A new start for Mooloo

Savvy_sewing

I dont think I am ever really able to put myself first, but I do occasionally try.

I think that twin2 is in denial, and just wanting to have a holiday, hoping that at the end of it all, its all sorted out!!! ha ha.
I have told SS that the girls have learning difficulties until I am blue in the face.
The system seems to have more flaws in it, then the earth plates

Savvy_Sue

When you get round to doing the passport application, it's worth noting that you can fill the form in online, they then print it and send it to you to check, and you post it back to them with the photos and other documents needed.

I find that helpful because at least I know that there won't be any problems reading my handwriting!

bertiebots

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/7706993/Grandmother-wins-right-to-foster-parents-pay.html

Mooloo when you have 5 minutes (ok I know thats a tall order lol!) you may find this and interesting read!

Savvy_sewing

The final line is a bit of a problem for people though
"However, Mrs Justice Black allowed the county council to take the case to the Court of Appeal because the ruling could have widespread implications for other authorities. "
As I know from another family appeal case, someone who was granted £93,000 in costs, some 20 years ago, lost the appeal and never got a penny, and had to pay court costs! So not so good!.

(Although that was not a social services claim, but a council claim).

The current social worker said that the council were running scared when they got my letter. I an wondering if that is now why they are changing us to another team, or if it is only becuase of where I am living. As DGD was living with her mum in a different area.
Time will tell.
I should now be rummaging around with my paperwork and getting it all together, but instead I have been reading up about Sicily!! oops.
Luckily the language has some simularities to portugese. But I could do with a phrase book. Wonder if I can get one off of Book people that could come before the weekend? mmm maybe a bit more of self indulgent browsing.

gizmo111

I postponed the social worker until tomorrow morning. Which was just as well, as there is so much going on at the moment. I also warned her to get the right paperwork sorted out as I had the forms from the Fostering team assessment next week. I also asked for copies please. She said that I had put her on a learning curve, as she had only ever placed children with families on a voluntary basis and never under section 38 of the childrens act. So she is learning what to do.! (What a sham!).

Stupid woman has got a mountain to climb not just a curve:eek:
You are being assessed under section 38 of the fostering regulations. DGD is placed with you under S20 of the children act which is wait for it ....voluntary in agreement with parents. There are no orders on this child. Section 38 of the Children Act covers Interim Orders. She needs to clarify on what basis you have this child. Ask from what date are they starting this placement because it is illegal at present (they'll get in trouble not you).
Don't even go down the route of residence - lots in that scenario for them to mess up, and no benefits for you.
Are they taking either of these cases to court?

Good Luck

Savvy_sewing

As far as I know,the first case, with DGD who is living with me at the moment. There has been no talk of any court cases.
With the boys, I have no idea under what terms they even removed the boys. I am just guessing. Its not helping that Twin2 went away without having any copies of the things she has signed, and as its a new SW she is reluctant to deal with me, except when it suits her of course.

Savvy_sewing

As usual I am leaving my bedtime reading a little late!
I have just started re reading the leaflets i downloaded from the Welfare Rights Groups. I have to confess that at the moment I am getting more and more confused as to how I ended up with DGD so long, on such a flimsy set up.!
I realise that the two day assessment report was quite dismal reading, but I still didnt see how we were not able to review things better, and have any other options arranged for them to stay together etc etc. or even get another opinion.

I really do not know, but at least now I am going to see a solicitor, I hope I will start to gain the clearer picture etc etc. Although it will no doubt take some time.

With twin2, I am not sure what to do, where to go etc. I think I am going to have to work on one battle at a time. Its so difficult.

Savvy_sewing

I am going to get really mad if i continue to read these leaflets tonight.
I think that the first thing that is really jumping out at me, is that the twins have not had a proper Adult Assessment. If they did, then there are further help and support systems that should have been in place.
There is a section saying that they should be able to get support to keep thier children. !
Oh I am going to be having a field day over the next few months. As I shall be getting the solicitor to rip the council appart!.

It may be a bit late for my girls, but I hope that its not. We have to fight these workers who are not doing thier job correctly. (I realise there are some good ones out there, I have always acknowledged that, but in my case, I am begnning to wonder if its a duff council I have).
Right, I am going to sign off, get too bed soon, as there is only DGD and myself, and I will no doubt have to be up early with her.
Night all.

Savvy_sewing

Well its morning already! I struggled to get to sleep with my mind whirling, but once I did I slept quite well.
Still waiting for my body to get working, or the tablets to take effect if you like. DGD is aware that the lady is coming to see her today. She seems quite happy enough. (I like to bring things into the conversation the day before, and get her used to the idea of the visit, and see if she remembers who people are.).
So she is happily chanting the womans name and looking foreward to her visit. Which helps.
I shall be pushing both/which ever department that is involved, to get those adult assessments done for the girls. (Again)
Yesterday the nw SW for twin2 was asking if Ihad any written evidence of her problems, and I said well I did, until all the various social workers came visiting and took them to copy!.
Where did they all go,? Who knows.
I hope that her first task will be to address this yawning gap.

If an adult has disabilities, including mental ones, or learning one, they should be taking steps to keep the children with the family, even if it is to provide home helps, day care for the children, and people to come in for afew hours to help with babies.! Well thats not what is happening. So thats a start on that side.

On todays little visit, I expect her to push me to do the residency, and as Gizmo has said, I will not be touching that little nugget with a barge pole.
She should also be bringing me copies of the medical consent she said Twin1 signed the other week, when we signed the Kinship paperwork.!
I said we didnt get copies of any of this. I should have the medical consent one at least, in case anything happened to DGD, and she said, Oh, should you! (Lucky she was on the phone so she couldnt see me raise my eyebrows in amazement.

Thanks Gizmo for giving me the courage to start to really challenge again.

Savvy_sewing

Well the visit from the SW has gone ahead. She arrived at 9.30. Bit earlier then expected. Was a very "chatty" meeting. With DGD doing some play etc with her.
She has given me a Draft copy of the new family safety agreement which is wrong, as she put a sentance in about me going for a residency order.
I actually told her we should be facilitating a plan for DGD to be returned to her mother!. So she has agreed that actually "we" got it wrong, and that since my letter there has been repurcutions and that thy have a lot of Grandparents who are caring for thier children who should be allowed the "fostering allowances".
She has 3 cases alone, that she thinks she has "said something perhaps I shouldnt have, as I agree they should be being paid".
There are only 3 people in the assessment team, and perhaps resources need to be poured into that department to do all the assessments needed!!!

Brilliant.
I have told her that I am seeing the solicitor tomorrow, as the council have done things in the wrong way. So this will be interesting. But she has told me that she will be leaving the authority soon. (didnt say what she was going to do).

She has given me the letter to give to housing.
we have a copy of the LAC consent planpart one, but there is still no medical consent form signed. Its stl blank.
Anyway, its a complete and utter mess, as the form is dated the 29/3/10 yet she got us to sign it dated back in november.
Its just a mess.
I have told her my views and that the adult assessment request of march last year had not had a response, and I gave her a copy of it.

She said that she will email me any relevant documents that she thinks I may need for this meeting next week.

Meanwhile I have a form to fill in and return to the fostering teams, ready for this meeting next week. this should be interesting indeed. They were pushing to get a residency order so that they didnt need to be involved anymore.

Right I have put DGD down for a sleep, but she is not going. Its going to be one of those days I fear!.

I must go out and buy milk, butter and squash today. As we are out of them. So I really hope she sleeps first or she will be a nightmare around the shops.