Social worker has informed me we will be attending a PLO

[beyourbest77]

I'll try and make this as short as possible we have had involvement from social services for the last 12 months regarding my 12 year old son
Intially we were struggling with his behaviour and risks and dangerous situations he was putting himself in we have recently got a diagnosis of adhd and odd
The only advice given by SW was just call the police this made the situation esculate we were left in a worse situation than when we first made contact with them
SW was hell bent on we must be doing something to cause this
We have 3 other children and they were being put In danger by his actions. He had also stated on numerous occasions we where doing things to him like locking him in his room hitting him none of the allegations were true
He eventually went to stay with step grandparents after being removed by the police for assaulting me
I did not agree to this as I didn't feel it was the right place for him to be during his time there he was forced to watch the film scum by his step grandad this was meant to be some sort of way of showing him what might happen if he kept running off he later accused a friend of sexualy assaulting him he eventually came home because they didn't want him there anymore
Shortly after this he was removed by the police from our home again this time he went to a step uncles but he's gradually moved back into step grandparents full time in recent weeks they have kicked him out twice he's been threatened by one of the other uncles he's walked in and witnessed his step grandad choking on his own vomit after drinking heavily both grandparents are heavy drinkers but not your obvious alcoholics
There's been so many other incidents. we were having regular contact with him up until a few months ago and he refused to come anymore it's recently come to light that he was cross because we weren't taking him places he wanted to go
But step grandparents aren't positively supporting contact which is a huge issue in working towards him coming home permanently I genuinely belive step grandma is being very manipulative and her sole intention for wanting him there is money it was only recently she asked me to claim for carers allowance for her and she would half it with me and I wouldn't have to do anything. I obviously refused
We want our son to come home but we want the support put in place we have been promised a support worker that would come out everyday still hasn't happend there's a hell of alot more especially regarding the conduct of the SW and her manager I had a meeting with her manager last week regarding a complaint I've made during the meeting I stated that I would like it to be esculated to stage 2 and I'd like it to be independently investigated she point blank told me that it's never independently investigated and I could speak to her manager and she would deal with it. I phoned the complaints manger up and explained I've now asked her for it to be esculated to a stage 2.
This morning I've received a phone call from the SW to say the they want to start a PLO because we are at a standstill and nothings happening it just feels like there using this as a back door to get legal orders in place for grandma so my question is can they do this

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear beyourbest77

Welcome to the parents’ discussion forum, I see that you joined some time ago but have only recently posted on the forum.

My name is Suzie, online adviser and Family Rights Group.

I see from your post that children’s services (the new name for social services) has been involved with your family due to your 12 year old son’s behaviour. He now has a diagnosis of ADHD and ODD which I hope will mean that he can now get appropriate support.

Although you say you have been involved with children’s services for 12 months, it is not clear from your post whether your son was placed on a child in need (CIN) or child protection plan (CPP). Please see our advice sheets Family support and Child protection procedures

In your post you say that you did not agree for your son to be with step grandparents. The police may have removed you son under a police protection as they able to when a child needs to be in a safe environment. This removal lasts for 72 hours and, after this, children’s services should seek the parents’ or other person with parental responsibility agreement to the child remaining either with the foster carers with whom they were placed or the family member. This further placement away from home, if agreed, would be voluntary and normally referred to as s.20 accommodation and the family member treated as a foster carer. Has the step grandparents been assessed as foster carers for your son or is children services treating the placement as a private family arrangement. If the latter, then it should be an arrangement made between you as family members but you say you did not agree to this as you do not believe it is appropriate for your son to be with them.

Children services cannot lawfully remove a child without the parent or parents’ agreement or a court order.

It is however, clear from your post that your son is still away from home and in a placement which you do not consider is appropriate for him. Have you discussed your concerns with the social worker?

If children’s services has agreed that a support worker would be helpful then it is important that you chase this up with the social worker. I suggest you put in writing you concerns that the support offered has not been made available and you wish to have a written response explaining the reason this has not happened, when you can expect the support worker to start working with the family.

Regarding your complaint, you have done the right thing in asking for it to move to stage 2 of the complaints procedure. Please see our advice sheet Challenging decisions and making complaints.

As far as public law outline (PLO) or pre-proceedings meeting, this is usually when children’s services are of the view that parents are not working with them to safeguard a child. The purpose of the meeting would be to explain what needs to happen to prevent them applying to the court for a care order. If they do go forward with this, then you would be entitled to have a solicitor attend the meeting with you and legal aid would be available for this.

The step grandparents could put themselves forward in care proceedings to be assessed to care for your son long term. The orders that could be made if they are positively assessed would be a child arrangement order or a special guardianship order.

It is also possible, if the court made a full care order, which would give children’s services parental responsibility, that they could be long term foster carers for your son.

I hope it will be possible for things to be resolved so that your son gets the help he needs and is able to return to the family where everyone will feel safe.

Should you wish to speak to an adviser, please telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday.

Best wishes

Suzie