Hi
My son in care is going to be 16 in a few months. He won't be assigned a PA until he's almost 17 but the social worker will be starting his pathway planning work. The social worker refuses to have any meetings with me about it and I have been told to give any of my thoughts and feelings by email and they will be considered. The problem is, nothing I submit by email to social workers or to managers or for child in care meetings is ever considered and my shared PR is consistently ignored and disrespected.
Is there any legal requirements about parental involvement with pathway planning? Or is it completely up to the council and social workers to determine? It seems unjust and unfair. They just purposely keep me out of my son's life. Is there any action I can take?
Pathway planning involvement
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Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4996
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Pathway planning involvement
Dear Fightingmumma
Thank you for your recent post. I am sorry to hear that you do not feel that you are being properly involved in care planning for your 15-year-old son who is in care, under a care order.
As he is approaching 16, you are aware that children’s services are due to begin his pathway planning process although their policy is to allocate a personal adviser when young people are 17. The social worker has said that you can contribute your views by email, but you are worried that your views may not be properly considered. You are querying that the law says about this.
First, in relation to the care planning in general, children’s services have a duty under sections 22 (4) and (5) of the Children Act 1989 to:
Gather and take into account the wishes and feelings of the child’s parents or previous carer and other important people in the child’s life when making any decisions concerning the child.
In ‘exceptional circumstances,’ they can ask the court for a declaration that they do not need to consult one or both of parents.
You can ask children’s services to show how they have taken into account your views but of course this does not mean that they have to agree or follow your views as they can override your wishes, if they decide this is in the child’s best interests. Unfortunately, this may be what you are experiencing. I would recommend that you continue to set out your views in your emails and make sure that you copy your son’s Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) in also.
We have a very detailed advice sheet about children’ services duties to young people leaving care which sets out what is involved in pathway planning. You may find it helpful to read this. When the social worker is assessing your son’s needs for a pathway planning, they should look at a range of issues including ‘the views (where appropriate) of the young person’s parents, school, health professional, personal adviser, and other relevant people in their life.’
Of course, you want to make sure that your son will get the right leaving care support when they leave. We suggest the following three tips to help with this:
• Provide your views to children’s services at, and before, every looked after child review meeting. Make sure that you set out what kind of support you think that your son may benefit from once they leave care.
• Before your son leaves care, ask the child’s social worker or independent reviewing officer for a copy of the written information children’s services have young people in their area leaving care. This should include the council’s ‘local offer’ to young people leaving care. This should also be published on the local council website. The social worker or independent reviewing officer can be asked for details of where it can be found.
• If you are unhappy with any aspect of the pathway planning process, consider asking for details of the children’s services complaints process. You can find out how to make a complaint here.
You may also want to check if your son has an advocate to assist him while he is in care and to support him with the pathway planning process. The IRO can arrange for him to have an advocate if he wants one. You can find information about children's advocates and contact details for children's advocacy services here .
I hope this helps.
If you have any further queries pleas post back or contact the advice service again via our:
• Freephone advice line 0808 8010366, Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm (except bank holidays)
• Advice enquiry form
• Webchat
Best wishes
Suzie
Thank you for your recent post. I am sorry to hear that you do not feel that you are being properly involved in care planning for your 15-year-old son who is in care, under a care order.
As he is approaching 16, you are aware that children’s services are due to begin his pathway planning process although their policy is to allocate a personal adviser when young people are 17. The social worker has said that you can contribute your views by email, but you are worried that your views may not be properly considered. You are querying that the law says about this.
First, in relation to the care planning in general, children’s services have a duty under sections 22 (4) and (5) of the Children Act 1989 to:
Gather and take into account the wishes and feelings of the child’s parents or previous carer and other important people in the child’s life when making any decisions concerning the child.
In ‘exceptional circumstances,’ they can ask the court for a declaration that they do not need to consult one or both of parents.
You can ask children’s services to show how they have taken into account your views but of course this does not mean that they have to agree or follow your views as they can override your wishes, if they decide this is in the child’s best interests. Unfortunately, this may be what you are experiencing. I would recommend that you continue to set out your views in your emails and make sure that you copy your son’s Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) in also.
We have a very detailed advice sheet about children’ services duties to young people leaving care which sets out what is involved in pathway planning. You may find it helpful to read this. When the social worker is assessing your son’s needs for a pathway planning, they should look at a range of issues including ‘the views (where appropriate) of the young person’s parents, school, health professional, personal adviser, and other relevant people in their life.’
Of course, you want to make sure that your son will get the right leaving care support when they leave. We suggest the following three tips to help with this:
• Provide your views to children’s services at, and before, every looked after child review meeting. Make sure that you set out what kind of support you think that your son may benefit from once they leave care.
• Before your son leaves care, ask the child’s social worker or independent reviewing officer for a copy of the written information children’s services have young people in their area leaving care. This should include the council’s ‘local offer’ to young people leaving care. This should also be published on the local council website. The social worker or independent reviewing officer can be asked for details of where it can be found.
• If you are unhappy with any aspect of the pathway planning process, consider asking for details of the children’s services complaints process. You can find out how to make a complaint here.
You may also want to check if your son has an advocate to assist him while he is in care and to support him with the pathway planning process. The IRO can arrange for him to have an advocate if he wants one. You can find information about children's advocates and contact details for children's advocacy services here .
I hope this helps.
If you have any further queries pleas post back or contact the advice service again via our:
• Freephone advice line 0808 8010366, Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm (except bank holidays)
• Advice enquiry form
• Webchat
Best wishes
Suzie
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