Negative parent assessment

[Missbe1984]

Hi I've come from X from coircion and domestic violence just got my son off child protection to child in need but once I moved to my home town and court proceedings I am thinking now I should of stayed where I was I have no support no family
around my home has no furniture no carpets and it's effecting my mental health everyday plus the property is cold there's no one to talk to so I go online I'm so stressed and scared.do I have a right to have another assessment done?

[KatKat10]

Are there any charities near you that can provide furniture or furnishings. Can your local council help with a grant or a social grant?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi I've come from X from coircion and domestic violence just got my son off child protection to child in need but once I moved to my home town and court proceedings I am thinking now I should of stayed where I was I have no support no family
around my home has no furniture no carpets and it's effecting my mental health everyday plus the property is cold there's no one to talk to so I go online I'm so stressed and scared.do I have a right to have another assessment done?

Dear Missbe1984

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board and thank you for your post. My name is Suzie and I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser. I am sorry to hear about the difficulties that you and your son are experiencing. I am also sorry that there has been a delay responding to your two posts. I will respond to both here.

You were involved with children’s services in two areas. From the information you provided, I think you worked very hard to overcome your experience of domestic abuse and coercive control. The plan for your son stepped down from child protection to child in need in the area where you used to live. Since then you have moved and are now quite unsupported and in difficult circumstances which is impacting on your mental health too. Children’s services in your current area made another child protection plan for your son, this has now progressed to a Public Law Outline (PLO) procedure and it seems that they intend going into care proceedings . Your negative parenting assessment was a factor leading to this.

You are wondering if you can have another parenting assessment. As you should now have a children law accredited solicitor as part of the PLO process you should discuss the outcome of your last parenting assessment with them and consider the specific reasons why it was negative. They can advise you further on the possibility of challenging this assessment or as you suggest formally requesting that a new assessment be undertaken. If your son’s case does go into care proceedings then the court will make directions about what specialist assessment are recommended and your solicitor will be able to put forward your view and contribute to the planning of further assessments. The more you understand what children’s services are worried about the more you can do to try to make the changes they think are necessary for you to be able to care for your son.

We have two guides that might be helpful to you; a guide to working with a social worker and a guide to working with a solicitor.

It is understandable that your past experiences and the current difficulties are impacting on your emotional wellbeing and causing you to struggle. You are also living in very basic conditions with little furniture and no carpet which must be hard for you and your son. Here are a few suggestions that I hope may be helpful to you:

1) Try to get some support in relation to your mental health needs. Your GP is your first option. In addition, as well as your GP, there are a number of specialist organisations that can also provide emotional support and mental health advice; it is a good idea to seek professional help as and when you need to. Please see this link to mental health services who may be able to assist you.

2) You can also get some parenting advice and emotional support with family life from Family Lives and Family Action.

3) Another parent has already made some suggestions about where you may be able to get help with furnishing and carpeting your home. You might also want to check with your local CAB about what help you may be entitled to as well as looking at this local welfare assistance finder , Turn2Us grant finder and there may be local charities in your area too. Of course, children’s services could provide assistance from their section 17 budget if needed too.

As you are dealing with a number of issues you might want to talk things through with a Family Rights Group adviser. If you do, please call our freephone advice service on 0808 8010366; our lines are open from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm, Mon to Fri, except bank holidays). Or please post again on this board if you have a new query.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes

Suzie