Challenging adoption applications

[MR5B00]

Bit of a long one so I apologise but need some advice….
I had my youngest August last year and had social services involved from the start of my pregnancy due to having my other children removed and adopted (my eldest was injured courts ruled it was either me or dad and because I couldn’t believe he would do such a thing and stayed with him had another 2 children they was removed at birth) I was still with him when I fell pregnant with my youngest and all throughout pregnancy and such but due to negative assessments and psychological i realised I need to be more for my boy, I asked the sw to help me leave in December but they wasn’t willing to help me so I left in January when I got a place to go unfortunately it wasn’t soon enough when we went to court in march April time a placement order was made as they said they couldn’t guarantee that id be able sustain the changes. I intend to challenge an adoption application (I’ve maintained the changes since January doing therapy staying away from bio dad and doing all parenting courses available to me I’m moving to my dads this month which is a whole different county family workers supervising my contract have all said everything in them is positive and I meet all his needs ) my son was in early placement and the adoption panel happened on the 2nd July I was only told this week so my question is how long will it take for the application to be made and has anyone had any success in getting their baby home after a placement order or challenging a adoption application? I’m trying to stay strong and hopeful but I’m scared I’ve lost my jellybean forever, I know I’ve made mistakes and I hold my hands up but I can’t go through losing another baby I just want my boy home I know I can be a great mum given the chance!

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear MR5B00

Thank you for posting again on the parents’ forum. I will respond to your post and the questions raised.

Having had children’s services involvement with your older children and your youngest since the beginning of your pregnancy, you have made changes to your life and addressed some of their concerns. As a result, you hope to challenge the decision for your youngest child to be adopted.

A placement order has been made in respect of your youngest child, and you wish to challenge the application for adoption. It is not clear if your child is living in a foster to adopt placement. This would mean that the foster carers are approved adopters and if the decision is that the carers are matched, they can then apply for an adoption order. You can read more about foster to adopt HERE

If it is not a foster to adopt situation then you can, if you believe your circumstances have significantly changed and the concerns that led children’s services to apply to the court have been addressed, significantly different or no longer exist, you could apply to revoke the placement order. You would need to be able to provide evidence to the court of the changes made. It would be for the court to make a final decision, but the child’s long-term welfare will be considered. Here is information about challenging placement orders

When a child is placed with prospective adopters they can after 10 weeks apply to the court for an adoption order. Read more about challenging adoption orders HERE

Should you wish, you can speak with one of our experienced advisers by telephoning our free confidential 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 will find this information useful.

Best wishes

Suzie

[MR5B00]

My son moved to an early permanence placement in January