[jameslindsay]

Isn't  it sad that in this day and age this still goes on and scarier still why these women are so terrified they will not go and get help and protection? Many years ago a friend of a friend fostered a young lad from Glasgow. They took him to Edinburgh Zoo and he was so excited. When he saw the giraffes he screamed with excitement at the top of his voice "Anne, Jack come and see the elephants". He was 13 years old and didn't know what a giraffe was - how sad? Ask him how to "fiddle" the government on the other hand and he could have given you precise instructions.

Along these sort of lines, my youngest niece started rebelling when she was about 13 and at secondary school. She came from a very respectable family and her elder sister "sailed through " school and university being a model pupil. However, the youngest just did not want to go to school so did everything she could to get expelled. Sadly, as it was easier for the school when she was not there they kept expelling her which was stupid as this is the result she wanted. My sister fought and fought with the school to keep her there but they didn't help her and sadly the youngest virtually has no secondary education. Social Services were involved but again were a total waste of time my sister said. In this case the system definately failed.

[sandy]

As people often open up to me I was often "used" by Social Workers to get added info from families and young people, several told me horrendous things but I always was able to sleep as I personally could do nothing, however I used to escort families while they were visitint their children and often were on tenderhooks in case they  did something wrong or run off with their Child/children.As with Murphy's law, it could happen and it did but all ended OK. Some of the worse cases of abuse produced the most arrogant parents, I remember one man always complaining about the foster carer of his children, he complained about everything and would only let me collect his family from school!!!!! In the end I refused to work anymore with him as I changed his access from a nice family center to a secure meeting office with security guards and panic button as I felt he was far too risky and I was proved correct as not long ago he threatend a friend who took over the job I had!!!!!!!! and believe you me, he was threatening!!!!! Although I defiantly do not want to work in any more children's homes, I did have some wonderful times working in them, great fun, good memories and often touching experiences. I took 2 lads to the cinema once and I overnight bag was in the back (said this on here before I think)When I came to change in the morning, my pants were missing!!!!!!!But we had a really good  night watching the film and they were the worse 2 behaved in the home but just like little boys to me