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| David and Heather Bowen, who only smack their daughter as a last resort. |
Couple turned down as foster parents for smacking policy
By Phil Hill
A CHRISTIAN couple have been barred from fostering because they occasionally smack their own daughter as “a last resort”.
David and Heather Bowen, of Whitmore Road, Taunton, say they would never smack a foster child.
But they were rejected because of their discipline policy for their own child, Emma, 9.
Mrs Bowen, 47, a volunteer helper at Wellsprings Primary School, which Emma attends, said: “We’ve been open and honest – we smack Emma once or twice a year, but wouldn’t smack a foster child.
“It’s controlled, on the leg and legal.
“We sit her down and explain what she’s done wrong. It’s a last resort.”
When the panel turned us down, it felt like walking out of hospital without Jonathan – a sense of loss and grieving.”
Linda Barnett, Somerset County Council’s Head of Children’s Services, said several factors are considered when selecting foster parents.
She added: “Where carers have a strong personal belief that differs from the Foster Carer Agreement, it’s potentially unfair to expect them to operate to a set of guidelines which conflicts with this.
“This brings into sharp focus the issue of whether they’ll be able to work alongside the local authority in caring for other people’s children.”
*What are your views on smacking children? Have your say below and vote in our online poll.
When the panel turned us down, it felt like walking out of hospital without Jonathan – a sense of loss and grieving.”
Linda Barnett, Somerset County Council’s Head of Children’s Services, said several factors are considered when selecting foster parents.
She added: “Where carers have a strong personal belief that differs from the Foster Carer Agreement, it’s potentially unfair to expect them to operate to a set of guidelines which conflicts with this.
“This brings into sharp focus the issue of whether they’ll be able to work alongside the local authority in caring for other people’s children.”
*What are your views on smacking children? Have your say below and vote in our online poll.
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