PLO meeting/social services error

[MamaAE10]

Hello. My husband left prison in August 2022 and was allowed to return to the family home. He has no SHPO but has a restraining order. After he was home about a month we had a child protection conference and we were told he had to leave the family home while the correct risk assessments and work were done. We had to pa for hotel for him as no one would help him find accommodation. We paid for private counselling and he started a programme with probation I myself did programmes to ensure I could safeguard my children. Just before Christmas it was authorised by probation and social services that he could return home. Myself and the children were very happy. We had a review conference where all positive praise was given at the work he had done. The day after the conference we get a call to say he had to leave the family home again. No reason why we just know its nothing we have done. We have since been told we have to attend a PLO meeting. I feel we have gone backwards. We have since found out that the things they are doing now should have been done previously and that our social workers decision to send him home was overruled. Im assuming jobs were not done properly as all of this should have been done when he first left prison. I have been told we will both need risk assessments done which should have been done months ago and completed before our last conference in December 2022.I am now very scared about this meeting. What can I expect from this meeting as we have followed everything up until now. My poor children are suffering due to their error. Thank you

[KatKat10]

I would raise a complaint and send them the invoice for the cost of hotel accommodation.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear MamaAE10

Thank you for your post and welcome to the discussion board. My name is Suzy, I am an online adviser and will be responding to you today.

I am sorry to hear of your distress. It is a difficult situation for you. From the information you have provided you have been given conflicting information which has resulted in unassessed risk and delayed assessments.

Your husband left prison in August 22. You do not say why he was in prison, but he was allowed to return home with a restraining order in place. Children’s services became involved and there was a child protection conference held a month later. You were told at this meeting that your husband would need to leave the family home whilst risk assessments were completed.

No support to find your husband accommodation was offered. He stayed at hotel which you funded. During this time, you paid for private counselling and your husband started a programme with probation. You also completed a safeguarding programme.

Just before Christmas last year it was agreed by probation and children’s services that your husband could return home. There was a Review Case Conference and this was positive. The day after the Conference you were told that your husband could not return home, but you were not given an explanation as to why this was the case. You have since been told that you need to attend a Public Law Outline meeting.

You have been informed that the decision for your husband to return home was ‘overruled’ and that risk assessments should have been completed prior to the Review Conference in Dec.22.

You feel demoralised. You felt you were making positive progress and now feel you have taken a step backwards. Further your children are ‘suffering’ due to children’s services error.

You are scared to attend the PLO meeting and are seeking further information regarding this.

Being asked to attend a Public Law Outline (PLO) meeting should be seen as a very serious matter. PLO is a legal framework put in place to provide guidance for the family court on how to manage cases involving care proceedings . I would advise you to go back to the social worker to clarify what type of meeting they are asking you to attend.

The first step children’s services should take is to send a letter before proceedings . A Pre-proceedings meeting means that the Local Authority are concerned about the care of your children and are considering taking the matter to Court.

A pre proceedings meeting refers to the procedures that children’s services must follow if they are thinking about starting care proceedings. The pre-proceedings process is a chance for parents and children’s services to work together. The aim is to get to a point where children’s services are satisfied that the parents can care for their child safely. During the pre-proceedings process, the parents will be assessed (for example through a parenting assessment, if that hasn’t already happened). This should also be an opportunity for children’s services to put in place support for the family, where needed.

This link HERE is to the Law Society website site where you can find a solicitor. It will be important to instruct a solicitor prior to the meeting. You will need a child law solicitor preferably with child law accreditation.

I have further added a link HERE to care and related proceedings should they start.

If the agreement for your husband was made at the Review Case Conference then I suggest you go back to the Chair to ask them to explain in writing why this agreement was overruled.

In respect of your children suffering harm due to children’s services error. If you feel your children have been harmed or they have disclosed a safeguarding matter to you then I would strongly encourage you to inform the allocated social worker for further guidance and support.

If the harm relates to the conflicting information regarding the father’s living arrangements, then I suggest this is also discussed with the social worker. It may be that they need access to independent support to help them process their situation. Depending on need, c this type of support can sometimes be accessed via the children’s schools.

I hope you find this information useful.  Unfortunately, we are not funded to reply to advice emails for follow up support. Should you wish to speak to an adviser please call our free advice line on 0808 801 0366 (Mon to Fri 9.30a.m. – 3.00p.m) excluding bank holidays. You can also post again on the discussion board.

Best wishes, Suzie.

[benion]

PLO is very serious indeed. It means the SS are gearing up for care proceedings.

My advice? You will not like it. Ditch the husband immediately. If SS think that he is such a risk they will not back off.

You need to decide between your husband or your children.