My Name is Why by Lemn Sissay

All trainee and professional social workers should read Lemn Sissay's book, My Name is Why. It shows just why the state cannot, for the most part, parent and the damage that it does in trying to do so. It is to Lemn's credit that his resilience and intelligence ultimately overcame the lack of state support for his birth mother, a compromised fostering system and well meaning but poorly trained social workers.

One factor stands out. My Name is Why details the devastation caused to Lemn when his foster parents, whom he had come to call mum and dad, gave him back to social services. How can we have a care system that justifies removing children from their homes on the basis of the care that they are receiving being likely to cause 'significant harm', whilst placing them with foster carers who need have no commitment to them. and often pass them back to social services. My Name is Why. Why treat children like this?

We cannot blame foster carers, because their lives change - they need to move to new jobs, have more children, get divorced - but it demonstrates yet again how 'rescuing' children from their birth parents is very rarely necessary. The state will never give these children the support that is needed in the home, the support that the middle classes take for granted when things go wrong (au pairs/boarding schools/outside activities and clubs) unless it amends the Children Acts, and focuses policy and support on the family.

My Name is Why. Why do this to children?