Lost
Posted: Wed Jul 19, 2017 12:27 pm
I should have come to a forum like this when all this first came about but I was too distraught. But now I'm ready to get advice and opinions on what to do and what could happen.
Our little boy is just over 6 weeks old. When he was 4 weeks and 3 days old we took him to the doctors as we had noticed several marks and bruises on his body and we were concerned something was wrong as we didn't know how he'd got them. Once we got home, we got a call from Social Services who said they were coming round to take us and our son to hospital where he will be examined and we will also see a police officer there.
We agreed for him to have a ct scan and a skeletal X-ray to prove he's not had any injuries. I didn't want him exposed to the unnecessary radiation as I knew results would come back clear. But knew it was best if we agree to do what they wished to do. He also had to stay in for two nights whilst they got the findings of the examinations. The examinations came back inconclusive. So we had a choice, either to voluntarily let our son stay with a family member or refuse and then social services get a court order. We chose to sign a Section 20. Obviously very distraught about this situation, our baby only a month old having to stay somewhere without us.
We had to have a police interview and have found out that the police aren't taking the case further. Social have had a legal meeting and have also said at the moment it doesn't meet threshold for family court. So the social worker is going to a panel meeting next week which will be three weeks exactly since our son was first taken off us. We are having 4-6 hours supervised contact a week which is heartbreaking. He is growing and changing so fast and we are not there to see it. We've been misled to think we'd have had more contact.
I'm worried about what will happen at the panel. I suffer with mental health illnesses and after the birth had other agencies involved with me because my problems had intensified. The week or so before this occurring though it had started to settle down and was noted by a professional. Everyone involved have always said they had no concern for baby's safety and that we are loving, attentive parents. I just want my baby home so we can be parents again and so we don't miss any more time with him. I just want some advice on what rights we have or possible outcomes.
Can they use mental health as a reason for him not coming home? Yes the first few weeks I was struggling a bit but I think it's unfair to base it on that because I believe it was due to being a first time mum.
The thought of having to have him living elsewhere whilst I'm 'getting better' scares me. At the moment my biggest problem is that he's not with me. I feel I won't ever meet their threshold for him coming home because whilst he isn't here, I'll always be upset.
Sorry for the long post.
Our little boy is just over 6 weeks old. When he was 4 weeks and 3 days old we took him to the doctors as we had noticed several marks and bruises on his body and we were concerned something was wrong as we didn't know how he'd got them. Once we got home, we got a call from Social Services who said they were coming round to take us and our son to hospital where he will be examined and we will also see a police officer there.
We agreed for him to have a ct scan and a skeletal X-ray to prove he's not had any injuries. I didn't want him exposed to the unnecessary radiation as I knew results would come back clear. But knew it was best if we agree to do what they wished to do. He also had to stay in for two nights whilst they got the findings of the examinations. The examinations came back inconclusive. So we had a choice, either to voluntarily let our son stay with a family member or refuse and then social services get a court order. We chose to sign a Section 20. Obviously very distraught about this situation, our baby only a month old having to stay somewhere without us.
We had to have a police interview and have found out that the police aren't taking the case further. Social have had a legal meeting and have also said at the moment it doesn't meet threshold for family court. So the social worker is going to a panel meeting next week which will be three weeks exactly since our son was first taken off us. We are having 4-6 hours supervised contact a week which is heartbreaking. He is growing and changing so fast and we are not there to see it. We've been misled to think we'd have had more contact.
I'm worried about what will happen at the panel. I suffer with mental health illnesses and after the birth had other agencies involved with me because my problems had intensified. The week or so before this occurring though it had started to settle down and was noted by a professional. Everyone involved have always said they had no concern for baby's safety and that we are loving, attentive parents. I just want my baby home so we can be parents again and so we don't miss any more time with him. I just want some advice on what rights we have or possible outcomes.
Can they use mental health as a reason for him not coming home? Yes the first few weeks I was struggling a bit but I think it's unfair to base it on that because I believe it was due to being a first time mum.
The thought of having to have him living elsewhere whilst I'm 'getting better' scares me. At the moment my biggest problem is that he's not with me. I feel I won't ever meet their threshold for him coming home because whilst he isn't here, I'll always be upset.
Sorry for the long post.