SGO and new baby

[fightformykids99]

An SGO last year was granted to paternal grandmother for both children due to our daughter having injuries, we gave our explanation for this which was never enough. The court was based on probability, so they made findings against us. I was pregnant with our third baby and the judge recommended in her final order judgment that she recommends a resolutions based assessment for our newborn. The application was accepted when my son was born and we are still going through the proceedings. We deeply want it all to go right, as we know we have done nothing wrong.

In our case, we were accused of NAI, we of course know we are innocent, but the social workers deem unsupervised contact with our children is "dangerous". What can we realistically do to move forward? We of course understand the nature and seriousness of the injuries but we haven't done these. I know people under the influence of drugs etc can have counselling but what can we do to prove ourselves, we know having our son home would be a dramatic change, but what can we do, is there any course or anything we can do? They keep saying it takes time, but time to us is the rest of our lives, the proceedings ended October 2023, and yes it isn't a huge time but to us it's 24 hours a day every single day. It's like a life time for us. Is there any rehab for people who's been accused on NAI?

Many thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear fightformykids99

Thank you for your post and welcome to the discussion board. My name is Suzie, I am an online advise and will be replying to you today. I am sorry to hear of your situation. It must be a stressful and difficult time for you.

Your two eldest children live with their grandmother under a Special Guardianship Order (SGO). This was following care proceedings where it was decided on the balance of probability that your child(ren) were harmed by yourself and your partner following a non-accidental injury. You do not agree with the findings.

At the time of these care proceedings, you were pregnant with your third child. This child was removed at birth and new care proceedings started. You do not say whether this child is looked after by a family member or is living in unrelated foster care . Contact with your children is supervised and you want to know how you can move this forward. You have discussed this with social workers, and they say this will ‘take time’ which you find frustrating. You would like to know what courses are available to ‘prove’ you and your partner are safe and whether there are any rehabilitation facilities (rehab) for people in your type of situation.

Whilst you may disagree with the outcome of the court findings, they have been found by a court of law which will inform professional opinion and the special guardians. The children’s grandmother has an SGO for the children, and given this, she is responsible for ensuring contact with the children is safe and in their best interest.

It may be that over time you are able to demonstrate you are safe by maintaining regular contact, adhering to the boundaries set and facilitating calm, child focus contact with your children. If this is something you feel you are achieving and that the children’s carer is being unreasonable, you may wish to consider making an application to court for a child arrangements order child arrangements order .

The court will direct an assessment and decide what type and level of contact is in the best interest of the children. They then may issue an Order which will be legal binding. I would suggest you to wait until the outcome of the current care proceedings is known and to continue with the current contact arrangements for a longer period of time to support an application for a child arrangements order should you go down this route. In doing so, the court will know the findings of the current care proceedings and take a view, and you will have had a longer period of time to evidence your ability to maintain positive contact with your children.

In respect of specific courses and support for people in your type of situation, care proceedings for your youngest child is ongoing therefore, any assessments or courses to address risk should be discussed and agreed in court. Often a parenting assessment is directed which will inform and direct the court and sometimes psychological assessments also. It would be a good idea to discuss this with your solicitor within care proceedings because they have all the information before them and would be best placed to advise you.

Family lives have some helpful information regarding contact when children’s services are involved. I have added a link HERE to further information and guidance.

I have further added a link HERE to an organisation called Match Mothers. They provide emotional support for mothers who are no longer caring for their children. This is their free confidential support line 0800 689 4104. Please check out their website for opening times.

I hope you find this information helpful. Please do contact us again should you need to. Details below:
- post again here.
- Submit a web enquiry.
- Start a webchat, Monday and Wednesday 2pm-4pm.
- Call our free and confidential advice line on 0808 801 0366, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) 9:30am-3pm. Please see our website frg.org.uk for further information and guidance.

Best wishes, Suzie