films that make a difference
With unparalleled access to the entire adoption process, this three part documentary series, 15,000 Kids & Counting, follows social workers, foster carers, birth parents and adopters as heart-wrenchingly difficult decisions are made about the future of some of Britain’s most vulnerable children.
Executive produced by Brian Woods and series directed by Chris Eley, this in-depth three part series follows the entire adoption process from the parents who are desperately fighting to keep their children to the couples eagerly waiting to become adoptive parents and bring a child into their home.
The process begins with the most difficult decision of all: the decision to remove a child from its birth family. This episode follows the social workers whose job it is to take children away from their parents and recommend whether they should ever return; and parents who are desperately fighting to keep their children.
This episode follows the search for adoptive parents to a two year old boy and a three and seven year old brother and sister. With the added challenges of having slightly older children, siblings and a child with possible health issues to place, the task for social workers Annette and Jackie is a massive one.
With the future of these children in their hands and recently set government targets to meet, they struggle not to become too emotionally involved as they strive to find adopters before time runs out.
The final episode of this series charts the transition from familiar foster home to the unknown of new adoptive parents. As reality sets in, adopters and the children alike discover that the prospect of learning to love and fit into a family that were once strangers can be a daunting one, and the stakes are huge, with both sides asking the same question, “Will they like me?”
First4Adoption is the national information service for people thinking of adopting a child in England. The information line is open 10am – 6pm, Monday – Friday on 0300 222 0022 to answer all your adoption questions.
Adopt North West has been created to help find forever families for the 623 children currently awaiting adoption in the region, and hopes to get adults thinking about adopting a child or children. To find out more or to register for more information, vista the website, call 0333 400 1230, text Adopt to 83118 or tweet using #AdoptNW
BAAF is the UK’s leading charity for children separated from their birth families. We provide services to meet the needs of some of the UK’s most vulnerable children and young people. In 2012/13 BAAF helped find families for over 700 children through our family finding services and dealt with many enquiries from the public through our UK-wide general enquiries service.
Adoption UK is a national charity, working with and on behalf of adopters, supporting families to build bright futures for vulnerable children who are unable to live with their birth parents. Call 01295 752240
CVAA UK (hyper link) is a charity that represents all 33 voluntary adoption agencies who have many offices across the UK. You can be assessed and approved as an adopter by voluntary as well as local authority adoption agencies; the most important thing is finding the right agency to suit you. On the website prospective adopters can insert their postcode and will be given a list, description and direct link to all of the agencies nearest to them.
New Family Social is the UK network for LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) adoptive and foster families. Whether you are still deciding how to form your family, are on the way to being a parent, or are busy getting on with family life, you can find others near you in the same situation to share your journey. Call: 0843 2899 457 [email protected]
The Fostering Network is the
After Adoption is a voluntary adoption agency working throughout England and Wales to help all those affected by adoption. This includes supporting birth families and reuniting families separated through adoption. Helpline: 0800 056 8578 (lines open Monday-Thursday 9am-5pm, Friday - 9am-4pm)
General Registry Office if you are an adopted person looking for birth family your first step should be to get access to your original birth certificate.
Social Worker - National Careers Service
If you want to make a positive difference in the community, a career as a social worker could be a perfect choice for you. To become a social worker you will need to study a three-year undergraduate degree or a two-year postgraduate degree in social work that is approved by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). You will also need to pass background checks by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
As a qualified social worker your job will be to relate to people of all ages and backgrounds and be able to gain their trust, in order to help them. Often you’ll be put in situations where your tact, patience and understanding will be needed and you’ll need to assess and cope with these situations in a sensitive and non-judgemental way.
For more information also see the British Association of Social Workers
"The outcome was far better than I could have imagined, with thousands of calls to adoption services from prospective adopters."LocalGov.com
"Family Care, based in Nottingham, say interest in adoption has boomed since 15,000 Kids and Counting was shown"Nottingham Post
"Social workers don’t get nearly enough credit for the admirable and difficult work they do. They are damned if they do and damned if they don’t"Emma Smith - My Social Conscience
"the outpouring on Twitter over Channel 4’s 15,000 Kids and Counting is testament to the impact that responsibly made television can have when allowed to explore society’s most sensitive issues."Ian Burrell - The Independent on Sunday
"Must-see documentary"Radio Times
"the series ended in well-earned joy. I dare predict the same for Liam and Lauren’s story"Andrew Billen - The Times
"Filmed over tow years, this sad series has looked at the growing number of children being taken into care."The Times - Culture
"Intensely moving series"The Times - Weekend
"Inspiring series"The Observer
"Heartbreaker of the Week: It was impossible to watch the programme and not wish you could give a home to every single one of those children."Daily Mail
"Not all journalists or TV programme makers are on a mission to criticise social workers."Community Care
""You've got to be hopeful in this job," says social worker Annette in the face of an array of complicating factors including older siblings, and the astonishing resilience of the children featured gives just that, in spades."Gabriel Tate - The Daily Telegraph Review
"This intensely moving programme follows the adoption process with social workers first trying to find a new home for children and later handing over the child from foster parent to his or her new adoptive parents."David Chater - Sunday Times
"Social workers came across as sensitive, calm and professional"Camilla Pemberton - Community Care
"Episode 2 - one little girl even asks her social worker, “Why does nobody want me?”"Alison Graham - Radio Times
"Channel 4 series on adoption led to an outpouring of support for social work professionals"Ruth Hardy - The Guardian
"The three children featured are aged between two and seven years - shockingly, this makes them 'older', and therefore more difficult to place."Daily Mail
"Heartrending Television"Observer
"It's difficult to imagine that a more important documentary will be made all year"Rupert Hawksley - Daily Telegraph
"15,000 Kids and Counting had empathy for all parties concerned in the adoption process"Ellen Jones - The Independent
"I did this film because I want people to see what social workers are all about"Louise Tickle - The Guardian
"Inspiring series about the adoption process."The Observer
"I'll definitely be watching, tissues in hand. "Mumsnet
"This three-part documentary series follows social workers, officials, parents and adopters through the various stages of adoption, as heart-wrenching decisions are made about the lives of children in care."Vicki Power - Sunday Telegraph
"Angry mums and dads are pitched against the system in a heart-rending saga of people with out-of-control lives struggling to bond with their babies in rooms where an abundance of toys cannot disguise the fact that they are being scrupulously observed"Sunday Times
"The adoption process comes under the spotlight in this new documentary series, beginning with those whose job it is to remove children who are in danger from their families."The Mail On Sunday
"Shockingly, and shamefully, on average, one child is taken into care in Britain every 20 minutes."The Observer
"Here we'll meet the social workers, foster carers, birth parents and adopters as heart wrenchingly difficult decisions have to be made about the future of some of Britain's most vulnerable children."The People
"We see social workers with nerves of steel and the patience of St Joan"Daily Telegraph
"This three-part series provides an insight into the heartbreaking decisions that are made every day by social workers, foster carers, birth parents and adopters."Daily Mail Weekend
"This new, three-part series follows the process of placing vulnerable youngsters into new adoptive homes,beginning with the difficult decision to remove them from their old ones."Nigel Andrews - Daily Mail Weekend
"The state's responsibility towards its children can be a controversial subject, especially when muddled by newspaper stories about offspring snatched from competent parents."The Guardian
"New series following the adoption process, starting with those whose job it is to remove youngsters from their homes and recommend whether they should ever return - and the mothers and fathers who are desperately fighting to keep their kids."The Independent
"Your admiration for social workers will go through the roof after watching this fly-on-the-wall documentary."The Sun
"This series shines a light on how complex a process it is to remove youngsters permanently from their families and the desperate emotions involved in the process."Vicki Power - The Telegraph
"Over three episodes cameras follow the monumentally important work of child protection officers and the adoption process from start to finish"Alison Graham - Radio Times