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Adoption groups have warned against allowing social workers to refuse to work on cases if they disagree with adoptions by same sex couples because of religious beliefs, writes Derren Hayes.

Debate over the so-called ‘conscience clause’ has arisen following stories in the national press this week about two social workers who were moved from Sefton council’s children’s services because of concerns they had over allowing same sex couple to adopt.

Although gay and lesbian people have been able to adopt for a number of years, the new Adoption and Children Act, due to be introduced later this year, will allow same sex couples to jointly adopt for the first time.

Experienced children’s social workers Norah Ellis and Dawn Jackson were warned by Sefton council in October 2002 that they could be disciplined and potentially face the sack if they refused to work with same sex couples. It followed comments they made to colleagues over how their Christian beliefs meant they felt same sex couples could not provide the right environment for adoption.

After they consulted solicitors it was amicably agreed they should be transferred to adult services as they felt unable to continue in their existing jobs. This has led to calls from some MPs for there to be a conscience clause in the new legislation to protect social workers with religious beliefs.

But Barbara Hutchinson, deputy chief executive of Baaf Adoption and Fostering, said such a clause would be “difficult to manage”.

“It is not about religious practice, but professional practice and needs of children. People need to look at the requirement of the job – if they really feel they can’t do this for religious reasons there are voluntary agencies that make exceptions,” she said.

Adoption UK chief executive Jonathan Pearce said any clause would be “ridiculous and justify discrimination”.

“I can’t see how sexuality should say whether you should be an adopter or good parent.

“This is not a case of political correctness, we just want to keep the pool of prospective adopters as wide as possible,” he added.

Sefton council said that any prospective adopter is treated the same regardless of their religion, sex or race.