No Fostering.
 

Not if you are a smoker that is.

Redbridge Council in London is planning to prevent smokers from fostering children under 5 and disabled children with breathing difficulties.

Although I agree with this plan in principle it would be more complete if Redbridge Council also included homes in and around towns and cities where vehicle exhaust emissions linger for hours or even days.

Re: No Fostering.
 

Obviously it would be best if nobody smoked full stop but I do think the restrictions on foster parenting are a little over zealous.

I realise that prospective foster parents need to be fastidiously checked but the authorities are bringing issues such as weight and smoking into it and it seems like nitpicking to me.

It is not good to smoke around children but it doesn't stop them loving the children.....does this just apply to those who smoke in the home or also to those who go into the garden for a smoke? :confused:

Children who need foster care need good, caring,honest, loving, patient parents and as long as people fulfill this criteria I don't see why the fact that they smoke should stop them fostering.

Which is worse?......leaving a child in an abusive/destructive/neglectful home or placing it with a loving, caring smoker?

There is an awful shortage of foster parents and it's not surprising with all these restrictions. :(

Re: No Fostering.
 

I was fostered and I could write a book about it but I'll wait a bit.

Re: No Fostering.
 

Well said Lilly, my thoughts exactly, karma sent x

Re: No Fostering.
 

Here we go again. Pick on the smokers who are already social outcasts. Bet they don't deny potential carers if they drink or smoke the 'wacky backy' or are dependant on tranquillisers/sleeping tablets. At the end of the day, any child needing foster care should be placed with the person who has the ability to help that child and give them the love and guidance they need. A lot of these children have probably come from homes where smoking/drugs/alcohol/neglect & abuse are everday occurences to them. I'm pretty sure the child doesn't really care if someone smokes cigarettes and I'm sure any potential carer would smoke outside or in a designated room/area that the child would have no access to.

Re: No Fostering.
 

Redbridge Council do not have jurisdiction over the rest of the UK. I fail to see what the second paragraph has to do with fostering :confused:

Re: No Fostering.
 

This is another topic you can ask me about face to face.

Re: No Fostering.
 

Well, well, well someone else has walked right into it – again and just couldn’t wait to do a bit of nit picking.

I don’t suppose that it occurred to you that the second paragraph was phrased as it was to see which nit picker would be first.

Nah! You were far too keen to make your infantile point.

Re: No Fostering.
 

And me,from both sides of the coin.

Re: No Fostering.
 

Wow, you're far too clever for me. :rolleyes:

Re: No Fostering.
 

OMG!!! another 'trick' you put in to catch people out, couldnt possibly be a mistake could it?

Re: No Fostering.
 

I too agree with Lilly's excellent post, and not because I am a smoker either.

The interesting comment on this afternoon's radio show .. sure you heard it Jambutty ... came from a Foster Parent who told us that if a child that came to them already smoked, they were not allowed to stop them, and even provide money to buy their cigarettes.

Re: No Fostering.
 

Yes I heard but as I said somewhere else it is always a good idea to leave something for someone else to bring up.

However seeing as you have brought the point up (much obliged for doing so) if the Foster Parent is a non-smoker that puts them in an awkward situation. Do the Foster Parents allow their home to be contaminated by tobacco fumes or do they refuse to take on the Foster Child?


I feel that Redbridge Council has opened a can of worms that could have serious repercussions.

Re: No Fostering.
 

That is stupid as well. How can you be classed as caring for a child if you allow them to smoke?

Who provides the money to but the cigarettes?

Re: No Fostering.
 

Other councils already have the policy in place, why should this one have serious repurcussions ?