When the System Takes Your Child: A Father’s Fight to Reunite

In this powerful episode, Andy Baker is joined by Lee Crouch, a father, advocate, and author of Lee’s Journey, who opens up about his experience of losing his children to the care system—and the long, painful road to reunification. Lee discusses the trauma of forced separation, the flaws within social care systems, and how hope, consistency, and accountability helped rebuild his family. With raw honesty and incredible humility, Lee speaks directly to parents, foster carers, and professionals—offering a unique insight into what real change and co-parenting can look like, even after unimaginable loss. 💙 Sponsored by: Order your card today 🔗 Resources Mentioned: Dementia UK: Admiral Nurses Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge 💡 Three Key Messages: You Can’t Co-Parent Without Trust—Even in the Care System Lee highlights how positive relationships between parents and foster carers are possible and powerful—with transparency, humility, and shared purpose. Accountability and Hope Can Coexist Lee doesn’t shy away from the mistakes that led to his children’s removal. But he shows that ownership, emotional growth, and persistence can lead to reunification. The System Must Change Its Lens Parents are not case files. Children are not tick boxes. Lee calls for earlier support, post-removal care for parents, and system accountability when placements fail. ⏱️ Episode Chapters: 00:00 – Intro & Carers Card UK sponsor 01:47 – Meet Lee: Author, father, and advocate 04:00 – The day everything changed: courtroom heartbreak 08:00 – Fighting the system & fighting for change 14:00 – Emotional transformation and vulnerability in men 20:00 – Sky, Leighton, Summer & Caden: the children’s individual journeys 28:00 – Co-parenting with foster carers vs. instability in placements 35:00 – Caden’s trauma: when the system fails a child 44:00 – Post-removal support (or lack of it) 52:00 – The fight for parental advocacy 58:00 – Reunification: where the children are now 01:04:00 – Final message to parents: Don’t give up hope 🎯 Why Listen to This Episode? This is more than a podcast—it’s a call to action. Whether you’re a parent, social worker, foster carer, policymaker, or professional, Lee’s story offers a rare and deeply moving look at what real change, compassion, and collaboration can achieve. You’ll leave this episode feeling challenged, heartbroken, and hopeful all at once. 📲 Stay Connected 📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining 📲 LinkedIn: Able Training 📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk