions.
Full family history must be considered at time of divorce to ascertain who should hold full custody. Incorporate family and criminal history. Any undisclosed issues. Ask appropriate questions. Prevention of further harm
Legal Aid & Duty of care by solicitors (same representation as a paying client)
Public Family Law
No provision for return of wrongly removed children
Specialist training for all involved including Judges, in all aspects of recognising abuse and understanding child development and their understanding
Yes, to extending the time scale as the process always has complications as deadlines are rarely met
Child focused...should mean listening, observing, and implementing their wishes and feelings, not just be ticking boxes on a form then ignoring the facts
A court cannot decide anything, if they do not have the full facts and the information produced is deceptive. Judges ignore evidence
Interim care order time limit should stand so that the authorities are monitored. A parent should maintain their overall rights when the authority fails to act within their own procedures. Do not remove children unless there is evidence of risk of serious and immediate harm. You cause significant emotional harm and parental deaths
An “experts” opinion is meaningless when they are paid for by the authority that wants to remove a child. Corrupt.
Legal Aid & Duty of care by solicitors (same representation as a paying client)
Part 3 Children & young people with special educational needs and disabilities
Specialist training for all involved
Parents must be listened to and be fully involved in assessments
Funding needs to be increased & available
Travel method must be available and funded
Staffing
Part 4 Childcare
Childminders are chosen by parents who prefer a natural, nurturing, educational and homely environment and not a school/institutional environment. Too much emphasis has been placed on childminders to be like a nursery school. Not nurturing. They will become too expensive through an agency unless the agency is a dept of the LA.
How often and who will monitor childcare services are sufficient and affordable?
Help parents care for their own children.
Society no longer has respect, principles or morals. No loving & nurturing foundation. Institutionalised too young.
Part 5 Welfare of children
What action will be taken to protect children not only from tobacco but drugs and alcohol issues? This is how some abusers entice and sedate their victims
Teaching of appropriate behaviours and abusive behaviours and schools to reprimand students
Protection from sexual exploitation including unnecessary early education in school
Children in care do not know what their legal rights are, this information is withheld so they do not question their placement and if they do, they are lied to
Placement should be allowed up until age 23 if necessary
If children are looked after, their educational achievements should always be promoted not discarded
Funding will be required to support children with medical needs or transfer to referral units
The LA is failing to offer an adequate standard of care throughout children services and families are destroyed and suffer emotional & psychological harm
Childrens homes emotionally fail and do not protect children. Drugs, alcohol, smoking and abuse from outside individuals
A school should feed any child they believe to be undernourished or neglected.
Schools should record all incidents reported to them that could potentially implicate abuse that may not yet be obvious
Part 6 The Childrens Commissioner
Automatic referral and then monitoring of cases
Accessibility to and action taken when contacted.
Review cases
Parental Leave etc
Parents should be encouraged to care for their own children up to school age and extra benefits given to them, not given to an outside organisation. This enables children, and nurtures the foundation of emotion, respect, morals, learning and confidence. Parents can parent.
Offer parenting classes as required to new parents
Time off should be allowed if working, with pay. The childs needs should be paramount and they should be priority.
This is what the Childrens Act should be all about. Protection.
April 2022
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