Private Fostering Or Not???

Savvy_Sue

So sorry you have not heard back from your MP, worth trying again, and you could try the MP where your friend was living if that was different, also your local councillor, and the councillor with lead responsibility for children's services.

I'd have thought THEY should be making arrangements to appoint a guardian ad litem for him, ie someone who acts in HIS best interests, representing him in court etc.

Also ask SS what they will do if you don't apply for the residence order because you cannot afford to?

How soon is he 16, btw? Everything changes then, I suspect.

What is the delay with Child Benefit?

LJW_2

Hi, have a look under the rules of a Special Guardianship Order. Similar to a Residence order but could pay an allowance!

Zara33

tori i have sent you a pm, but SS can pay for your fees, it just takes a wee while

tori.k

Thanks LJW i googled special guardianship seems that be the better road to go down, for the lad's sake as he will lose any help from social sevices if we take a resident order out...funny that social sevices never mentioned it...roll eyes
Savvy sue.sadly i think social sevices worried more about themselves then the lad as he is Autistic he be hard to place and as for the delay with child benefit they messed up and still been paying into my friends account, which has now been frozen to try and stop it, its not really all about the money just thats all social services seem to care about, we can look after him not a problem,
but feel like they are taking the mick out of us,

shimmershelly

Hi I am kinship caring and from what I have read here I would say an SGO would be your best bet as it would give you PR. Please also visit the family rights group, I know you are not related but they have loads of information for people looking after other peoples children. http://www.frg.org.uk
There was an interesting item on the one show on BBC a few weeks back on kinship caring (kinship carers can also be friends), and it was mentioned on there people had been advised to go for a RO where an SGO would be a better option for them. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/consumer/2009/03/17/kinship-carers-useful-informat.html#dnaacs
I think you might also get a little help financially with a SGO but the FRG would be able to tell you more.
Factsheet about SGO's http://www.frg.org.uk/pdfs/22.%20Special%20Guardianship%20-%20for%20carers.pdf
Social services in my experience too have been little help, we still get no financial help or any support and we have "looked after" children.

Savvy_Sue

OK, if he's autistic then do contact the NAS and see if they can suggest any grants or things like that you could apply for. He may also need a social worker as an adult, or at least as a young adult, if it's going to be later than usual before he can live independently, so talk to them about that too.

Have a hug for caring about this lad through some tough times. A big thank you to all the posters who've given you informed advice, hopefully with that you can make some progress.

easilydistracted

Hi again tori.k
I'm really sorry to hear that you're not having a good experience with the social worker. I am pretty surprised that they are recommending you go for a residence order for a 15 year old. They cost as much as around £2000. It sounds like the special guardianship order makes sense. If you don't have a high income you may find you could get legal aid funding if you did decide to get a solicitor and go for any legal orders. If you don't qualify for legal aid there are a number of solicitors in most areas who offer half an hours free legal advice- the CAB have a list. Good luck with whatever you decide

tori.k

Many thanks Easilydistracted, the whole mess seems to come from the SS legal team as no-one has PR on the Lad, a lot of hassle for no real reason that anyone can really see, SS have now agreed to pay for the first solicitor appointment so we will see what they have to say.
To be honest even the social worker thinks its crazy she has kids stuck in places they really shouldnt be and this just makes more work for her, the whole care system is a mess, i wouldnt want her job...its a nightmare

RAS

Hi

Have you considered speaking to the Children's Society. They have to obtain legal respobsibility for kids who have left home for various reasons and probably know the ropes.