SGO 8 years, contact rules possibly changed?

[jillybee40]

Hi I'm a little confused. I have Special Guardianship and have had for 8 years for my 9 year old Neice. Her Bio Father has always had contact but supervised by me or my husband with no problems.
Her Father has been in contact with Childrens Services asking for contact to take her out to places with a friend of his or relative of his choosing. Childrens Services have said there are no records of anything against the Dad or any reasons why he can't take her out but ultimately the decision is mine and my husbands.
This last part is where I'm confused as..

The initital concern was of an allegation from years back of an adult step daughter that in her teens he had kissed her innapropriately. This resulted in my Neice being taken and put into my care, we got the guardianship with Court and Fathers permission and we were advised he could have supervised contact. Nothing further was said about the allegations as the step daughter wouldn't officially make a statement or wanted anything further to do with it.
I would have thought it would have been well documented that she should be supervised and why. Does it mean they would now allow her unsupervised or is it all just down to me and my husband to carry out their original decisions or new ones?

I don't have concerns over the Father to take her places, but would ask to keep to public places and with someone I trust to be with him. In saying all this I don't want to put a foot wrong by my Neice and will stick to rules.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Jillybee40,

Welcome to the friends and family forum. I am sorry for the delay in responding to your post.

Irene has quite correctly pointed out that you have the enhanced parental responsibility of a special guardianship order which allows you to make all the decisions about your niece’s contact with her father.

As father wants unsupervised contact, he has asked for an assessment from children services. He could also make an application to court for a child arrangements order for contact. But whether he gets anywhere will depend on the outcome of an appropriate assessment.

The crux of the matter is whether dad is now safe to have unsupervised contact or whether the supervisor he is suggesting has been assessed by children services and understands dads risk to your niece so can protect her.

Dad was accused of sexual abuse and your niece was removed by children services because she was at risk from him.

How has dad’s risk to your niece reduced? Has he admitted the sexual abuse and completed courses and support and been re- assessed?

I am surprised that the social worker is saying there has been no incidents, so his risk has gone down. The other child was a teenager when he kissed her inappropriately. So there may be an argument that his risk could be increasing.

So I agree with you, you need to know his risk has gone down because he has been properly assessed by a specialist in sexual abuse (and completed courses). I imagine there will also need to be self-protection work with your niece so she can know what sexual abuse is and what isn’t. Often schools run these courses.

You could contact the Just stop it now! helpline on 0808 100 900. They advise families about sexual abuse and what specialist assessments and support is available.
There is helpful information on the Parents Protect website .

I hope this advice helps but if you have any questions please post back.

Best wishes,

Suzie

[Miss woody]

My granddaughter and grandson got took off my daughter through the family courts 3 years ago, during that 3 years the 10 year old has been staying with us for long periods of time, as she isn't settling there, she has said she gets hit and locked in bedroom with brush handle under door. I've contacted LA many times about concerns I have her living there. LA have rang me nunerous times to ask would we have her for a while. She was placed there with sgo order as he is not her biological dad, her younger brother who is 6 now is the biological child so no sgo on him. I have now had my granddaughter for 3 weeks and LA have brought all her belongings to my house and said she won't b going back there.

[Miss woody]

My granddaughter has told LA she won't go back and wants to stay with me. My daughter has been seeking legal advice and LA told me yesterday that the is a court date for April 24.i asked if they were seeking to remove sgo order n she no there not looking to remove it. As the sgo gives dad pr over her. Thus has confused me as there was problems wen she was there, LA have agreed she can't go back, so why won't they remove sgo

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Miss Woody

Thank you for your post and apologies for not replying sooner. My name is Suzie, FRG's online adviser.

We have replied to your most recent post which you posted under the "natter and chatter" thread. If you are posting again please keep to one thread as this will enable an adviser to respond more promptly and with a better understanding of the situation.

With best wishes

Suzie