Hello and help please!
Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2015 3:42 pm
Hello,
Some advice would be greatly appreciated please. I'll try to keep it simple
We are uncle and aunt and my sister has 5 children under 18 who are all on the Child Protection Register and have been through their lives. Their mother has agreed to a s20 on the 4 younger ones and they are currently placed in Foster Care just outside the town. The eldest is 16 at the beginning of next month but is currently in a secure mental health unit at the other end of the country due to self harm issues caused by the family environment. Thankfully he is on the road to recovery and Children's Services have approached us to see if we will take him as he is due to be discharged. We have discussed this at length and are happy to give the love and support he needs.
We enquired what support would be available for his complex needs as well as any financial assistance. They have said that Child Mental Health will be the lead and they will set up weekly visits, meds etc and went on, when pushed to say he would have a Youth Support Worker for as long as would be needed. His protection plan is due to be reviewed in October and if not a risk he'll come off it and will be classed as a child in need? I thought he was that already!
We asked about financial help, not being funny but he has no clothes, anything really and children, especially teenagers aren't cheap! We was told (because of what we earn) we would get nothing as this would be under a private arrangement?
We had lots of questions such as
What happens if the relationship breaks down, where's the support?
What about medical treatment
What if he self harms?
What is their care plan etc?
Again they said the mental health side would sort it with help from them if needed. We asked about the possibility of friends and family foster care as this would ensure his complex needs were met along with a back up plan before discharge. We know he would need to be looked after. They again refused stating their stance was the private arrangement as if they were doing us a favour. When we asked what would happen if we refused they said they would..... Get a s20 and place him in specialist foster care!!!
Major guilt trip on us and we feel like they are using this and passing the buck. We think once he is with us, he won't be in danger etc and they'll say over to you (which they have with the financial side)
Can they do this? It seems so wrong given how vulnerable and how much support he will need
Please help?
Some advice would be greatly appreciated please. I'll try to keep it simple
We are uncle and aunt and my sister has 5 children under 18 who are all on the Child Protection Register and have been through their lives. Their mother has agreed to a s20 on the 4 younger ones and they are currently placed in Foster Care just outside the town. The eldest is 16 at the beginning of next month but is currently in a secure mental health unit at the other end of the country due to self harm issues caused by the family environment. Thankfully he is on the road to recovery and Children's Services have approached us to see if we will take him as he is due to be discharged. We have discussed this at length and are happy to give the love and support he needs.
We enquired what support would be available for his complex needs as well as any financial assistance. They have said that Child Mental Health will be the lead and they will set up weekly visits, meds etc and went on, when pushed to say he would have a Youth Support Worker for as long as would be needed. His protection plan is due to be reviewed in October and if not a risk he'll come off it and will be classed as a child in need? I thought he was that already!
We asked about financial help, not being funny but he has no clothes, anything really and children, especially teenagers aren't cheap! We was told (because of what we earn) we would get nothing as this would be under a private arrangement?
We had lots of questions such as
What happens if the relationship breaks down, where's the support?
What about medical treatment
What if he self harms?
What is their care plan etc?
Again they said the mental health side would sort it with help from them if needed. We asked about the possibility of friends and family foster care as this would ensure his complex needs were met along with a back up plan before discharge. We know he would need to be looked after. They again refused stating their stance was the private arrangement as if they were doing us a favour. When we asked what would happen if we refused they said they would..... Get a s20 and place him in specialist foster care!!!
Major guilt trip on us and we feel like they are using this and passing the buck. We think once he is with us, he won't be in danger etc and they'll say over to you (which they have with the financial side)
Can they do this? It seems so wrong given how vulnerable and how much support he will need
Please help?