Christmas Contact

[charmed1]

Hi everyone. It's that difficult time of year again and it looks like the approach is suspend contact in December as it's an emotive and busy time for the children. Grandparents have been told that's the case. Us parents have been told nothing.

Last year we were in a similar position with the social worker wanting Christmas a contact free zone. We had twice weekly contact then but managed to see the children on the 23rd December but not again until January. This year it's just once a month contact and as I said December appears to be off limits. Court order states once month so can they get round it by pushing it on a week or two into January? Of course if they did we would ask for another contact at the end of the month if the court proceedings haven't changed the landscape by then.

[ange301126]

Dear Charmed,

I find it appalling and incomprehensible, as a human being,that anyone (especially a child's grandparents) would prevent a child and mother having contact during the season of goodwill to all men and peace on earth.How can anyone be so callous ( apart from King Herod himself)given the story of the nativity?

At Christmas,enhanced contact between children and natural parents should be a matter of course.Time of contact should be doubled at least and sw's should arrange for a party and Xmas dinner. The children would look forward to it tremendously.
Shame on those awful people and good luck at court!

[charmed1]

Oh no ange. Sorry I might need to rephrase the comment about Grandparents. They've told us that's what the social worker has said to them. It's not the Grandparents keeping us from the kids just they know when they will see them we don't as yet. Chasing that up today.

[ange301126]

Dear Charmed, I suggest you e-mail the Director of Communities and People (Blueplain found them most helpful and you will find the address on his thread) and ask them to overrule what is a cruel DICTAT.

The point to make is that you share PR equally with the Local Authority, decisions pertaining to contact or any other regarding their welfare must not be taken unilaterally by sw's without discussion with you.Tell the director it is a callous decision made wrongly and ask him to intervene.Also ask for extra time.

[Murray72]

I am surprised December is a contact free zone, have CS given a reason for this? Contact was always promoted throughout this period in my case.

I can't see how it would be in the children's best interest not to have contact through this period, I would suggest speaking to the IRO if you get no joy with the SW or the SW manager. I don't know the ages of your kids but it is helpful if the children are asking to see you over Xmas.

[ange301126]

Dear Charmed,
Don't worry, you said nothing wrong.It was me who misread your post.I realize now its nothing to do with the grandparents, its just the sw.

[charmed1]

A meeting yesterday has "pencilled" in two hours back in the room on 30th December. Better than nothing but it seems it's more for their benefit being in the contact centre than out in the community which the kids have had with us for months.

[ange301126]

Dear charmed,When you say out in the community,what do you mean.Can you take them out unsupervised?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Charmed1

Well done for being persistant and at least being successfully granted a contact session shortly after the xmas period. I know it may not be what you had planned on as it will be supervised, but I hope things run a bit more smoothly from now on, pending your return to court.

Best Wishes

Suzie

[charmed1]

No ange we went to soft play barn and children's farms with them still supervised but more space and natural.