Dear Car
Welcome to Family Rights Group Parents’ Forum.
I can see that this time of year is distressing for you as your children were removed from your care at this time. Although 2 of your children were adopted, you do still have contact with your eldest two children which is a good thing. I hope that you at least have letter box contact with the children who were adopted.
It is really good that you recognise the difficulties that you had which led to your children being removed from your care and I do hope that you are engaging with services in relation to your anxiety and depression should you need to.
The fact that your children are in a good foster placement must mean a lot to you and great that you get on with the foster carers as well.
Regarding your pregnancy, as Children Services were previously involved with you, they are likely to be again but this should not make you scared. The situation you were in 3 years ago is very different to where you are now. From what you said in your post, your life has been turned around and you are in a committed relationship with a good man.
Children Services would meet with you both to discuss any concerns they have and would have to carry out an assessment of you and your partner as you are now. This is not to say that they will not look at what happened before, they will, but you are in a better situation now and that will count for a lot.
I am attaching a copy of our advice sheets about
family support and
child protection for your information. The information below is taken from our frequently asked questions which you can go for more details:
“Q. I am pregnant and have had previous children removed by Children's Services. What can I do to stop them taking this one?
A. In this situation, it is very common to be worried that your new baby could be removed (even if your circumstances have changed) and to avoid contact with professionals until some way into the pregnancy. But this is not a good idea - in fact it is likely to make things much worse for you.
The best thing to do is to:
• stay in regular touch with health professionals to make sure you get the ante-natal care that you and your baby need;
• work with the social worker to make a safe plan for your child for when they are born. This may include:
• you understanding and overcoming the problems which led to your previous children being removed and what support you need with your new baby;
o the social worker saying what support you will be given when the baby is born to help you care for them, ,
o considering whether there is anyone else in the baby's family who is suitable to look after your baby if you cannot.
The social worker will visit you and they will assess whether they think you can look after your baby. In some case if they are worried your baby may be at risk, they might arrange a child protection conference with other professionals can discuss this further. For more information see: advice sheet 9: Child protection procedures
• see a solicitor straight away. They can advise you and help you discuss plans with the social worker, even before your baby is born; and
• discuss with your (and the baby's father's) wider family if there is anyone who could care for your baby safely after the birth if you are not allowed to. If there is, ask those family members to contact the social worker and ask to be assessed as soon as possible.”
Please do read the advice sheets and other information on our website
here
I do hope you will find this helpful but should you wish to speak to an adviser, do telephone our free advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.
Best wishes
Suzie