Advise Please - Discharging Care Order - What about CAO

[km2115]

Hi,

I had the wonderful news in the LAC review today that my daughters care order is going to be revoked. Its been a long road since this all started (2016) and a relief to have my daughter fully back with me without being watched over by SS. Both my children were removed from mothers care due to neglect and mother had a very negative parent assessment.

My questions are.

1. Once the care order is discharged is it in the court documents she is discharged to me care and mother has fortnightly visits as is the current situation.

2. Do I need to have a place a CAO? If so is this something social services can ask for as part of discharging the care order?

3. If CAO is needed and cannot be part of the discharging care order process, can mum then try to say she objects to child residing with me and fight in court to have my daughter back?

Any advise would be great as I will need to get things in motion now care order is being removed.

Many thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear km2115

Welcome to the parents discussion forum and thank you for posting.

I see from your post that you have had really great news at the last Looked After Child (LAC) review meeting that the care order in respect of your daughter is to be discharged. You must be very happy and well done for working with children’s services to achieve this positive outcome.

Regarding the specific questions in your post:

1) When making the application to discharge the care order children’s services should inform the court of the basis the discharge is being recommended and how they believe contact should happen. It is possible that the court will make a child arrangement order for contact and this is likely to take account of what you, children’s services and the mother has to say about the amount of contact and how it will be facilitated.

2) The court will almost certainly make a child arrangement order for your daughter to live with you in order to ensure they remain in your care. Children’s services are likely to recommend it but it may be that the court require a formal application from you. The court can make the order if it considers it is necessary.

3) Your daughter’s mother can challenge the care order being discharged and/or ask the court to make an order in her favour. This does not mean she will be successful and children’s services will be asked their views should she make an application for a child arrangement order in her favour.

I suggest you discuss any concerns that you have relating to the discharge of the order that your daughter’s mother with the social worker.

Hope this is helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie