i have passed a placement with parents but

[A123]

my son who is 11.5 years old and has been in residential since 2020 due to numerous foster placements failing due to his behaviour fast forward to 2023 i have passed a placement with parents assessment had him the majority of the 6 weeks holidays last year until there was an incident (he threatned me and his support worker at my home with a knife police were called and 1 iwas driving home from a day out wit him and my niece and he was being physical in the car that i slapped him ss have said that it was an automatic reation and we worked through that hes smashed my house etc before so they new it was unlike me and we carried on) now they have refused to even consider this plan anymore and have gone back to the original 2018 care order plan of long term foster placement. i had a CLAR today and that is now their primary plan along with moving him to another residential home with another child to avoid instatutionalising him hes been on his own since 2018 in 7 different foster placements and now residential my question really is what can i do now i have a positive placement with parents assessment and my son is being very vocial is saying he wants to live with me that today it was decided they are going to tell him he cant ever come home so ive gone from weeks at a time over night contact to monthly now

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear A123

Thank you for your post and welcome to the forum. My name is Suzie, I am an online adviser and will be responding to you today. I am sorry to hear of your situation, it must be a distressing time for you and your child.

You son is eleven years old and has been in care since 2018. Due to his needs, he is now living in residential care. Prior to this, he had numerous foster care placements which were unable to meet his needs.

In 2023 you underwent a successful placement with parent assessment which resulted in extended family time with your son, including overnight staying contact. During one session, there was a serious incident when your son threatened you with a knife whilst you were driving. You reacted by ‘slapping’ him which, following an investigation by children’s services, was deemed to be a reactionary response made in the moment and you worked through your response with children’s services.

However, you have recently been informed, following your son’s looked after review , that the care plan has changed. He will no longer be moving to your care but will continue in long term foster care, in a residential home with another child. You are seeking advice on what you can do to challenge this.

Initially, I suggest, if you have not already received one, to ask for a written explanation from the social worker and their team manager as to why and how they have reached this decision to change your son’s care plan. What assessment has been completed (if any) to inform their decision making? Once you have this information, if you are not satisfied with their reply, you may wish to consider making a formal complaint. I have added HERE details on this process.

I wonder what support was put in place for your son’s extended family time before the incident took place, given the knowledge and understanding professionals had of his needs and behaviours. Prior to the increased contact, were you able to consider the ‘what ifs’ in regard to his behaviours and did you have the opportunity to talk through and agree with the allocated social worker a plan of action should they occur? Food for thought perhaps if you decide to make a formal complaint.

You had a successful placement with parent assessment which demonstrated, at the time, that you were able to meet your child’s needs. Has an updating assessment been completed to inform children’s services decision making now? Further whilst the plan has changed in respect of contact, what is the thinking behind a move to monthly contact?
How and why have children’s services come to this decision. It maybe they consider this is in your son’s best interest, and as holders of a care order they have a legal right to make these decisions. However, they also have an obligation to be open and transparent with you. To explain how they have reached their decision. Please see HERE for further information regarding the responsibilities of local authorities when children are living in long term foster placements.

In respect of the residential home your child is or will be living in. This should be a regulated setting. Every children’s home must publish a statement of purpose, which sets out the overall aims of the home and its objectives for the children who live there. A children’s guide, which explains in age-appropriate language:

 what the child can expect and what support they are entitled to
 how the child can get the support of an advocate
 how the child can make a complaint.

All children’s homes must register with Ofsted.

In respect of your child’s wishes and feelings. Does he have an advocate? An advocate is independent of the social worker (even if children’s services organise for them to come and help).

Children’s services should help children and young people have an advocate in certain situations. For example, where a child is looked after, government guidance suggests that they should be supported to get help from an advocate. For example, if they wish to make a complaint, or if they want someone to attend looked after child review meetings with them. I have added HERE a link to the National Youth Advisory Service (NYAS). Their mission is to listen to what children, young people and adults in vulnerable situations want, care about what they say and empower them to have their voices heard, especially when other people are making decisions about their further. Please do check out their website.

I hope you find this information helpful. There are many ways to contact Family Rights Group, please do look at our website for further information about this or post again here if you have further questions.

Best wishes, Suzie