Falkirk Council Goes Ahead With Carers’ Smoking Ban

SMOKERS will not be allowed to foster or adopt children below five years old under new rules approved this week by Falkirk Council. As The Falkirk Herald predicted in its front page story last week, the council this week gave its backing to revised adoption and fostering criteria which include not placing children under the age of five in the care of smokers. The council intends to bring in the new rules by the end of the year.

At a meeting of the housing and social work committee on Tuesday, members endorsed the revised criteria, stating it was the welfare of the children which concerned them most.

Committee convener Councillor Gerry Goldie said: “There is no condemnation here for the thousands of parents who smoke in this area.
Their children are their responsibility – the children we’re talking about here are our concern.

“We have only one over-riding concern and that is the welfare of the children in our care.

“I hope this isn’t seen as the council restricting the number of people that would want to come forward and help these children. If we are placing these children with people who will be their parents for the
rest of their lives, we have to make sure we do it right.”

Council officers stressed the move was not a blanket ban, because it referred only to children under five or with respiratory problems. They also added children in existing placements with adoptive parents or foster carers who smoked would not be taken away.

“We have never suggested we would take a child from its adoptive parents because they happen to smoke,” said Councillor Goldie.

A review of the council’s adoption procedures was undertaken in 2007 and this highlighted a need to update the criteria to bring it in line with recent legislation, research and practice, particularly in relation to smoking.

The new guidelines class a non-smoker as someone who has never smoked, or has abstained from smoking for at least 12 months

Councillor John McNally said: “This is a huge step in the right direction and it gives a massive boost to the frontline NHS staff who have to deal with the consequences of smoking.”

In implementing the policy the council stated it recognised there may be exceptional circumstances where a placement in a smoking household represents the best available option for a child under five. in these cases a flexible approach would be taken.

Councillor Alistair McNeill said: “As a former smoker myself, I know that keeping children away from the danger of passive smoking is critical to their future health. Being a smoker did not make me a bad person, however.”

Other guidelines approved by the council say carers should be under 45; they can be single, married or co-habiting – gays and lesbians will be considered; they must be prepared to accept children with complex needs. Those who only want a child under three will not be considered