Lucy Faithful assessment

[ParterCharged]

Thank you ever so much for that information. She is in her meeting now, i hope it goes well. Was told yesterday that we dont find the outcome until 7th November which feels like an age. But fingers crossed we get possible news back.
I will let you know the outcome and how your advice and words have helped my family.
Thank you very much

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear PartnerCharged

Thank you for your further posts. I am Suzie, Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

Your situation has moved on considerably since I last responded to you. Both you and your partner have now had assessment meetings. It is good to hear that yours went well. I hope that your partner also felt that her assessment went well. You will be informed of the outcome on 7th November.

You wanted to know how you can challenge if your assessment is negative, whether you can get legal advice if so and whether what children’s services says goes.

You can challenge a negative assessment. It is important that you go through the report very carefully, make a note of any factual errors or inconsistencies etc and that you decide how to respond to any concerns raised/risks highlighted which resulted in a negative assessment. You should let the social worker know in writing if you disagree with the outcome of the assessment and want to challenge. You could get legal help or advice from a solicitor to do this but unless you are in a pre-proceedings process or care proceedings have begun you will not be eligible for legal aid to assist you. All parents are eligible for legal aid if children’s services begin care proceedings.

It is important to be aware that although there are no current court orders or legal restrictions preventing you from returning home, children’s services are the lead agency and the statutory service with responsibility for promoting children’s welfare and keeping them safe. So, if you returned home or had unsupervised contact with your child in an unplanned way, without children’s services’ consent, they would need to consider what action to take to safeguard your child. If they were very worried about your child’s safety, they could ask the court to make an order to share parental responsibility for your child with you which in effect means they could make decisions that you or your partner disagree with.

I would suggest that you speak to an experienced adviser on Family Rights Group’s freephone advice line if you or your partner’s assessments are negative, and you want advice about this. The advice line number is 0808 8010366 and the lines are open from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm, Mon to Fri (except bank holidays).

You can get legal advice about spending time or living with your child from Child Law Advice. And please see this link to additional sources of legal advice.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes

Suzie