Best timing to raise complaints
Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 2:43 pm
Hi this is my first post, so please bear with me!
Without going into the long history, I have a 10 year old that's in foster care (with a section 20) and at the time that was the best decision for all concerned.
It was a difficult decision and all the professionals were very judgemental seeing it as a failure on my part. Unfortunately the foster carer (who couldn't see what the problems that I was having were if you were 'just strict') has now decided she doesn't want to continue the placement. When she told SS, and before I was told, they went ahead and made plans for a different placement then contacted to tell me. I wasn't happy not to be involved considering I have parental responsibility, and also wasn't happy to learn that the proposed placement had already been used as a respite (again without informing me) when the carer only about 6 months in decided she needed a break. In any case, because she didn't want to continue I didn't object to the move, but having learned about the respite carer I expressed concerns. SS then branded me 'unco-operative' and went for a care order. Based on the SW report and information he put in court papers SS were backed by both the guardian and the IRO - neither of whom have even met the child they are meant to be working with, nor had they communicated with me.
Before going into the magistrates in court, when the guardian saw I was able to prove all the statements made by the SW about me were lies and this was just being done so SS would be able to override any of my decisions, he immediately withdrew his agreement and in court raised concerns about SS actions and actions of the proposed care plan. The SS lawyer then stated they want to work with me to draw up a plan and the magistrates, who were very unhappy about information provided by SS, adjourned the case. So it's still pending.
A few weeks after court there was a LAC review and the IRO stated she still backed the care order. I asked how she still had that opinion considering the decision was based on reading one report that had baseless, untrue information, but he is stubbonly giving approval.
The SW who wrote the report has moved on. The IRO is moving on soon. I'm conscious I'll still have to work with the new SS and IRO, and that raising a complaint might make them harden in their attitude towards me, but I don't feel the actions of the SW in lodging untrue information with a court, nor the unprofessional actions of an IRO should be allowed to go - and treat others like this.
I can't decide if it's best to hold off until after all the court hearings before complaining, but will it then be possible to complain about people who have moved on and no longer work for the local authority? Alternatively, before the IRO leaves would it be best to raise my concern about his 'independence' in decision making if not checking information in reports, or meeting the child or communicating with a parent and ask for the actions of the SW to be looked into as part of that enquiry.
Any advice please?
Without going into the long history, I have a 10 year old that's in foster care (with a section 20) and at the time that was the best decision for all concerned.
It was a difficult decision and all the professionals were very judgemental seeing it as a failure on my part. Unfortunately the foster carer (who couldn't see what the problems that I was having were if you were 'just strict') has now decided she doesn't want to continue the placement. When she told SS, and before I was told, they went ahead and made plans for a different placement then contacted to tell me. I wasn't happy not to be involved considering I have parental responsibility, and also wasn't happy to learn that the proposed placement had already been used as a respite (again without informing me) when the carer only about 6 months in decided she needed a break. In any case, because she didn't want to continue I didn't object to the move, but having learned about the respite carer I expressed concerns. SS then branded me 'unco-operative' and went for a care order. Based on the SW report and information he put in court papers SS were backed by both the guardian and the IRO - neither of whom have even met the child they are meant to be working with, nor had they communicated with me.
Before going into the magistrates in court, when the guardian saw I was able to prove all the statements made by the SW about me were lies and this was just being done so SS would be able to override any of my decisions, he immediately withdrew his agreement and in court raised concerns about SS actions and actions of the proposed care plan. The SS lawyer then stated they want to work with me to draw up a plan and the magistrates, who were very unhappy about information provided by SS, adjourned the case. So it's still pending.
A few weeks after court there was a LAC review and the IRO stated she still backed the care order. I asked how she still had that opinion considering the decision was based on reading one report that had baseless, untrue information, but he is stubbonly giving approval.
The SW who wrote the report has moved on. The IRO is moving on soon. I'm conscious I'll still have to work with the new SS and IRO, and that raising a complaint might make them harden in their attitude towards me, but I don't feel the actions of the SW in lodging untrue information with a court, nor the unprofessional actions of an IRO should be allowed to go - and treat others like this.
I can't decide if it's best to hold off until after all the court hearings before complaining, but will it then be possible to complain about people who have moved on and no longer work for the local authority? Alternatively, before the IRO leaves would it be best to raise my concern about his 'independence' in decision making if not checking information in reports, or meeting the child or communicating with a parent and ask for the actions of the SW to be looked into as part of that enquiry.
Any advice please?