LA failings, you couldn’t make this up!!!

[Its-me-again]

LA made an (supposedly) urgent application for an interim care order for my two children, it took them a week from the alleged incident to file the application and a further week until the hearing on Tuesday this week. The LA turned up at court on Tuesday with no plan on where they were going to place either of the children yet claiming to be that concerned that they still wanted this order made? The judge was not happy with them at all but granted them a time limited ICO (until this evening) where the boys are at home with me and the LA have been told they must remain so until the rescheduled hearing today. Their care plan changed three times during court on Tuesday alone.

The guardian didn’t contact me until Friday and was supposed to be calling me Monday morning to arrange to see the children then, I left two voicemails for her Monday and further ones since then and heard nothing back from her still, she’s not met or spoken to either of the children to get their views, yet she had a representative in court on Tuesday saying that she’s in agreement with the LA.

The judge ordered the LA to do a contact plan for their visits between hearings, there was also something mentioned in court about crisis services coming in? I received a copy of the contact plan which just has some planned and some unannounced visits listed from SS over the past few days. There’s no mention of crisis services on there and the only crisis services I’ve ever heard of are the MH crisis team but that’s not an issue. Can anybody plz tell me what this could have all been about?

The contact plan they are now proposing is to place my 10yr old (who nobody has a concerns for) in an emergency placement after the hearing today then move him to a different placement on Monday. Then place my 6yr old who has complex needs (the reason they became involved in the first place) into an emergency placement for intensive support and assessment for two weeks and then to move him again to a placement they don’t even have yet.

Rescheduled hearing is this afternoon, my barrister has done my position statement and I’m hoping for both boys to be able to stay at home, any help or advice please?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Its-me-again

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your post. My name is Suzie. I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you and your family are experiencing. Children’s services have begun care proceedings for your two boys, one of whom has complex needs. The court made a time limited interim care order (ICO) which expired yesterday, when you were due back in court. The boys remained at home with you during this period.

You are concerned about the care plans being put forward by children’s services and that the children’s Guardian had not spoken to the children to gather their views, at the time of your post. You are unsure what was meant by crisis support which was to be offered while the children remained in your care pending the hearing yesterday. I wonder if they meant intensive family support in some way?

I can understand how distressing and confusing this must be. You have consulted with your legal advisers and your barrister has drafted your position statement where you argue for the children to remain in your care. They could highlight to the court any deficiencies in the proposed care plan and if the children’s views were still missing.

As the hearing has now happened, your situation will have moved on in some ways i.e. the court will have decided whether to extend the ICO and whether the children should remain in your care or be placed elsewhere. It may be best for you to post back with an update and any new queries so that we can provide more targeted and up to date advice.

If you have family or friend who can support, you to care for the children or who can provide care for them instead then children’s services should explore this and assess potential carers. You should have a family group conference (FGC) to explore the options for support or care that your network can offer.

I hope that the information below will help you. Please post back to say what was decided at court and with any queries arising from that.

• Care proceedings
• Children in the care system under a care order
• Family group conferences
• Working with a solicitor
• Working with a social worker.

I hope this is helpful. Please post back or contact the advice service via one of the alternative options linked to here.

Best wishes

Suzie

[Its-me-again]

My10yr old is at home with me on a supervision order. They got granted the ICO for my complex needs 6yr old. I’ve been fighting to get him put under the right department (disability team) for so long now, in order get him the right help and support at home. The IRO at the RCPC back in November told the social worker that she needed to put in the referral to the disability team and for a carers assessment for me but it’s just been excuse after excuse not to do it. He’s on a very limited school timetable across two different settings, where he’s on 2:1 support in both and not even in the classroom. He’s been turned down by 15 different specialist school placements, including out of county, who have all said they can’t meet need. Yet the LA now claimed in court that in this FC placement that they will be putting in place intensive support, play therapy and psychological assessments, none of this was offered whilst he was at home. They’ve magicked up double the hours for him in school today, something they’ve not been able to do in the last 18 months since he started school. They also got his school transport magicked up to start on Monday, which took them two months to sort it out from home. They’ve put in two FSP’s in to assist the FC over the weekend, need I say at this point none of this was done whilst he was at home. I feel like they’ve ripped my family apart by not putting in the appropriate help and support for his needs to keep him at home yet I’m blamed for the LA’s failings and they’ve now put all the help and support in place for him now they have him under their care. I’m also extremely worried about this placement breaking down as it’s only a two week placement as it is and they have nothing in place for him at the end of it.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Its-me-again

Thank you for the update. I am so sorry to hear of your situation. It must be very frustrating for you to know that you asked for this level of support for your child with complex needs whilst they were at home, but it was not forthcoming, and now they are in foster care the support has been offered. The information you have provided is clear and concise and if you have not done so already, I would encourage you to work closely with your legal representative to ensure the court is fully aware of your experiences of trying to seek help from children’s services.

The drift you and your children have experienced is unacceptable on several levels, not least due to the fact that your child with complex needs is now living outside of the family home with no forward planning following the agreed two week placement. Hopefully they will stay there until the outcome of care proceedings is concluded. I think it would be a good idea to speak to the IRO about your concerns. Their role is to ensure your child’s care plan in meeting their needs. I have added HERE some further information and guidance regarding the IRO role.

I hope the carers assessment is now underway or completed. If it is not, then I suggest you raise a formal complaint through the councils complaints procedures. I have added a link HERE to further information and guidance regarding this.

Best wishes, Suzie