BBC News article about how unfair the child courts are

[blueplain]

Just found this very interesting article about how unfair the family courts are. With an MP actually suggesting to move abroad if you are facing family court.

Here is an actual quote from the MP

"You can't get a fair trial here, because you can't rely on the evidence being fair. It's best simply to go if you can, at the right time, lawfully”

I am hoping this will spread awareness of how horrible it is to go through the system and get picked up for all sorts of things because the authority is "playing it safe" and in "playing it safe" they are causing allot of distress and pain which I feel should be unlawful . Here is the link to the article.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25641247

[ange301126]

dear blueplain,I saw the programme last night.

It sums up the system,doesn't it?

John Hemming M.P. advised parents to leave the country, if possible, because they will not get a fair hearing in the U.K. This M.P. has observed the system for many years, campaigning for families, and knows what he is talking about. Another expert remarked that to have any chance of tackling the injustices foisted upon them, parents must have a very, very good solicitor.

I echo their advice. To most of us, emigration is not an option. However, I can advise parents that they will stand a much better chance if they move to another Local Authority area. This may be possible where they are able to anticipate problems prior to a court application. ‘Concerns’ will be passed on to the new authority and a fresh, uncommitted social worker more likely to operate lawfully. Don’t choose a solicitor randomly. Preferably hunt for one outside your area, who isn’t in thrall to your particular Local Authority. The Law Society recommends firms available but doesn’t differentiate on their quality, efficiency and independence. Consult sources of information such as Parents against Social Services who may be able to recommend one. Don’t fall for a firms own fanciful claims and advertising blurbs.

[frustrated mum]

me and my family are one of the few lucky ones. we have a house abroad. we have been given the paper work for a section 20 or they are going for a care order. we have seriously thought about buying 3 tickets and going my partner staying here in the uk . But my daughters wont come and would rather go into care as where we live is a remote village. perfect.
The issue is getting worse as my partner is turning into a paranoid bully over this matter and telling my daughters that ss experiment on kids etc which I have blown my top at and told him if he was supportive in the first place we would of been in this situation. Its now got to a point where come the end of this week when ive got my bits sorted me and the girls are leaving.
sorry if ive combined 2 posts into 1

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hello

Thanks for all of your interesting posts.

In response to the above discussion and all of the recent publicity, I just wanted to clarify FRG's position.

We would strongly recommend anyone thinking of leaving the country with their children, where Children's Services are involved, to take advice from our advice service or a child care solicitor in order to discuss the implications for themselves and their children.

Our Chief Executive, Cathy Ashley wrote a press release in response to the Panaroma programme, which can be viewed here

Best Wishes

Suzie
FRG Adviser

[ange301126]

frustrated mum, if you decide to stay,I strongly recommend that you don't bend to she social worker's threats and not to agree to an S20. Unfortunately, the CS do not put children first, they are prone to seperate siblings regularly, place them far from home,abuse their contact rights and your parental responsibility and cause children emotional disturbance.
Has the social worker done a full care assessment yet,examined all the alternatives to removal and given valid reasons for rejecting them? If they wish to interfere with your family rights then either make them apply for an interim care order or ask them to co-operate on your terms which are that the children stay with you.Best of luck.

[Niles]

the system is ruthless

[justiceisaright]

I think this is a very sad state of the system. I have been lucky in many ways so far. But what I have found within care proceedings is that assessments by professionals are often viewed more negative then the writer meant in their report. My parenting assessment has a harsher tone then what it actually says and social workers say it is actually quite a positive report. However all other professionals reading the report view it as very negative and even my solicitor has said they don't want these professionals to stand in court. I have been told that I will lose my children if I try to contest any aspect of the care plans being put forth. So far the guardian has stated me and the children must live with my mother for 2-3 years as she is worried I may have unresolved issues surrounding a trauma I experienced. However in the psyche assessment it states that I am self centered and put my own needs before the children (histrionic traits) however that I do not suffer from any diagnosable mental disorder.

She asked me what my feelings were regarding the report and if I agree with what the doctor has stated i.e. being self centered. I was very fearful to state my feelings because if she agreed with the report and I did not then she may put forward that I do not appear to be addressing the concerns by professionals. However I was truthful and stated that I do not feel that I have ever been selfish or self centered regarding the needs of my children. I told her that moving to another country with my husband should not be seen as self centered as stated by the psych report. And the guardian agreed with this. However when asked about the events in Qatar I became very emotional. She said the fact that I still become emotional about it means I have some unresolved issues surrounding the trauma and should get therapy for it. As a result it will be her recommendation that I move to the states with my mother, live with her for 2-3 years while I deal with the trauma, that I will have a sort of co-parenting relationship with my mother and stepfather, and my mother will be the lead in all major decisions in the childrens lives. I would like to note that the psych evaluation did not give any mention towards me having any post traumatic stress syndrome and he only recommended 6 months of CBT stating that my histrionic traits can never be cured.

I am completely confounded as to why in this family justice system I am not allowed to challenge these opinions made by professionals. I realize I could use a bit of therapy to help overcome the trauma of Qatar, dealing with social services, the loss of my rights to freely travel with my children since returning to the uk in 2009 and them being placed as ward of the courts so my ex didn't try to kidnap my children, and the stigma I have experienced as a result of professionals learning about the circumstances. Furthermore in the court case of 2009 the trauma I experienced in Qatar was not believed and I could not receive help for something no one else believed! I could say more but sure a bit of therapy could be of great use given these experiences.

I have been trying to gain some therapy (CBT) although I do not have distorted thoughts and they assessed that I did not need the therapy as my anxiety and depression levels are within the normal range and I appear to have gotten over the trauma of Qatar according to them. I have since gone back to my GP to find an alternative method of gaining the CBT/therapy. The GP stated that it doesn't appear I needed it and after reading the psych assessment stated the Dr. contradicted himself in it several times.

and yet the family justice system is so far gone that even though the parenting assessment was not negative (perhaps the tone was a reflection of the workers writing style) which persuades the other professionals to see it in a negative light. my social worker even had to correct her own solicitor regarding the report being negative because it was not but only acknowledged that I am quite isolated in the circumstances previously described as a single mother.

and yet I cannot challenge any of it at all! I am only hoping the judge will use the common sense he has previously shown to shed a more realistic eye when judgeing the evidence. And that I am not seen as being in denial because I disagree with the psyche assess that I am self centered.

I can only imagine the heartache felt by so many on here when social workers use "concerns" as evidence and continue with the onslaught of such unsubstantiated evidence.

[chrissy]

Sorry to hear what ur going through, my ss has used every thing against me. When my daughter was put with my sister I was told to pack an emergency bag. I packed her uniform x3 few outfits few lots of night wear loads underwear books and her favourite doll. The ss then gave my sis money to get her more clothes and put in report she didn't have many clothes. If they had said I would of taken the contents of her wardrobe. It looked so bad on me in report. I went through 3 days of hell in court, every one against me, if you go against the ss it looks bad on you, no win at all. Courts believe them.