SS Changed their minds

[SallyCate]

Hi I need some advice. My 8 year old son was placed in voluntary care after an incident on 30th October 2013 when I had been drinking and my son ran off. The police were called and I was arrested. I immediately sought help. I have since done everything asked of me and more. I have a solicitor and I'm hoping that he is on the ball regarding our case. The social worker originally placed my son with family, this didn't work out because my son has behavioural problems and lashes out. He attends CAMHS. The sw then placed him in emergency foster care before placing him in a foster placement. This didn't work out and he went back to emergency foster care. This repeated again and again, in five weeks he moved a total of eight times. During this time I saw him twice (I was told seeing me was disrupting him further which was not the case, he was frightened and missed me terribly) and spoke to him on the phone twice. He was then placed in a therapeutic unit where he has been ever since. Contact has been going very well. I have attended an alcohol treatment programme (although I wasn't drinking all the time, I got help). The alcohol dependence programme was brilliant, and I now attend support groups too. I have been sober for four months. At the last LAC meeting on 23rd January, the sw said home was the best place for my son and it was agreed that he would be rehabilitated home as a child in need, with no need to go through court. Contact was increased to three times a week to start with. The sw then completed the assessment and handed it to his supervisor to sign off on it. I was told a few days later that there was a problem with the assessment and the extra contact was suspended. I had a feeling a dread when I was asked to attend an appointment at the social services office on 12th February. Our sw was with his supervisor at this meeting. The social worker said that they WERE going to rehab my son home, but that now they were going for care proceedings as there had been previous referrals even though the case had been closed immediately each time. I was gutted. The plan is for my son to stay in the residential unit for 18 months and then go into foster care. I have done everything they asked of me and I just can't see what else I have to do. My solicitor has a copy of the LAC meeting minutes stating the plan was to rehab home as a child in need. I have worked very well with everyone involved including ss although I'm finding it extremely hard to even look at the supervisor who has made this decision without meeting my child or myself. I have become quite anxious about the whole ordeal. I have good support in place though. I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else - social services changing their minds after agreeing to rehab home even though there have been no further incidents, problems or difficulties, and things are going very well? Any advice appreciated thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear SallyCate

Welcome to the parent's discussion board.

I am sorry to hear that you are going through such a difficult time regarding your son.

Has your solictior been able to explain why Children's Services changed the care plan from your son to come home but then made the decision for him to remain in long term care.

Were the referrals that had been made in the past to do with your drinking before you were offered and were fully engaged with the appropriate support to help you remain alcohol free?

Did the Local Authority consider offering you a family group conference to help you make safe plans for your son to stay with family members in the first instance or was the possibility of them entering into a pre proceedings agreement between yourself and the Local Authority even been discussed with you?

Can I advise you to raise some of these points and work closely with your solicitor to see what their view about the best way forward is at this time.

If you wish to speak to an adviser about your situation please feel free to contact our advice line on 0808 801 0366 Monday to Friday 09.30 am to 03.00 pm.

Best Wishes

Suzie