Hi my daughter was volunteered by me for her to stay at her grandparents on section 17 and now there moved it to section 20 2hat I feel like I had no option really didn't want to agree but there take care proceedings is this right under drug misuse and they also think I have alcohol issues which is not true and dv also mental health problems so she got put on child protection plan, so I've admitted to using and drinking now and then but not around my daughter I was out while her dad was watching her when I was using but since I volunteered for her stay with his parents on section 17 child protection plan I've started using alot more they now want hair strand test I've admitted my using and I know I'll fail first 1 can they go straight to care proceedings
And I'm losing plot a bit 2ith my mental health and I'm using alot more so will be high the situation I'm in with my daughter not been here and my mental health I'm stuck in a rut what would happen with my parental responsibility if I went to rehab and my home and would I still be allowed to go to contact
Section 20 voluntary with family
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Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4722
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 1:57 pm
Re: Section 20 voluntary with family
Dear Penny92
Welcome to the parents’ discussion forum and thank you for posting.
My name is Suzie, online adviser at Family Rights Group and I will be responding to your post today. I am not sure where in the UK you are based but I will respond based on procedures in England.
You say that you voluntarily placed your daughter under s.17. My understanding of s.17 is where a person is looking after a child, and children’s services offer financial support under s.17. Alternatively, there was a child in need assessment under s17 and a decision made to offer support to the family. In some circumstances, a child is a child in need if they have a disability. Here is information about Child in need
Section 20 voluntary arrangement means that a parent or person with parental responsibility has agreed for children’s services (new name for social services) provide accommodation for the child away from the family home. Children’s services usually ask for this agreement unless it is an emergency for child to be kept safe. If section 20 is not agreed they would have to apply to the court for an order.
In your post you have stated the difficulties you are having with drugs and alcohol which I believe is a concern for children’s services where a child is in that environment. Your daughter was on a child protection plan and it seems from what you say that it was stepped down to child in need (s.17).
Now that you have admitted using drugs and alcohol, it is a positive step as you can now engage with services that help persons in your situation.
You are worried that a hair strand test will be positive as your use of drugs has increased since your daughter is now with her paternal grandparents. I understand that this is scary for you but on the positive side, if you have high use, further tests will show a reduction if you start to work to address your drug and alcohol use. A positive hair strand test does not have to mean court proceedings are started but it can show what support you might need to reduce or stop using drugs and alcohol.
It must be difficult for you to be without your daughter, and I am sorry that your mental health has deteriorated. I believe it is important for you and your daughter that you seek help from your GP and your local mental health services. Try to be proactive in seeking help so children’s services can see the changes you are trying to make to your life.
You ask what would happen to your parental responsibility if you went into rehab. As a mother you continue to have parental responsibility and the only way parents lose parental responsibility is if their child is adopted or a court decided it would be best for a child to remove parental responsibility. Regarding your home, I do not think you would lose this as you would not give up your tenancy, speak with your housing officer about this.
Regarding contact, I think you would continue to have contact which would be supervised, this contact may be with additional rules such as not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs when you attend. Ensure you attend all contact and on time. You should be able to get financial help if you have to travel long distance for contact.
Here are links to information from out website relating to:
1. Child protection
2. Section 20 voluntary arrangement
These relate to concerns children's services have when they become involved
3. Drug and alcohol misuse
4. Adult mental health
5. This is a Guide to working with social workers
I have given you a several links which you can read over time as you are able.
In addition to speaking with your GP, you could try to speak with MIND 0300 123 3393 and Family Action Family Line 0808 802 6666 for support. You can also contact Women’s Aid 0808 200 0247 in respect of the domestic violence mentioned in your post.
I hope that you will be able to engage with services to get appropriate help to address the difficulties you are experiencing.
You may wish to speak with an experienced adviser and, if so, you can telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Hope you find this helpful.
Best wishes
Suzie
Welcome to the parents’ discussion forum and thank you for posting.
My name is Suzie, online adviser at Family Rights Group and I will be responding to your post today. I am not sure where in the UK you are based but I will respond based on procedures in England.
You say that you voluntarily placed your daughter under s.17. My understanding of s.17 is where a person is looking after a child, and children’s services offer financial support under s.17. Alternatively, there was a child in need assessment under s17 and a decision made to offer support to the family. In some circumstances, a child is a child in need if they have a disability. Here is information about Child in need
Section 20 voluntary arrangement means that a parent or person with parental responsibility has agreed for children’s services (new name for social services) provide accommodation for the child away from the family home. Children’s services usually ask for this agreement unless it is an emergency for child to be kept safe. If section 20 is not agreed they would have to apply to the court for an order.
In your post you have stated the difficulties you are having with drugs and alcohol which I believe is a concern for children’s services where a child is in that environment. Your daughter was on a child protection plan and it seems from what you say that it was stepped down to child in need (s.17).
Now that you have admitted using drugs and alcohol, it is a positive step as you can now engage with services that help persons in your situation.
You are worried that a hair strand test will be positive as your use of drugs has increased since your daughter is now with her paternal grandparents. I understand that this is scary for you but on the positive side, if you have high use, further tests will show a reduction if you start to work to address your drug and alcohol use. A positive hair strand test does not have to mean court proceedings are started but it can show what support you might need to reduce or stop using drugs and alcohol.
It must be difficult for you to be without your daughter, and I am sorry that your mental health has deteriorated. I believe it is important for you and your daughter that you seek help from your GP and your local mental health services. Try to be proactive in seeking help so children’s services can see the changes you are trying to make to your life.
You ask what would happen to your parental responsibility if you went into rehab. As a mother you continue to have parental responsibility and the only way parents lose parental responsibility is if their child is adopted or a court decided it would be best for a child to remove parental responsibility. Regarding your home, I do not think you would lose this as you would not give up your tenancy, speak with your housing officer about this.
Regarding contact, I think you would continue to have contact which would be supervised, this contact may be with additional rules such as not being under the influence of alcohol or drugs when you attend. Ensure you attend all contact and on time. You should be able to get financial help if you have to travel long distance for contact.
Here are links to information from out website relating to:
1. Child protection
2. Section 20 voluntary arrangement
These relate to concerns children's services have when they become involved
3. Drug and alcohol misuse
4. Adult mental health
5. This is a Guide to working with social workers
I have given you a several links which you can read over time as you are able.
In addition to speaking with your GP, you could try to speak with MIND 0300 123 3393 and Family Action Family Line 0808 802 6666 for support. You can also contact Women’s Aid 0808 200 0247 in respect of the domestic violence mentioned in your post.
I hope that you will be able to engage with services to get appropriate help to address the difficulties you are experiencing.
You may wish to speak with an experienced adviser and, if so, you can telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).
Hope you find this helpful.
Best wishes
Suzie
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