Sterling welfare

I read with interest your article on adoption law (see [2000] Gazette 12 October, 22).

While I thought this was generally a good and well-balanced piece, I was disappointed to see a rather dismissive remark about my children caseworkers.

Children welfare work was described as 'just one of their many placements'.

I am lucky enough to have many extremely dedicated members of staff working in this area, some of whom have been doing so for as many as 20 years or more.

They are very committed to their work, and to the welfare of their young clients.

Their careers are carefully managed to attempt always to maintain the balance between the optimum career development for a civil servant and the need to maintain an appropriately skilled and motivated work force.

Laurence Oates, The Official Solicitor to the Supreme Court