EXPECTATIONS OF FOSTER CARER??

[Murray72]

Hi I am hoping I can find some advice on the expectations of the Foster Carer's with regards to promoting or assisting the relationship between the Child in care and Birth Mother and Siblings?

As many know my Daughter has been in Foster Care for 3 years, however the FC has consistently had a negative view of the Birth Family and in my opinion became too attached to my Daughter. The FC consistently refuse to remind my Daughter regarding family Birthdays and important dates, they refuse to assist my Daughter with any contact and she has to attend contact a minimum of 8 miles away in a Taxi, they are difficult whenever possible, and contact often has to be re-arranged due to prior committments.

My Daughter was due for a home visit shortly and within a 72 hour period she has done a complete u-turn and decided she does not feel ready for this visit, I think she has been influenced negatively by her FC and think this should be addressed by CS.

Does anybody have any helpful advice, I am all out of options and the only option viable for e now is to take the Case back to Court to challenge the Care Order.

Advice please.

[Basil]

Sorry I can't give you any advise, my situation sounds a lot like yours, it's so hard hope we both get some help and advise. Stay positive

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Murray 72

Have you raised your concerns about the foster carer at the Looked After Review meetings, or attempted to discuss them in a separate meeting with the Independent Reviewing Officer. Alternatively, you could consider finding a solicitor willing to represent you in your proposal to apply to have the care order discharged. You would need to prove that your circumstances have changed considerably since the care proceedings, and there is no guarantee of a successful outcome, but at least you would have given it your best shot. Make sure your keep a detailed record of the issues, with the concern, date and attempts to address them, for future reference.

Best Wishes

Suzie

[Murray72]

Thank You Suzy, I do have detailed contact logs of all my contact with Cs and others involved including copies of all letters and emails etc.

I will raise with IRO, I suspect she may have a conflict of interests though she is the IRO for another Child in the same Foster Carer Placement and thinks highly of them. However I think as she is specifically my Daughter's IRO she should view each case independently.

I think court will be my only option, finding a Solicitor is not the problem it is financing the case, I am not entitled to Legal Aid.

I am still awaiting a response to a written letter to my Child's SW outlining my concerns in details and proposing ways forward. I have asked for this to be looked at as a matter of urgency.

[ange301126]

dear murray,I have the same problem.Ever since our children were taken away we have sent Birthday cards and presents etc plus we take presents to every contact.You would have thought that we are reasonable to ask that the children should be encouraged to reciprocate and send cards to their parents in the name of humanity.Mum is obviously distressed on Mother's day ,for example.Have you noticed that correct procedure is not followed for reviews? We read all the guidelines and LAC Review rules carefully and the social worker should contact the parents and discuss beforehand with them what is to be discussed at the review ( when it comes around every six months).Plus the minutes of reviews are to be circulated to all involved. None of thios ever actually happens although it is stated by the social worker in all the official forms that it has!
When we raise things at reviews the social worker butts in and says that 'now is not the time to discuss such things.

[ange301126]

dear murray, yesterday after reading of your problem I telephoned and told our social worker I wished to have the issue put on the agenda at the next review.She agreed no problem.Yet in the past when we have written we have received no reply.Sometimes I wonder whether half the letters sent to social workers are even read because they are so busy.They probably go straight in the bin!

[Murray72]

I have faced the same difficulties but have still raised complaints and have got my MP involved although he will not directly question a decision his letters always seem to bring some movement forward. Without the support of my MP I suspect my contact sessions would still be stuck in a contact centre and I would see my Child 6 times per year (the same level as her sex offender Father).

I have always found my IRO to be fare , but when the guidelines for the IRO's role changed I did print off a copy and send them to her, but I know there are many that are not so fare. Sadly at the end of the day they do get paid by the same local authority so how Independant can they be??

I know my next step is back to court, CS will never return my Child to my care willingly but without Legal Aid I have to pay privately. I recently requested information from my Local Authority and discovered out of 375 Children in Foster Care only 22 were returned to the care of the parents, I doubt they were returned by CS and suspect it was possibly the Judge that ordered these.

I hope your next LAC review is better Ange and maybe the SW never checks her in tray

[warthhog123]

Murray/ Ange

I am just having a day of ranting!!! I cant actually believe you are both going through all this!
I can only assume i am yet to get to the stage you are at although long term fostering is not been looked at its return on order (ye right) or removal!!! i can only assume you started off like me sorry for the naivety, I have usually had very positive LAC review meetings now whether this is down to the fact my child is a baby or should imagine because im only 5 months into proceedings, It was taken to court that i should be allowed 3 day contact and i got 5 days, at Lac reviews i get a sheet to fill in with questions regarding contact mostly all are taken on board helped with the fact they know i minute the meeting myself and so does my support worker who attends most meetings i then forward everything to my solicitor. I usually send 2 sides of A4 with questions regarding my son and foster placement questions and receive good results, I just cant believe the stuff you are been subjected to but no doubt i will be writing the same as you in few months time!!!
As my child is a baby im not sure if its less or more frustrating that he cant speak but i send photos of us together and they are received as we have communications book. Whilst foster carer does not always write a great deal she sends photos she has taken and writes his routine and concerns.
Im pretty sure she is sick of me as i question everything and take all my own minutes as IRO doesn't have someone taking minutes they do it, and i know not all things discussed are listed in report sent as how can you be directly involved in discussion and write at the same time???
I have copies of absolutely everything and high light still to this day things that have been falsely wrote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The IRO in my case is the only person that honestly questions LA and also questions myself he is the 1 person who doesnt seem to care about putting my social worker on the spot!!!
For this i am grateful however it makes me panic that i am to have the same battles that you 2 are facing and i cant imagine the pain you both face.

[Murray72]

Warthog,

My case was quite different really from yours as the LA set out from day 1 to gain and ICO then full Care Order in the courts, I attended only 2 hearings at Maj Courts then the case was heard in Civil or Family Court. They did a Finding of Fact hearing and then a few months later the Final hearing was heard, I approx attended court hearings 20 plus times. It was a relief to get to the final hearing depsite the final order, however I always new Care Order was not the end of the line as I share PR with CS and so will always remain in my Child's life.

I know you mentioned on your other post about Sols and Barristers etc well in my case my Sol was best friends with the Guardian and she did loads of work for him, I also found out half way through she did work for LA too, I would always check now and stay clear of any Sols that do work for everyone, they are too reluctant to step away from the flock as they need the future work from Guardian and CS. I would also consider getting a Sol from another town as there is nothing worse than sitting there listening to all the so called proffesionals laughing and joking and gossiping when your heart is been torn out, I use the word professional very loosely.

Rant over grumble grumble

PS: I too found my IRO the only person willing to question CS too, a supportive IRO can make all the difference.

[warthhog123]

Warthog,

My case was quite different really from yours as the LA set out from day 1 to gain and ICO then full Care Order in the courts, I attended only 2 hearings at Maj Courts then the case was heard in Civil or Family Court. They did a Finding of Fact hearing and then a few months later the Final hearing was heard, I approx attended court hearings 20 plus times. It was a relief to get to the final hearing depsite the final order, however I always new Care Order was not the end of the line as I share PR with CS and so will always remain in my Child's life.

I know you mentioned on your other post about Sols and Barristers etc well in my case my Sol was best friends with the Guardian and she did loads of work for him, I also found out half way through she did work for LA too, I would always check now and stay clear of any Sols that do work for everyone, they are too reluctant to step away from the flock as they need the future work from Guardian and CS. I would also consider getting a Sol from another town as there is nothing worse than sitting there listening to all the so called proffesionals laughing and joking and gossiping when your heart is been torn out, I use the word professional very loosely.

Rant over grumble grumble

PS: I too found my IRO the only person willing to question CS too, a supportive IRO can make all the difference.

Sorry about your case, my barrister is from different town different league so im told she usually works in high court and specialises in family care proceedings so here's hoping.