New baby advice needed please

[South2015]

Hi, I’m currently pregnant with my second child. My first daughter aged 2 was removed and placed with my mother on an sgo.in May this year. I have regular contact with my daughter and I’m very much part of her life.
I really want to be able to keep my new baby and will be doing everything I can to work with children’s services and show them that I’ve made the changes needed. I’m concerned that if I fail my parenting assessment that my baby may not be placed with my mum and daughter.
My mum works full time and my daughter is in nursery, this works well for them but I know that this couldn’t happen with a newborn.
Is my mum likely to fail the assessment because she works. Will she have to give up her job, what other options would be available. The baby’s dad isn’t involved but his mum has already said that she would like to be assessed. She doesn’t work but has 7 children (including baby’s dad) living with her in a 4 bedroom house, the youngest being aged 4.
Obviously I’m hoping that my assessment is positive but I’m looking at the options just in case. I definitely don’t want the baby going out of the family. My first choice would be my mum so that it can grow up with my daughter but I’m not sure my mum could afford to give up work or if she would be prepared to do so.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear South15

Thank you for your further post relating to your pregnancy and the possible outcome for you and your baby as your eldest child is placed with your mother under a special guardianship order (SGO).

You were given very detailed advice in the response to your previous post and I hope you have read this carefully and the links that were provided.

Regarding your mother caring for your baby and whether she would fail an assessment due to her work, it is not possible to give you a definitive explanation as a lot will depend on whether your mother puts herself forward to be assessed. What she tells children’s services about caring for the new baby and whether she would be willing to give up her employment to care for the baby. It may be possible for her to have a specific amount of time from her job and then baby is placed in nursery but it would be necessary to explore all the possibilities.

As the paternal grandmother wishes to be assessed, children’s services will carry out an initial assessment to find out whether she can go on to have a full assessment. Again, her circumstances will be considered and how a baby would be safely cared for.

The points you have mentioned in our post are valid ones and likely to be looked at in any assessment children’s services carry out on family members. It may be helpful to ask to have a family group conference so the family can come up with a plan of support/care. You can read more about this HERE.

I suggest that you continue to engage and work with children’s services. It is also important that you address whatever the concerns were that led to your daughter being removed from your care. You would need to show significant changes and have evidence to demonstrate this even if the work is ongoing.

Hope your assessment will go well.

Best wishes

Suzie

[South2015]

Thank you so much for responding so quickly. I did read all the advice you gave me previously and it was very helpful. I heard today from the social worker that has been allocated my case, she is planning to visit me in the new year to explain the process. At the moment I’m just worrying about every possible outcome, I really want to keep this baby but I realise it’s very soon after my daughter was removed. She was placed with my mum in October last year but the final order when my mum was given the SGO was only in May this year. My daughter wasn’t ever harmed in any way by me but my mental health wasn’t good and it was felt that I was unable to prioritise her needs over my own, I also found it really hard to work with children’s services as I didn’t feel they needed to be involved.
I’m going to see my previous solicitor in January but I’m not sure that I can get legal aid at this point but I’m sure they’ll let me know if that’s the case.
Thank you again for your helpful advice.