Private foster child doesn't want to return home
Posted: Thu Mar 22, 2018 5:32 pm
Hello everyone!
Hoping that someone can point us in the right direction. I have a 15 year old private foster child living with me, and as far as her social worker is concerned she's here to allow family mediation to happen so that she can return home to live with her mother (dad hasn't been around since she was 3).
It's been over a year since she lived at home, and in this time she's had no contact with her mother, and has made it very clear that she doesn't want to. SS have not yet arranged a single mediation session.
I'm concerned on two fronts- firstly they keep saying that private fostering arrangements end at 16, which is fast approaching. What happens to her then? I really hope that she can work on her relationship with her mum but I think if they just pick her up and drop her there at the moment she'll either run away or have a breakdown (she's been hospitalised for mental health before). Secondly as a family we are thinking of moving house over the summer, and would be in a different council area. What happens if we do? Will they try to force her home? She's with us because there isn't another placement for her.
Any advice appreciated! I just want her to be okay, I came from a similar background and ran away at 16, and I don't want to put anyone through that. She's a sweet and clever girl.
Hoping that someone can point us in the right direction. I have a 15 year old private foster child living with me, and as far as her social worker is concerned she's here to allow family mediation to happen so that she can return home to live with her mother (dad hasn't been around since she was 3).
It's been over a year since she lived at home, and in this time she's had no contact with her mother, and has made it very clear that she doesn't want to. SS have not yet arranged a single mediation session.
I'm concerned on two fronts- firstly they keep saying that private fostering arrangements end at 16, which is fast approaching. What happens to her then? I really hope that she can work on her relationship with her mum but I think if they just pick her up and drop her there at the moment she'll either run away or have a breakdown (she's been hospitalised for mental health before). Secondly as a family we are thinking of moving house over the summer, and would be in a different council area. What happens if we do? Will they try to force her home? She's with us because there isn't another placement for her.
Any advice appreciated! I just want her to be okay, I came from a similar background and ran away at 16, and I don't want to put anyone through that. She's a sweet and clever girl.