:00:03. > :00:09.and living in temporary State care. Less than 5% of them will be placed
:00:09. > :00:14.for adoption this year. Do you know how long it's been? Yeah. How long?
:00:14. > :00:17.Since I was a baby. Children wait years for the State to find them a
:00:17. > :00:23.new family. Now, the Government wants it to take less than 12
:00:24. > :00:27.months. Why does it take so long? Lawyers, social workers and judges
:00:27. > :00:33.think they are protecting the young people. They are not. They are
:00:33. > :00:39.actually severely damaging them. Conner is nearly five. He has been
:00:39. > :00:44.in care since birth. Social workers think they've finally found him a
:00:44. > :00:49.permanent home. He's going to become my fifth child. I love you
:00:49. > :00:54.so much, with all my heart. birth mum is doing everything she
:00:54. > :01:01.can to get Conner back. Everyone deserves a second chance. I've
:01:01. > :01:05.changed now. Everyone changes. Katie and Chloe are six and nine.
:01:05. > :01:10.Social workers are worried they are getting too old to be adopted.
:01:10. > :01:13.Still working hard and looking for mummies and daddies. No news yet.
:01:13. > :01:19.Do you ask people? Just a few who I think might be the right ones for
:01:19. > :01:24.you. 10-year-old Kieran and his sisters were placed for adoption,
:01:24. > :01:29.but it's broken down. Now they are back in foster care. I would like
:01:29. > :01:38.to get adopted again. To see what it's like again. It could happen
:01:38. > :01:43.twice. What is it like for children waiting and waiting to be adopted?
:01:43. > :01:47.Do you know what adoption is? you go to one house and another
:01:47. > :01:57.house and another house and then you live there. Then it turns into
:01:57. > :02:02.
:02:02. > :02:08.The average age of a child being adopted is three years and ten
:02:08. > :02:13.months. Now aged six and nine, Katie and Chloe are still waiting
:02:13. > :02:19.for a family. They were separated from their seven-year-old sister,
:02:19. > :02:23.Sophie, two years ago. She is already been adopted. -- she's
:02:23. > :02:28.already been adopted How dad went in prison and our mum couldn't look
:02:28. > :02:33.after us. Then we had to move to Elaine's then she couldn't look
:02:33. > :02:41.after all three of us. Then we have to move to Corrine's and then she
:02:41. > :02:46.wanted to go to work in the night. Then we moved to DI's. Katie lives
:02:46. > :02:54.with me and Sophie lives with her new mum. Our sister was separated
:02:54. > :03:04.and we might have to be separated. I want me and Sophie and Chloe to
:03:04. > :03:13.
:03:13. > :03:17.live together. Sisters live together. Next question, please.
:03:17. > :03:21.Coventry's adoption team have been looking for a new mum and dad for
:03:21. > :03:27.Katie and Chloe for over two-and-a- half years. Social workers Rachel,
:03:27. > :03:32.has just taken over the case. think we have to admit there has
:03:32. > :03:36.been some drift. Drift means delay. It's delay for the children. I
:03:36. > :03:41.think we sometimes think, oh, well, you know, it can wait a few days,
:03:41. > :03:47.that phone call, or that visit, because we are all so busy. Also,
:03:47. > :03:53.it's not only in social care. It's in the courts. Weeks go by, months
:03:53. > :04:03.go by. And in a child's world that makes a huge difference. Chloe is
:04:03. > :04:07.
:04:07. > :04:14.nearly ten. Time is ticking on. is not to laugh at me when I fall
:04:15. > :04:21.over? Everyone. Katie and Chloe live with Di. She has fostered 114
:04:21. > :04:27.children. Many were successfully adopted. 15 years ago she adopted
:04:27. > :04:33.two of her own. It has changed greatly since I adopted my two
:04:33. > :04:40.girls. It is getting better. I just get frustrated that everything
:04:40. > :04:45.takes so long. I know that all these lawyers and social workers
:04:45. > :04:50.and judges in court are thinking they are protecting the young
:04:50. > :04:54.people, but they're not. They are actually severely damaging them.
:04:54. > :05:03.The older Katie and Chloe get, the less the chance of their being
:05:03. > :05:07.adopted. Kaich eland Di regularly meet the -- kaich eland Di
:05:07. > :05:11.regularly meet the family -- Rachel and Di regularly meet the family
:05:11. > :05:15.finding team to go through a check list. In the last two years 16
:05:15. > :05:19.families were considered. None worked out. I was a bit cautious
:05:19. > :05:23.about who exactly was going to be getting them ready in the morning
:05:23. > :05:27.and out for school. I think for these girls it needs to be a woman.
:05:27. > :05:33.That's what they are used to. I think they would struggle if it was
:05:33. > :05:43.a male. Background of parents, birth. Is there any learning
:05:43. > :05:43.
:05:43. > :05:47.disability? Yes. It's in the permanence report. A family with
:05:47. > :05:53.animals is very important to the girls in the future. That's their
:05:53. > :05:59.top wish list thing. They are desperate to have their own dog.
:05:59. > :06:06.wouldn't want to rule out families at this stage who haven't got pets.
:06:06. > :06:12.We would talk about it. What does Rachel do? She tries to get us a
:06:12. > :06:17.mummy and daddy. Do you think she'll find one? Why not? Because
:06:17. > :06:25.it's going to take ages. Do you know how long it's been? Yes.
:06:25. > :06:31.long? Since I was a baby. Like most children waiting for adoption,
:06:31. > :06:35.Katie and Chloe were removed from their parents. Since the baby B
:06:35. > :06:39.scandal 40% more children have been re-- Baby P scandal, 40% more
:06:39. > :06:43.children have been removed, but there has been no increase in the
:06:43. > :06:49.number of professionals to deal with them. It's a major source of
:06:49. > :06:52.delay. Are you all right to come and let me in. Today, social worker,
:06:52. > :07:02.Sarah, visits David and Kirsty. Their children have been removed
:07:02. > :07:03.
:07:03. > :07:07.and are about to be placed for adoption. They were taken into care
:07:07. > :07:11.because of difficulties in their relationship. It was boardering on
:07:11. > :07:15.violence between the two of them. Also, they had difficulties
:07:15. > :07:20.understanding what a child needs to be safe and fed and just basic
:07:20. > :07:24.childcare needs really. David and Kirsty have seen their kids every
:07:24. > :07:30.month. Now that Coventry's found adoptive parents for them, they
:07:30. > :07:35.won't be allowed to any more. Sarah helps them plan how they'll say
:07:35. > :07:41.goodbye. Did you have a chat about what you might want to do for that
:07:42. > :07:46.contact? I want to see them on the last day. I don't want them to see
:07:46. > :07:51.me upset. I think we can go in the room and do painting and maybe like
:07:51. > :07:56.hand prints and keep the pictures and things and then the carer will
:07:57. > :08:00.come and pick them up. I want to make this a really - I know it's
:08:00. > :08:05.not going to be positive - but the most positive experience, so you
:08:05. > :08:15.have a really nice memory of being together. I want to try to keep it
:08:15. > :08:16.
:08:16. > :08:19.as happy for everyone as we possibly can. A lot of birth
:08:19. > :08:22.parents don't turn up for a final goodbye, because it's a kick in the
:08:22. > :08:32.teeth. You can see why, because you've taken their children off
:08:32. > :08:39.
:08:39. > :08:44.Here they are. It's David and Kirsty's last chance to see their
:08:44. > :08:52.children, aged two and three. The meeting will last two hours. After
:08:52. > :08:58.that, they are unlikely to see them again until they are adults. Do you
:08:59. > :09:01.want to do some painting for mummy and daddy? This is for the birth
:09:01. > :09:04.parents as much for the children and it doesn't matter what has
:09:04. > :09:14.happened in the past. What they are about to experience is probably the
:09:14. > :09:15.
:09:15. > :09:25.worst thing they could ever experience in their life. First
:09:25. > :09:26.
:09:27. > :09:36.time I heard her shout mummy. Where is it going? Mummy! That's what
:09:37. > :09:44.
:09:44. > :09:48.you've got, Hello Kitty. Press that button there. You did it that time!
:09:48. > :09:52.Who's this? The foster carerers arrive to collect the children.
:09:52. > :09:56.They have them another month before the children meet their new parents.
:09:56. > :10:02.Have you had fun? Shall we get your bags? Are we going to say goodbye
:10:02. > :10:12.to mummy and daddy and give kisses and cuddles? Go and give mummy a
:10:12. > :10:13.
:10:14. > :10:23.kiss. Good girl. Go and give daddy a kiss. Give me a big cuddle before
:10:24. > :10:24.
:10:24. > :11:04.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:11:04. > :11:08.Potentially it's the last time David and Kirsty will see their
:11:08. > :11:14.children. Obviously, when they are older, if they make a decision that
:11:14. > :11:24.they want to go and trace their birth family, then they can do that.
:11:24. > :11:41.
:11:41. > :11:45.Or they might just think, "I don't Coner was removed at birth and
:11:45. > :11:52.fostered four years ago. At one- and-a-half he was placed for
:11:52. > :11:58.adoption at short notice. His name is Mr Happy. He's there forever.
:11:58. > :12:03.After just two turbulent weeks, Coner was returned to foster care.
:12:03. > :12:08.He now lives with the Wincotts. The same foster family who cared for
:12:08. > :12:14.Coner before he was placed for adoption. He's lived with them
:12:14. > :12:22.virtually his whole life. I had forgotten how small they are. Look.
:12:22. > :12:28.That's Coner's first shoes. Do you remember this? Ah. Lovely. A little
:12:28. > :12:34.photograph of JJ and Chrissie and we put it on a teddy when Coner was
:12:34. > :12:41.adopted to take with him to cuddle in his bed. Coner has two teenage
:12:41. > :12:45.foster sisters, Jade and Chrissie. Everyone treats him like he's part
:12:45. > :12:49.of the family and even though he understands that my mum didn't give
:12:49. > :12:59.birth to him, like, as much as he can understand, because he's only
:12:59. > :13:01.
:13:01. > :13:09.four, but I love him like he's my brother anyway. Who is singing now?
:13:10. > :13:14.Why did you do that? Sorry. I used to help my mum when Coner was a
:13:14. > :13:18.baby. I was only 12 and I was a baby fan and I used to love him. He
:13:18. > :13:23.was so cute. Then he left when he was one-and-a-half and that's when
:13:23. > :13:31.I was really upset. It was a really horrible time. I don't ever want to
:13:31. > :13:37.feel like that again. Since Coner's adoption breakdown, Coventry has
:13:37. > :13:42.been unable to find him another permanent home. Though foster
:13:42. > :13:47.carers the Wincotts have now decided they want to adopt him.
:13:47. > :13:57.This is the hard copy letter to notify our intentions to adopt
:13:57. > :14:02.Coner. We as a family have decided to formally notify you of our
:14:02. > :14:12.intense -- intention to adopt Coner. We feel that this course of action
:14:12. > :14:22.
:14:22. > :14:26.would be in his best interests. Very exciting! For Coner, this
:14:27. > :14:34.could mean he could finally have a permanent family. But Coner also
:14:34. > :14:39.has a birth mum, Kerry. Though he barely knows she exists. Kerry
:14:39. > :14:49.hasn't given up hope. She feels her learning difficulties shouldn't
:14:49. > :15:02.
:15:02. > :15:04.Kerry left the abusive relationship, 3 months after Conner was removed.
:15:04. > :15:14.But after further assessments social services decided she was
:15:14. > :15:16.
:15:16. > :15:22.unable to parent Conner on her own. Just because you go to a learning
:15:22. > :15:29.difficulty school, you can still care for a child. My friends have
:15:29. > :15:32.all got their kids. They are doing all right. Kerry now has a younger
:15:32. > :15:35.son Logan. Coventry Social Services have allowed her to keep him,
:15:35. > :15:44.because for the past for 4 years she's been in a stable and
:15:44. > :15:48.supportive relationship with Logans father. When we found that Kerry
:15:48. > :15:53.was pregnant, we had a choice whether to tell social services or
:15:53. > :16:00.just do a runner. We decided after a couple of days we would tell
:16:01. > :16:04.social services. They said, you're honest, we will help you to keep
:16:04. > :16:11.him home. Because of Kerry's learning difficulties social
:16:11. > :16:15.services still monitor the family regularly. She has got mild
:16:16. > :16:21.learning difficulties but that is only reading and spelling. She is
:16:21. > :16:27.all right at writing. I have always believed Kerry can be a mum. If I
:16:27. > :16:35.didn't, we would not have Logan. Since Kerry's been allowed to keep
:16:35. > :16:45.Logan she wants to see if she can get Conner back. Maybe I will get
:16:45. > :16:46.
:16:46. > :16:56.Conner. I hope I do. I did say with Logan I would be a better mum.
:16:56. > :17:02.Social Services have other ideas about Conner's future. Dear Kerry,
:17:02. > :17:09.I wish to update you on Conner. I want to tell you about the adoption
:17:09. > :17:19.plan for him as we have made a decision about his adoption.
:17:19. > :17:19.
:17:19. > :17:25.Look. That's what they want, isn't it? I will fight them back. I will
:17:25. > :17:30.see a solicitor tomorrow. It is stupid, really. They should have
:17:30. > :17:35.just gave me the chance. 9 out of 10 birth parents contest the
:17:35. > :17:45.adoption of their children. It's a frequent cause of delay. If Kerry
:17:45. > :17:53.
:17:53. > :17:55.has a strong case, she may be able Where should I start, really?
:17:55. > :18:05.year-old Kieran was placed for adoption with his sisters three
:18:05. > :18:11.
:18:11. > :18:18.years ago. 138 books in my room for. Have you
:18:18. > :18:22.read all of them? Not all of them. But two weeks ago, the adoption
:18:22. > :18:29.broke down. Kieran and his sisters also called Katie and Chloe are
:18:29. > :18:34.back in temporary foster care. They were going to adopt us. I would
:18:34. > :18:38.like to get adopted again and see what it is like again. It could
:18:38. > :18:41.happen twice. Kieran and his sisters are now living with foster
:18:41. > :18:46.carers Mandy and Andy but it's uncertain how long they'll be
:18:46. > :18:52.allowed to stay. The placement is only a stop gap whilst social
:18:52. > :18:59.services decide what to do with them.
:18:59. > :19:09.Do you remember how many placements you have had? I went into emergency
:19:09. > :19:10.
:19:10. > :19:19.foster care. And Pam who has a foster carer as well. And then
:19:19. > :19:29.BLEEP and then here. Are you all right? Yes. You can tell me if you
:19:29. > :19:33.
:19:33. > :19:37.want to stop. What does that one say? Huggable like this. Frequent
:19:37. > :19:39.moves mean the children are constantly dealing with loss.
:19:39. > :19:43.Kieran, Katie and Chloe have not only lost their birth family,
:19:43. > :19:51.they've just lost the new family they were promised as well. Social
:19:51. > :19:56.workers explain what's happened to them through their life story book.
:19:56. > :20:01.We are going to get a few laughs here because you were only little.
:20:01. > :20:10.We have baby photos. Rachel has to cover more ground with Kieran, he's
:20:10. > :20:14.only been seen his book once in the last three years. This is about
:20:14. > :20:21.tummy mammies. You left hospital with your mum, Claire. Andy went to
:20:21. > :20:28.live with her mum and dad, your nan and granddad. Do you remember them?
:20:28. > :20:31.No. They are your grandparents. At that point, they wanted to look
:20:31. > :20:40.after you but they thought it would not be fair to just keep you and
:20:40. > :20:47.not your sisters and brothers. It sounds as if your birth mum, Claire,
:20:47. > :20:52.was struggling a bit. This is your little sister, isn't it? Her foster
:20:52. > :20:58.carer decided she was going to adopt her. So the foster carer has
:20:58. > :21:04.adopted her? The foster carer that she lived with adopted her, yes.
:21:04. > :21:08.She did not have to change houses? She did not have to change houses,
:21:08. > :21:12.no. Do you think that would be easier? You would not have to pack
:21:12. > :21:19.your bag. You would not have to pack your bag or say goodbye if
:21:19. > :21:24.you're foster carer adopted you. It is hard, isn't it? Yes, it is hard.
:21:24. > :21:32.When you lose something, it makes you sad, doesn't it. Especially
:21:32. > :21:39.when you lose people. It is hard. You have been so brave, haven't
:21:39. > :21:47.you? You are making me now -- you are making me cry now. I'm silly
:21:47. > :21:49.Now their adoption has broken down, Rachel meets with the children's
:21:49. > :21:59.foster carers, teachers and independent reviewing officer to
:21:59. > :22:00.
:22:00. > :22:07.discuss what's best for them. we are in the dilemma of what to do.
:22:07. > :22:12.Are we going to look at more foster carers or adoption. At this point,
:22:12. > :22:18.I don't know whether the children are able to do that. The plan is
:22:18. > :22:23.adoption. That has not changed. Within that, we have got to get the
:22:23. > :22:27.children ready again. A Yes. could not quite believe that three
:22:27. > :22:32.years down the line they could say I don't want them any more. I could
:22:32. > :22:37.understand it after six weeks, when your life is turned upside down.
:22:37. > :22:42.Emotionally, this is terrible, I cannot do this any more. But after
:22:42. > :22:47.three years, I was gobsmacked by it. No one knows how many adoptions
:22:47. > :22:50.break down. Almost no records of the numbers are kept, nor the
:22:50. > :23:00.reasons why the children are returned. But state support for
:23:00. > :23:01.
:23:01. > :23:08.adopters lasts far less than for foster carers. It is dreadful for
:23:08. > :23:12.everybody. Absolutely awful. It is difficult for the children,
:23:12. > :23:20.difficult for the adopters, difficult for the workers involved,
:23:21. > :23:27.as we are about to see, difficult for birth parents as well. Clare is
:23:27. > :23:29.Kieran, Katie and Chloe's birth mum. She hasn't seen them for four years.
:23:29. > :23:35.She's had three other children removed but they're successfully
:23:35. > :23:45.adopted. Like Conner's birth mum, Clare also has learning
:23:45. > :23:48.
:23:48. > :23:54.difficulties. It will be six years December when I lost them. Chloe is
:23:54. > :24:04.six and I have not seen her since probably her first birthday. I
:24:04. > :24:06.
:24:06. > :24:12.don't think I heard her say her first words. I have come today
:24:12. > :24:16.because I need to update you about Kieran, Katie and Chloe. You know I
:24:16. > :24:20.explained in December that the doctors had not put the order in
:24:20. > :24:28.Andy went to get some legal advice, they decided a few weeks ago that
:24:28. > :24:38.they were not going to adopt. Which meant that, obviously, they were
:24:38. > :24:40.
:24:40. > :24:45.not going to keep the kids. They could not stay there. They were not
:24:45. > :24:50.going to adopt them and your kids deserve a family life, don't they,
:24:50. > :24:58.wherever that might be. But on the other hand, it means I can share
:24:58. > :25:08.things with you which I couldn't when they were placed for adoption.
:25:08. > :25:09.
:25:09. > :25:14.Oh, God. Oh, my God. That is about five weeks ago. Kieran. Look at him.
:25:14. > :25:21.I assumed they had already been adopted and I said my final goodbye.
:25:21. > :25:27.That is as far as I knew. And then I have found that they have gone
:25:27. > :25:34.back into foster care after so many years.
:25:34. > :25:40.What is next for you? Hopefully I want to have contact with the three
:25:40. > :25:49.older kids, get that planned again and go back to court and get my
:25:49. > :25:56.three older kids back where they should be. Each day a child's in
:25:56. > :26:02.foster care costs the state on average �150. There are 65,000 in
:26:02. > :26:12.care in England alone. Rachel is still looking for new parents for
:26:12. > :26:12.
:26:12. > :26:17.Katie and Chloe. It's been three years. Still working hard looking
:26:17. > :26:20.for mummies and daddies. No leak news yet but things are happening.
:26:21. > :26:25.Don't think I have forgotten because I have not. I have been
:26:25. > :26:33.busy looking. It has to be the right family, doesn't it? What kind
:26:33. > :26:38.of family? You tell me what kind of family you and Chloe should have.
:26:38. > :26:46.dog like Ben. There is Ben over there. Do we need a mummy and a
:26:46. > :26:51.daddy? Not a daddy. Not necessarily a daddy. We have got one. You have
:26:52. > :26:59.got one already but you can have two daddies. How come we can't see
:26:59. > :27:05.our mum? Well, because a long, long time ago, she thought it would be
:27:06. > :27:12.best for you if she thought she didn't come any more. That is sad.
:27:12. > :27:17.Why didn't she come? Because it used to upset her and it upset you.
:27:17. > :27:23.When are we going? As soon as I find the right family. Do you ask
:27:23. > :27:27.people? Well, you know those lovely photographs we had taken of you,
:27:27. > :27:31.they are seen by people who are waiting to be mummies and daddies.
:27:31. > :27:39.Not loads and loads of people, just a few who why think would be the
:27:39. > :27:43.right ones for you. I think the children are more involved now. I'm
:27:44. > :27:48.not necessarily sure that is a good thing. When social workers say to
:27:48. > :27:53.the goals we are looking and then the girls here nothing else, they
:27:53. > :27:57.just feel -- are they just have another wave of rejection which did
:27:57. > :28:02.not happen in the past. The children were not told until there
:28:02. > :28:06.had been matched with a family. Today Rachel's going to visit
:28:06. > :28:14.prospective adopters who she thinks are a good match. The girls don't
:28:14. > :28:20.know she's visiting them. They are married. They have got an allotment.
:28:20. > :28:26.The woman is part of a string Quartet. Claire EU it is doing
:28:26. > :28:32.handbell ringing at school currently -- Claire we is doing
:28:32. > :28:36.handbell ringing at school. She has a growing interest in music. The
:28:36. > :28:41.one thing on the girls wish-list which they have not got is a dog
:28:41. > :28:51.but I think we can maybe talk about the possibility of pets in the
:28:51. > :28:58.future. It is exciting because Katie and Chloe have waited a long
:28:59. > :29:04.time for the day when we find the right mum and dad. It is exciting!
:29:04. > :29:14.Go right at the roundabout, 5th exit. Turn right then you have
:29:14. > :29:14.
:29:14. > :29:19.reached your destination. What a nice little cul-de-sac. If I am
:29:19. > :29:26.right, it is the one with the sunflowers in the garden. A very
:29:26. > :29:29.pretty front garden. I can't wait now to go and meet them. This is
:29:29. > :29:34.only the 5th set of potential adopters Coventry has visited in
:29:34. > :29:38.person for Katie and Chloe. Rachel will judge whether they can meet
:29:38. > :29:48.the girls' needs. But the couple will also have to decide if they
:29:48. > :29:57.
:29:57. > :30:01.Well, I've just spent a good couple of hours with the prospective
:30:01. > :30:06.adopters and they are lovely. Lovely, lovely people. Loads of
:30:06. > :30:12.positives. I'm very pleased. I think this could be the family for
:30:12. > :30:19.the girls. I really do. Although Rachel is keen on the couple,
:30:19. > :30:25.they've turned down other children in the past. They may have some
:30:25. > :30:33.reservations. Because, Katie and Chloe have had a difficult
:30:33. > :30:37.childhood. They have suffered neglect. Yeah, there's always the
:30:37. > :30:46.possibility that these people might actually think maybe these aren't
:30:46. > :30:53.the girls for us. At every stage of the process prospective adopters
:30:53. > :31:03.can change their minds. Even when children have lived with their new
:31:03. > :31:10.parents, their formal adoption is not guaranteed. We are going off to
:31:10. > :31:15.McDonald's. It's Wednesday. I don't know what McDonald's is. Today, his
:31:15. > :31:22.social worker is coming round to talk to him about his adoption
:31:23. > :31:28.breakdown. None of us know whether Coner remembers any of it. It won't
:31:28. > :31:33.be done in great big detail. It will just be that we tried to look
:31:33. > :31:43.for a family for you, the right family for you and we thought we
:31:43. > :31:47.had got them and they weren't. Then, after, she will be telling him that
:31:47. > :31:54.this time they are really sure that they've found the right family.
:31:54. > :32:01.does Coner's story end? He's going to become my fifth child. He is
:32:01. > :32:05.going to stay with us forever. Wherever we go, Coner will come too.
:32:05. > :32:12.See you in a minute. Coner's social worker doesn't want to appear on
:32:12. > :32:15.camera, but allows us to record the session. We can't do the wrong
:32:15. > :32:23.family again. We were really worried that we need to find the
:32:23. > :32:26.right family. Aren't you the right family now? Yes. Guess what we
:32:26. > :32:32.decided? What? We decided you are with the right family and we are
:32:32. > :32:36.not looking for a right family any more because Mick and Jade and
:32:37. > :32:46.Chrissie and Sara are going to be the right family. I'm going to stay
:32:46. > :32:56.here? I know. That's what we decided. I don't want to go to the
:32:56. > :33:00.
:33:00. > :33:09.judge. Do you want to go and tell dad what I told you? Yes. Dad, you
:33:09. > :33:16.can stay here. That much. Forever? Are you staying here forever?
:33:16. > :33:26.Brilliant. Can I have a cuddle. Coner, have you got news to tell
:33:26. > :33:27.
:33:27. > :33:37.Jade and Chrissie? I'm staying here. Are you staying here forever?
:33:37. > :33:40.
:33:40. > :33:47.Is thisy your sister? -- Chrissie your sister? Coner's birth mum,
:33:47. > :33:51.Kerry, is going to her solicitor. She wants to see if she can stop
:33:51. > :33:57.his adoption before it becomes official. The judge will have to
:33:57. > :34:01.consider your prospect of success and what was best for Coner. One of
:34:01. > :34:05.the things that the court has to take into account is the length of
:34:05. > :34:13.time that Coner has been in his current placement. That's not your
:34:13. > :34:17.fault. Coner is now five. Five in July. The plan that he be adopted
:34:17. > :34:23.was not long after he was born. He's really been in limbo now for
:34:23. > :34:27.quite some time. I haven't got a crystal ball and I can't tell you
:34:27. > :34:36.what the judge is going to say, but you have to decide what to do.
:34:36. > :34:43.going to apply against it. Kerry now has to wait for a court hearing.
:34:43. > :34:51.The judge will decide if she has a strong enough case to oppose the
:34:51. > :34:54.Wincotts and their application. Kieran and his sisters have been
:34:54. > :35:01.back in temporary foster care for four months. Rachel has to make a
:35:01. > :35:03.difficult decision about their future. Andy and Mandy are vastly
:35:03. > :35:09.experienced and they are struggling with the three together at the
:35:09. > :35:13.moment. They've been on placement for seven years and they are not
:35:13. > :35:17.adopted. Realistically is it likely that there would be other adopters.
:35:17. > :35:25.On the evidence we have seen, there would just be too much for most
:35:25. > :35:30.people. It's always my aim to get them adopted and keep them together,
:35:30. > :35:34.but it just seems terribly alien to me, but in their scenario, I just
:35:34. > :35:41.see their success as being each one on their own. I know enough about
:35:41. > :35:46.them to either agree or disagree with Melanie. I do. I don't mind.
:35:46. > :35:50.Let's stop wasting time. We need to get on. I need to get to panel.
:35:50. > :35:58.need to make a decision on what you know already. OK. Let's make
:35:58. > :36:04.recommendations then. I'm struggling with the notion of
:36:04. > :36:10.possibly splitting the children. I really am. But obviously I have to
:36:10. > :36:14.do my job. I have to do what is best for the children and sometimes
:36:14. > :36:21.people may not understand why we have to do some of the things that
:36:21. > :36:24.we do do. Don't pull my head. social workers separate brothers
:36:24. > :36:33.and sisters it doesn't necessarily mean they won't seen each other
:36:33. > :36:38.again. The other Katie and Chloe were separated from their sister
:36:38. > :36:43.Sophie, two years ago, but still see her in school holidays. Are you
:36:43. > :36:46.looking forward to seeing Sophie, I am? Yep. It's a difficult decision,
:36:46. > :36:50.but sometimes it's for the best. When you can actually see you've
:36:50. > :36:54.made the right decision and see a child for instance a couple of
:36:54. > :37:02.years on, who is absolutely put down roots and they are in touch
:37:02. > :37:08.with their siblings and it's lovely. Sophie lives with her adoptive mum,
:37:08. > :37:12.Alison, 100 miles away. We found 60 pence on the floor in my car. 20
:37:12. > :37:18.pence each. It's strange. It's a strange situation obviously,
:37:19. > :37:24.because they are my daughter's sisters and you do begin to feel a
:37:24. > :37:27.sort of real family bond. It started very early on. I think it's
:37:27. > :37:31.really grown. It's only been just over a year, but I feel very
:37:31. > :37:41.connected to testimony actually. I feel very sort of rather protective
:37:41. > :37:44.
:37:44. > :37:51.of them. I have two special sisters called Chloe and Katie. What is it
:37:51. > :38:01.like when you see them? Really excited. We go and play games. We
:38:01. > :38:02.
:38:02. > :38:06.always like messing around. We like screaming.
:38:06. > :38:10.SREAMING They are so nice and I love them.
:38:10. > :38:14.It's a different kind of family and I think it's what these kids are
:38:14. > :38:24.very amazingly adaptable with. Kids do accept things more than adults,
:38:24. > :38:27.
:38:27. > :38:31.Kieran and the other Katie and Chloe are still waiting to find out
:38:31. > :38:35.where they are going to live. They can't go back to their birth mum,
:38:35. > :38:40.Claire, as she doesn't have a permanent home, but they do want to
:38:40. > :38:45.see her again. I need to re- introduce you as a person to Chloe,
:38:45. > :38:48.so she understands that you are her birth mummy and she came out of
:38:48. > :38:53.your mummy, not the adopter's tummy, because she was too young to
:38:53. > :39:03.understand. Before Claire sees her children again, Rachel wants her to
:39:03. > :39:04.
:39:04. > :39:12.write to them first. I think I would put, "I was sad." Say, "I was
:39:12. > :39:22.sad that you had to leave your adopters." Then, "But I know you
:39:22. > :39:36.
:39:36. > :39:41.are with lovely foster carers." Can I take a picture of you? You are a
:39:41. > :39:50.really pretty girl. Nobody likes photographs of themselves, do they,
:39:50. > :40:00.really? That's nice. One without glasses. One with glasses. Are you
:40:00. > :40:09.
:40:09. > :40:14.happy with that? Yeah. Thank you very much indeed. There is your
:40:15. > :40:24.tummy mummy. That's mummy whose tummy you were in before you were
:40:24. > :40:33.born. What's her name? Claire. Mummy Claire. That's the lady that
:40:33. > :40:40.wrote you the letter. Rachel goes into more detail with Kieran as
:40:40. > :40:45.he's older and remembers Claire more. On 20th February 2001 your
:40:46. > :40:50.name was put on the Child Protection Register. Because, "My
:40:50. > :40:56.birth mum was mixing with risky adults. Sometimes when money was
:40:56. > :41:01.short we slept in the car. My birth dad offered very little support to
:41:01. > :41:06.my birth mum and he abandoned the family on numerous occasions." Can
:41:06. > :41:10.you tell me what that means? Just left them. "Our home was piled with
:41:10. > :41:15.dirty dishes and clothes, soiled nappies and left-over food and
:41:15. > :41:23.other rubbish lying around. There were also dangerous equipment left
:41:23. > :41:30.within our reach. For example, fire lighters, screwdrivers and broken
:41:30. > :41:40.glass ." So on 22nd December 2005... Three days before Christmas. Yeah.
:41:40. > :41:45.How old were you? Five. You had to go to the police station. -- your
:41:45. > :41:49.mum had to go to the police station. They were arrested? Yes. This isn't
:41:49. > :41:58.unusual with grown-ups who don't keep their house clean and get the
:41:58. > :42:03.food in and mix with risky adults. I regret what happened. If I could
:42:03. > :42:13.turn back time I would. I really, really would. I know where I went
:42:13. > :42:15.
:42:15. > :42:23.wrong. That's in the past. If I could turn back time, I would.
:42:23. > :42:33.Coner's fifth birthday. Kerry gets to write to him once a year. She
:42:33. > :42:38.doesn't know if he gets her cards. Happy fifth birthday. I don't want
:42:38. > :42:47.to put something that social workers won't like, so I have to
:42:47. > :42:54.keep it settled. I want to put where I am, but I can't. I'm not
:42:54. > :42:57.allowed to. It's to keep the social worker happy. Social services will
:42:57. > :43:07.check that now, to see if I haven't put something that I shouldn't have
:43:07. > :43:10.
:43:10. > :43:14.put in. # Happy birthday to you... # Coner
:43:14. > :43:19.is spending his fifth birthday with the Wincotts. He has spent every
:43:20. > :43:26.birthday with them since he was born. Coventry has now told the
:43:26. > :43:29.Wincotts that keary is trying to -- keary is trying to stop the
:43:29. > :43:35.adoption. -- Kerry is trying to stop the adoption. I said to mum,
:43:35. > :43:38.it's obvious that he's going to be with us, because it would wreck his
:43:38. > :43:46.life. I know it's his real mum, but he doesn't know her at all. It's
:43:46. > :43:49.not like my mum is to him. You are powerless and your son has been
:43:49. > :43:53.taken from you, just because of the person you are. I can't imagine
:43:53. > :43:59.anything worse than that and the fact they are fighting to get their
:43:59. > :44:03.son as much as they can, it's - I feel bad for them, but what's best
:44:03. > :44:09.for Coner, it needs to be that he stays with us. It's not about them.
:44:09. > :44:14.It's about Coner. It must be really hard for her. The mum's always had
:44:14. > :44:22.the bond of like being in her stomach and everything. You can't
:44:22. > :44:25.not love like your flesh and blood. But I just think that if she's like
:44:25. > :44:35.a really good mum than she'll do what's best for Coner and not for
:44:35. > :44:45.
:44:45. > :44:48.her. The court will decide what is It's been two months since Rachel
:44:48. > :44:53.visited Katie and Chloe's potential new parents. Rachel has invited
:44:53. > :45:02.them to Coventry Adoption Services to meet Di. She will tell them what
:45:02. > :45:05.it's like to live with the girls. It makes it feel real. I feel a
:45:05. > :45:12.little nervous. If the couple decide to proceed, they are only
:45:12. > :45:18.one step away from meeting Katie and Chloe. This is Di. She is the
:45:18. > :45:22.girls' foster carer. My role is to bring it all to life. Just reading
:45:22. > :45:25.it you don't get that. You need to speak to somebody who has lived
:45:25. > :45:29.with these children and laughed with them and rolled on the floor
:45:29. > :45:36.with them. Cooked cakes with them or whatever to really, really bring
:45:36. > :45:46.them to life. Even though Di can't say anything to the girls, she has
:45:46. > :45:50.
:45:50. > :45:56.to make sure they are ready for a I took the girl shopping and I said
:45:56. > :46:03.it was a new outfit for winter and she said she would rather save it
:46:03. > :46:08.so she could wear it when she met her new family. That has all been
:46:08. > :46:12.put away ready for when she is introduced. So, yes, she is
:46:12. > :46:22.definitely ready. After four hours of discussing Katie and Chloe, the
:46:22. > :46:26.
:46:26. > :46:32.prospective adopters have made a decision. Very, very positive. Lots
:46:32. > :46:37.of smiles and lots of laughter. A few tears but, yes, this is the
:46:37. > :46:42.right family for these girls. So that is it. I just wish I could go
:46:42. > :46:49.home and tell the girls but I have got to wait. What a fantastic
:46:49. > :46:53.secret to be holding. What a fantastic secret. It is wonderful.
:46:53. > :46:55.Katie and Chloe are getting closer to having a new mum and dad. But
:46:55. > :47:05.the match still needs to be approved by Coventry's Adoption
:47:05. > :47:09.
:47:09. > :47:15.Coner is still waiting to find out if the Wincotts will be his
:47:15. > :47:24.permanent family. Kerry is going to court to see if she can stop them
:47:24. > :47:34.from taking the final step in becoming his legal parents. I hate
:47:34. > :47:42.my her. Today could be her last chance. Are you not even ready yet?
:47:42. > :47:51.No. Five minutes until the taxi comes. Five years. Five years I
:47:51. > :47:59.have been waiting for this. What do you think is going to happen?
:47:59. > :48:09.won't get him. I have got a feeling I won't get him. Jesus Christ, shut
:48:09. > :48:09.
:48:09. > :49:02.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:49:02. > :49:06.Coventry has told Saraina to stay at home and wait for a call. I can
:49:06. > :49:12.understand why mum is contesting because I think if I was in her
:49:12. > :49:17.shoes, it is that final plea that shows Coner when he is older that
:49:17. > :49:23.she always loved him and that was never up for question that she has
:49:23. > :49:28.always loved him and she is putting this final plea in to say, I tried.
:49:28. > :49:36.I did try to get you back. I think he is very aware of what is
:49:36. > :49:40.going on. Because, obviously, the social worker has told him. We have
:49:40. > :49:45.all told him today that the wise judge is hopefully making the
:49:45. > :49:50.decision that he will be able to to stay here for ever but we cannot
:49:50. > :49:55.finish hour sentence without him shouting, I am staying here! As far
:49:55. > :50:00.as I can workout, there have been in court for two hours and 10
:50:00. > :50:10.minutes. I don't know how long these things take but to me it
:50:10. > :50:20.
:50:20. > :50:25.You say. You are good at explaining. It went all right. Over the moon! I
:50:25. > :50:30.am happy. It has been adjourned because social services did not
:50:30. > :50:35.follow protocol for the adoption for Coner to be adopted by the
:50:35. > :50:39.foster carers. They will probably still be looking after him until
:50:39. > :50:46.the final adoption placement but I do not think they will be adopting
:50:46. > :50:50.him. Now someone has to go and tell the Wincotts what happened today.
:50:50. > :51:00.do feel sorry for Saraina because she has looked after him. You do
:51:00. > :51:10.
:51:10. > :51:20.have to feel sorry but not too much. Hello. It is. Oh, hello, Paul, any
:51:20. > :51:28.
:51:28. > :51:36.news? Right, OK. Not good news? Right. Right, OK. Right. How long
:51:36. > :51:45.do you think that is going to take? OK. When do you think you will be
:51:45. > :51:50.coming because he comes out of school at 3 o'clock. No comment it
:51:50. > :52:00.is fine. Just get here as quick as you can because I am having my own
:52:00. > :52:00.
:52:00. > :52:10.personal nervous breakdown here. OK, lovely. Thanks, Paul. Goodbye.
:52:10. > :52:12.
:52:12. > :52:19.What? What happened? The court guardian later came to tell Coner
:52:20. > :52:23.of the delay. It will be months before the judge makes a decision.
:52:23. > :52:32.But for Kieran and his sisters the day has finally come when they'll
:52:32. > :52:37.see their mum for the first time in four years.
:52:37. > :52:42.Did you ever think you would see them come home from school? Never.
:52:42. > :52:52.No way. I did not think that at all. I am going to give them the biggest
:52:52. > :53:05.
:53:05. > :53:10.hug and kiss of my life. I really Do the three older kids go to the
:53:10. > :53:20.same school which they originally did with the adoptive family?
:53:20. > :53:26.
:53:26. > :53:36.It is pointless them moving to a You're not allergic to cats, are
:53:36. > :53:56.
:53:56. > :54:03.you? I forgot to ask you. They have Hello. This is clever. Hello, nice
:54:03. > :54:07.to meet you. It is a long time since you have seen them. About
:54:08. > :54:13.four years since I have seen them but six years since they first left
:54:14. > :54:23.me. Clare waits at the house with Rachel, while foster dad Andy
:54:24. > :54:26.
:54:26. > :54:36.collects the children from school. Are you all right? A bit scared
:54:36. > :54:46.
:54:46. > :54:56.Oh here we go. That is Katie. I told you she couldn't wait to see
:54:56. > :54:58.
:54:58. > :55:08.you. Let me have your coffee. You will be fine. Hello. It is obvious
:55:08. > :55:12.who is who. Isn't it? You are a bit lost foreword us all of you. Clare
:55:12. > :55:22.and the kids have just half an hour together. Rachel is there to make
:55:22. > :55:31.
:55:31. > :55:40.Have a hug. This is a picture of May. The kids have collected
:55:40. > :55:50.mementos from the past four years to share with Clare. You sent me a
:55:50. > :55:50.
:55:50. > :55:57.letter. That his school. That is from leavers Assembly. They give
:55:57. > :56:06.out stickers for attendance and I got 99.5 %. That is really good.
:56:06. > :56:16.What is your favourite subject? Science. Science? I remember that
:56:16. > :56:30.
:56:30. > :56:40.one. Beautiful princess. Lovely, We are going to finish up so Mandy
:56:40. > :56:51.
:56:52. > :57:01.can get your tea on and I will get I look forward to seeing you again
:57:02. > :57:02.
:57:02. > :57:44.Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds
:57:44. > :57:54.Can you see over there, clearly? have got a really good view.
:57:54. > :57:55.
:57:55. > :58:01.had better come in and tell me a. We have got a new mummy and daddy.
:58:01. > :58:07.Congratulations! They have two spare bedrooms but there is