Included in Interim Care Order

[ECP22]

My grandson has recently be made the subject of an Interim Care Order. In the Court application his 3 siblings were also listed although it was stated that no Order was being sought in respect of them. What does this mean? Shortly after the case a Child Protection Conference was held but it was decided that the other 3 did not meet the criteria and were made Children In Need. Where does this leave the children as regards the Order? Very concerned as to where Children's Services are going with this. (They were subject to a Supervision Order 2 years ago with another local authority and they then went to live with my son but that was successfully completed and the children have now lived back with their mother for over a year. Children's Services seem intent on viewing the old Court papers from 4 years ago but ignoring the last 2 years when everything improved).

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear ECP22,

I can see that you are a grandparent of a child who has been made subject to an interim care order and you are really worried about children services plans and approach in these proceedings.

Briefly, the interim care order gives the local authority parental responsibility to make plans about your grandson during the proceedings.
In case, he cannot return to mum at the end of the proceedings, children services should be looking for carers within the friend and family network, such as yourself. If there is no one they will look for adopters.
You could ask to be assessed to ne a carer or look for other carers within the family who could put themselves forward.
Has there been a family group conference to look for support for mum but also to look for long term carers? If not, mum should ask for this to be arranged.

As you are a grandparent I suggest you post on the friends and family carers forum .
Please also call our advice line on 0808 801 0366.
Best wishes,
Suzie

[ECP22]

Thank you for your reply. I am more concerned with the intentions of Children's Services with regard to my grandson's 3 siblings who were listed in the Court Application but it was stated no Order was being sought in respect of them. As mentioned they are now classed as Children In Need but are they still involved in the original Court Order.? I don't really understand why they were listed if no Order was being sought for them.
Thank you.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear ECP22,

It sounds like care applications were made in respect of all of the children. If all the children live together and children services have concerns about 1 of them, then it is possible that the other children may also be at risk so they are usually included on the court application.

It sounds like the court and other parties (such as the children’s guardian and solicitor) do not think there is evidence that the other children have been seriously harmed or are likely to be seriously harmed. So an interim care order was not granted. See page 22 of the advice sheet about care proceedings .
This mean that only the parents (or those with a court order such as a child arrangements order) can make decisions about those 3 children including where they live.
Children services may still be seeking final care orders or other orders in respect of the 3 children, at the end of the proceedings. However, given they failed to get child protection plans at the case conference, it seems unlikely they will apply for a court order.
To get a CP plan, the conference would need to have evidence that they only “suspect” the children are suffering significant harm or are likely to suffer significant harm.
Instead they are classed as children in need. Here is information about child in need. See our A to Z of terms


I hope this helps.

If you have any questions or need further advice, please post again.

Best wishes,

Suzie