For our seventh Voice of the Child podcast we investigate whether councils and adoption and fostering agencies are breaking the law when they advertise children online.

Despite legislation which makes it clear that birth mums and dads with parental responsibility should be consulted on every significant decision relating to their child, local authorities and agencies are routinely failing to involve parents in the advertising process.

Whether through a lack of understanding, or a desire to ensure birth parents don’t cause difficulties during the placement process, most parents are never consulted about their children being advertised online.

And no one is asking those children how they feel about being exposed on the internet.

Simon Haworth, an expert and lecturer on social work, speaks to the Voice of the Child about the law and process behind this policy and why he feels adoption and fostering placements need to be reformed.

You can listen to the Voice of the Child here. 

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From the podcast:

Adoption Agency Marketing Children On Facebook Sparks Public Fury

Ombudsman Decision: London Borough of Bromley (18 015 715)