Family Rights Group | Kinship carers’ Forum

YoungGran2be wrote: Mon Jun 03, 2024 3:07 pm Hi, I’m new to all this. My eldest son has paranoid schizophrenia and uses drugs, his girlfriend is pregnant, also uses drugs and she had a baby some years ago removed from her care for same reasons SS are involved this time.
Their SW came to meet me, my husband and our 11yr old son. She left happy saying we should make a start clearing out our box room (baby due Sept and likely to be poorly/go through withdrawal) I’m assuming this was a viability assessment she did ask a number of questions and at the end said she’s happy to recommend us to the kinship team.

Our dog (Olde Time English Bulldog) was at doggy daycare. Hes a very friendly boy, he’s a big boy though at 35kg. He’s very chilled out with us but does get over excited when visitors come, we tend to crate him till he settles. We are very responsible dog owners, our dog is a part of our family and we would not be prepared to break our son’s heart to rehome him. Given this, I’m worried. It would make my day to hear from anyone with a big dog passing kinship assessment.

I’m also curious, do they request your medical records as part of kinship assessment. Just wondering how in-depth it all is.

Many thanks

Robin D wrote: Wed Jun 05, 2024 9:50 am Hi YoungGran2Be and welcome here.

I regret I am unable to answer either of your questions in detail, but thought that after a couple of day's you might wonder if you were being ignored. The FRG advisor is very busy but I am sure she will be along shortly to answer them in detail.

As regards your dog, my view would be that it should not be an issue unless it demonstrates that it's not properly under control during any visits or assessment or has a history of biting. The medical records is a little mote complex. I know for adoption you have to have a medical examination but do not know if that's the same for a SGO. Ours were done by our GP who had a form to complete. so while I don't think Childrens Services have any right to see your medical records per se the doctor had to put down anything that was relevant to our ability to bring up the children until their eighteenth birthdays. Having a life limiting or terminal condition would be clearly relevant, but having had tonsillitis as a child would not be.

I hope this helps, but as said, hopefully Suzie will be along to answer more fully.

Best wishes ..... Robin

Suzie, FRG Adviser wrote: Thu Jun 13, 2024 3:16 pm

YoungGran2be wrote: Mon Jun 03, 2024 3:07 pm Hi, I’m new to all this. My eldest son has paranoid schizophrenia and uses drugs, his girlfriend is pregnant, also uses drugs and she had a baby some years ago removed from her care for same reasons SS are involved this time.
Their SW came to meet me, my husband and our 11yr old son. She left happy saying we should make a start clearing out our box room (baby due Sept and likely to be poorly/go through withdrawal) I’m assuming this was a viability assessment she did ask a number of questions and at the end said she’s happy to recommend us to the kinship team.

Our dog (Olde Time English Bulldog) was at doggy daycare. Hes a very friendly boy, he’s a big boy though at 35kg. He’s very chilled out with us but does get over excited when visitors come, we tend to crate him till he settles. We are very responsible dog owners, our dog is a part of our family and we would not be prepared to break our son’s heart to rehome him. Given this, I’m worried. It would make my day to hear from anyone with a big dog passing kinship assessment.

I’m also curious, do they request your medical records as part of kinship assessment. Just wondering how in-depth it all is.

Many thanks

Dear YoungGran2be

Thank you for your questions and welcome to our Kinship Forum. I apologise for the delay in responding.

Firstly, here is a link to our guide called Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A good practice guide, this guide I think, will supply you with the answers you may need about kinship assessments, including health information on page 17.

For your information our webpages about child protection (where parents misuse drugs), care and related proceedings ‘will’ give you insight about what your son and his partner may experience prior to and after the birth of their child. Our webpages for Kinship Carers may be useful to you too.

On the matter of your family pet, I cannot say what children’s services might say or suggest about them, though it may be wise to discuss your pet when the social worker visits again.

Best wishes

Suzie