I must respond to The Skipper's very misinformed article of April 25. I can assure you and your readers that social workers are not "stealing children" to achieve government targets on adoption.

Social workers in Cornwall, like social workers throughout the country, strive to their utmost to avoid any child or young person coming into the care system. When a child or young person does enter into our care due to neglect, sexual or physical abuse or the inability of their parents to care for them, they do so after a thorough risk assessment by social workers and other professionals. We then have to go through a strict court process which also involves an independent guardian who acts on behalf of the child. The decision as to whether the grounds are met to make a care order, and whether it is in the child's best interest, is made by an experienced judge. If adoption is considered to be the best outcome for the child (the majority of children on care orders are not put forward for adoption) then again it is a judge who decides.

Social workers have long understood that they are in a "no win situation." They are sometimes criticised when they do not intervene and take some children away and at other times they are criticised when they do.

Every day in Cornwall social workers and other professionals work under great pressure and with great skill to protect children from harm. This work is based on what is best for the child and not on such matters as targets for adoption.

Maurice Emberson, Assistant Director, Cornwall Social Care and Family Services Services for Children, Young People and Families