About Social Work problem

Retired_at_55

To delete the post.

Richie-from-the-Boro

Retired_at_55 wrote: »

I joined here to ask a question anonymously on the Citizens Advice Forum but it did not fit in with any of the groups on their list.

I hope this is the most suitable place to ask although it is not about money.

After complaining about a social work problem regarding the way her grandchildren are being treated in foster care my relative has been asked to attend a meeting (alone) with three social workers. It sounds unsafe as it would be her word against theirs and they have all the knowledge. Also it sounds a bit over powering. She thought she could talk it all through with one social worker.

It does not sound right to me but I don't know anywhere on line to ask the question about advice or any other options for her.

Thank you

Retired at 55 (and I do not miss work!)

- she, the grandmother does not have to be alone, she should request a friend / witness but not advocate in attendance
- they, the social worker system should never be alone when a complaint is made and should always have a witness

Assuming the organisation agrees that the grandmother is a suitable representative to complain on behalf of her grandchildren then the case worker and a mediator will have a discussion with the grandmother to try to resolve the issue. Depending on the outcome the complaints manager will review the meeting and decide where it goes from there.

Morglin

There won't be any harm to her attending this meeting, and she should be able to take a friend with her.

Social workers should also be providing information as to where people can get some impartial advice.

Your relative can phone and ask to speak to the social work manager, to talk things over.

Lin

cheepskate_2

Please , Please make sure your friend has someone with her, preferably someone with good social standing.

Allegations against SW arn't taken very well by them ,so be protected.

I know someone who complained a child was being abused under SW care, the complainer then had serious allegations made about them by the SW and was stopped seeing the child for 2 years.......All because they complained about the child being abused in a SW care home and SW doing nothing about it.

cheepskate_2

http://www.voiceyp.org/professional-zone/hounslow-advocacy

This is for Y>P but im sure they canlead you in the right direction. May not be your area, but i'm sure they may know what help is available in your area

devizes18193

Retired_at_55 wrote: »

Thanks. Three social work staff sounds a lot. If she cannot go through with it is there anywhere you know of on line where she can get information or advice?

Thanks

if you are not happy try http://www.lgo.org.uk/adult-social-care/

Ali_Leith

Hello, I definetly see how a meeting with 3 social workers could feel intimidating. Perhaps an independent advocate could help (these services are free of charge). The availability of advocay services tends to vary a lot from one local authority/ county to another. If you would like, you would be welcome to contact me via private message and I could try to signpost you/ your family to an independent advocacy services in your area. You are certainly in your rights to ask to postpone the meeting until you can find a advocate. best wishes, Ali

Richie-from-the-Boro

Ali_Leith wrote: »

Hello, I definitely see how a meeting with 3 social workers could feel intimidating. Perhaps an independent advocate could help (these services are free of charge). The availability of advocacy services tends to vary a lot from one local authority/ county to another. If you would like, you would be welcome to contact me via private message and I could try to signpost you/ your family to an independent advocacy services in your area. You are certainly in your rights to ask to postpone the meeting until you can find a advocate. best wishes, Ali

- welcome to the forum Ali, I'm sure your intentions are / were purely well intentioned
- even as a new poster I'm sure you recognise that this particular thread is about the vulnerable
- would there be a reason why your help can only be given by private and out of sight private messaging ?

To anyone reading this

Never ever contact any one off board and out of sight of the moderators and other members who can protect you. Never ever make out of sight & scrutiny contact with any first time poster, and never ever give an address or phone number. Protect yourself - if in doubt contact the Forum Team on the TRHS of this screen. Look after the elderly & vulnerable who may just hand over their details to unknown first time posters.

paulofessex

OP the reason there would be 3 social workers.......the child/ren will have an allocated SW as will the foster carer. The 3rd may be the SW or placement teams senior manager etc.
You also could ask when the child's next Looked After Care review is (LAC Review). This is the meeting held each. 6-12 months chaired by an independent reviewing officer, this is also a good opportunity for any issues to be raised, the reviewing officers role is also to see and speak to the children alone before the meeting.

Also in respect to the meeting with the 3 social workers, please ensure you ask to be provided with a copy of the minutes taken during the meeting.

Depending on the ages and circumstances of the children, during the LAC review a request could be made for an Independent Visitor to be assigned to the children.

lainieee

I would most definatly take the advice of your friend taking someone with her. I'd even be tempted to record the meeting.

In my experience, SS & some social workers do not play fair or go by the book. In my case they also lied & tried to twist the truth.
In my case, my non maternal nephew (my youngest sons cousin/ex partners sisters 6th child) was agreed to be placed with me when he was born - this happened without problem, it took 6mths for them to pay me any allowance & I got very little help despite the promises. Approx 6mths later his SW changed & so did their agenda. They tried everything to get my foster son off me, I spent over 2 years in & out of court, their court childrens guardian had to do an assesment, everything in her report was bias & the majority was utter lies. It was a damming report. On the last day of court we got a stay of removing foster son from my care & given permission to have an independent report done. Which was glowing! & in my favour. It ended up with me having to take SS to the strand high court.

Lady justice bracewell sat, she tore SS & their legal team to shreds over their treatment of me & their behaviour. One of SS' s argument's was that I was an unfit mother as my youngest son had been diagnosed with ADHD. Despite my other 2 childen getting good grades & good behaviour.

After all that, I ended up going for special guardianship, got that, SS played ball. But despite many attempts to get SGO payments, I still to this date have received nothing, my foster son will be 11 in august. I even spoke to the manager.. yet nothing happened.

I was advised to seek legal representation on behalf of my foster son to take ss to court to get the help & assistance he needs...but I dont know if that can be done in his name.

If there is anything I could advise your friend, then it would be do not take SS word for anything, get everything documented & possibly signed. Have someone with you at all meetings. Simply do not trust them or let your guard down.

Yes their are a great many good SW's, but in my experience, often their hands are tied by what management want to happen.

I wish your friend a trouble free experience & hope she gets the outcome she wants.

Lorraine
Xx

It_Just_Aint_Right

I'm so upset, I recently learned that my 3m old grandchild has been put into foster care and there it is highly unlikely baby will go back to mum or dad, and we appear to be the preferred alternative.

Ties were cut long ago due to intolerable cruel behaviour and eventually we just gave up and walked away (4 years ago now). She's 30, and not a child, so there isn't a lot of hope for change.

My home/family literally lives on the breadline as we are all at college and on income support and work as volunteers. The teenage children are in college and university. All a* students with excellent reports and references.

The social services contacted us and asked us to have baby once it's all cleared through court (assuming it is) on a SPECIAL GUARDIANSHIP ORDER. Upon enquiry we are advised it offers NO financial support. I said we risk losing our home without help, but there is seemingly nothing that is available.

I requested KINSHIP CARE as it carries a support allowance and as the baby/child remains under the umbrella of the SSD - they carry the legal authority to fight any potential court cases brought by parents wanting the Order reversed.
SSD said No.
Then said: It is basically the SGO or baby goes for adoption. [omg].

I have researched this and it isn't so cut and dried.
The FAMILY RIGHTS GROUP website is brilliant for this stuff.
I learned that 'we' need to register our wish/want/need for £support BEFORE it goes through Court.
AND we are entitled to ask the Court to add our names to the 'party' for court hearing copies. (The SSD do not like this, but such is life).

I have managed to lodge our request for financial support as I dearly love my grandchild and will create a loving home here (already looking at prams) and hopefully this will reduce the amount of shafting we get.

How sad it has to be this way when all we want to do, is do the right thing. So very very sad.

Ultimately we may not get any support, but i'm damned if i'm going down without a fight!