Section 20 and assessments
Section 20 and assessments
Hello 4 weeks ago my daughter disclosed to school that my then partner had been sexually abusing her for over 4 years. We was taken for her to do a recorded interview and after that social services said I either signed a section 20 or they would forcibly remove my 4 children with an ico. My children were extremely distraught when removed. Since then I have had two assessment sessions regarding my childhood and my previous relationships we have had a review meeting when the social worker said she needs 6 weeks to complete my assessments. Everytime I see my babies they ask to come home and become very distressed when they have to leave me. My social worker is not telling me what I can do to get my children home just that I failed to protect my 9 year old from abuse and failed to protect them all as my partner was violent towards me. What can I do to get my babies home asap. They are aged 9,7,4 and 9 months. This is not fair on them they want to be at home
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Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4260
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Dear sarahs88,
I am so sorry to hear that your daughter was sexually abused by your then partner. It must have been a terrible shock to learn that this had happened. You also say that you had suffered the trauma of domestic violence as well. As you say, your children would have suffered emotional abuse by seeing their mother abused.
Your children are now accommodated in foster care.
Accommodation
Accommodation means that your children are “looked after” by children services.
Here is our advice sheet about Duties to children in the care system –which sets out the important information you need to know about your children’s care, including their care plans, how their plans are reviewed and your role as a parent.
Accommodation also means that you are cooperating with children services while the assessment process is ongoing. Children services will not have the legal parental responsibility to make decisions about your children and will be relying on your cooperation.
If you no longer wanted your children in care, you have the legal right to ask that they be returned to you. However, I would not ask this unless you have a solicitor advising that this is the best way forward.
(To find a solicitor who specialises in children law search on the law Society-find a solicitor website.)
If you asked that they be returned and children services thought it was not safe, they may go to court for an order giving them parental responsibility.
What could you ask the social worker and team manager?
You could ask them:
• Are they doing any other assessments or will they be in a position to make a decision at the end of 6 weeks?
• What do they consider to be the risks to your children and what can you do to keep them safe? For example, is your exe still a risk to them or is he in custody?
• Are you considered to be a risk yourself in anyway? If so, what is it? How can you reduce your risk?
• What else can you do to help towards the children being returned home?
• Do you have any family or friends who would be willing to care for your children and who would pass a fostering assessment? Could your children move to them whilst the assessment is ongoing?
• If you do have a friends and family network, you could ask that they consider a family group conference to look for support within your network.
. Contact (see below)
Contact with your children
What about your contact with your children? As they are accommodated, children services should be promoting contact between you and your children unless it is not safe. Our advice sheet about contact with accommodated children explains this and outlines what contact you could ask for.
That you appear to be no longer with the man who sexually abused your daughter and domestically abused you and your children is a massive step in the right direction.
But because you have suffered domestic abuse it is very difficult to get yourself out of a violence relationship-and stay out of it on your own.
What support have you got? An advocacy worker from a domestic abuse agency would help as would counselling and support or going on the “freedom programme”.
See our
FAQ’s about domestic abuse which links off to helpful organisations.
For advice about sexual abuse within families you could contact the Lucy Faithfull foundation who have a free and confidential advice service.
If you have any questions or need any support please post back. There are parents who have been through what you who have who have posted about their experiences on the forum. I think you will find their threads helpful.
Best wishes,
Suzie
I am so sorry to hear that your daughter was sexually abused by your then partner. It must have been a terrible shock to learn that this had happened. You also say that you had suffered the trauma of domestic violence as well. As you say, your children would have suffered emotional abuse by seeing their mother abused.
Your children are now accommodated in foster care.
Accommodation
Accommodation means that your children are “looked after” by children services.
Here is our advice sheet about Duties to children in the care system –which sets out the important information you need to know about your children’s care, including their care plans, how their plans are reviewed and your role as a parent.
Accommodation also means that you are cooperating with children services while the assessment process is ongoing. Children services will not have the legal parental responsibility to make decisions about your children and will be relying on your cooperation.
If you no longer wanted your children in care, you have the legal right to ask that they be returned to you. However, I would not ask this unless you have a solicitor advising that this is the best way forward.
(To find a solicitor who specialises in children law search on the law Society-find a solicitor website.)
If you asked that they be returned and children services thought it was not safe, they may go to court for an order giving them parental responsibility.
What could you ask the social worker and team manager?
You could ask them:
• Are they doing any other assessments or will they be in a position to make a decision at the end of 6 weeks?
• What do they consider to be the risks to your children and what can you do to keep them safe? For example, is your exe still a risk to them or is he in custody?
• Are you considered to be a risk yourself in anyway? If so, what is it? How can you reduce your risk?
• What else can you do to help towards the children being returned home?
• Do you have any family or friends who would be willing to care for your children and who would pass a fostering assessment? Could your children move to them whilst the assessment is ongoing?
• If you do have a friends and family network, you could ask that they consider a family group conference to look for support within your network.
. Contact (see below)
Contact with your children
What about your contact with your children? As they are accommodated, children services should be promoting contact between you and your children unless it is not safe. Our advice sheet about contact with accommodated children explains this and outlines what contact you could ask for.
That you appear to be no longer with the man who sexually abused your daughter and domestically abused you and your children is a massive step in the right direction.
But because you have suffered domestic abuse it is very difficult to get yourself out of a violence relationship-and stay out of it on your own.
What support have you got? An advocacy worker from a domestic abuse agency would help as would counselling and support or going on the “freedom programme”.
See our
FAQ’s about domestic abuse which links off to helpful organisations.
For advice about sexual abuse within families you could contact the Lucy Faithfull foundation who have a free and confidential advice service.
If you have any questions or need any support please post back. There are parents who have been through what you who have who have posted about their experiences on the forum. I think you will find their threads helpful.
Best wishes,
Suzie
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Thanks for your advice.
The care plan is not yet approved by my social workers manager and they are not telling me why I am a risk or what I can do to get my children home.
I have a solicitor already who has suggested maybe going to court would be in my best interests as the children want to be home and become extremely distressed when separated from me at the end of contact.
Contact is taking place twice a week for an hour and a half each time.
My ex is in prison on remand so is no longer a risk to any of us.
My parents would have took the children immediately but were not asked. They are pushing to get the children to them now while assessments are completed.
What is a family group conference? What does it entail and how would it help?
The care plan is not yet approved by my social workers manager and they are not telling me why I am a risk or what I can do to get my children home.
I have a solicitor already who has suggested maybe going to court would be in my best interests as the children want to be home and become extremely distressed when separated from me at the end of contact.
Contact is taking place twice a week for an hour and a half each time.
My ex is in prison on remand so is no longer a risk to any of us.
My parents would have took the children immediately but were not asked. They are pushing to get the children to them now while assessments are completed.
What is a family group conference? What does it entail and how would it help?
-
Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4260
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Dear Sarahs88
A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a way for families to participate in safe planning for their children. It has been successfully used in a variety of circumstances, for instance where a parent is experiencing a particular stress and needs a period of respite as part of promoting their child’s physical, emotional, social and educational development.
Equally, FGC’s have resulted in positive outcomes for children where a parent has a child with a disability or specific health problem; or when there may be issues in respect of domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol, learning disability or mental health means that additional support may be required on a short term basis.
In order for the meeting to go ahead, the consent of at least one parent with parental responsibility would be needed for a referral to be made. In some instances, you will be referred to the Local Authority in-house services or they may have an external service provider. However, an independent chair would normally be used.
The Family Group Conference Coordinator is normally someone who has the skills to set up this type of meeting, would make plans to visit participants prior to the meeting to obtain their views and wishes. Furthermore, they should not normally have had previous professional involvement with your family.
The FGC process should normally consider what, if any support is required to facilitate the attendance of parents or family members to help their attendance at the meeting. For example, is an interpreter required where a family’s mother tongue is not the English language or where BSL is their first language.
In some cases, the FGC will need to factor in the timing of meetings in order to accommodate a families work commitments or have awareness to religious observations. Significantly, assistance with travel costs may be relevant if family members are coming from outside the area or from abroad, if it is essential that the presence of certain individuals will assist in the decision making process where a child’s welfare may be of professional concern.
It may be advisable to have a discussion with key members of your family, friends or anyone else in your support network to see if they would be willing to attend in person, or be at the end of the phone, telephone conferencing or by skype. At times it may be more appropriate for them to write in so the chair can consider their views and wishes for the conference, in advance.
I hope this helps.
Best Wishes
Suzie
A Family Group Conference (FGC) is a way for families to participate in safe planning for their children. It has been successfully used in a variety of circumstances, for instance where a parent is experiencing a particular stress and needs a period of respite as part of promoting their child’s physical, emotional, social and educational development.
Equally, FGC’s have resulted in positive outcomes for children where a parent has a child with a disability or specific health problem; or when there may be issues in respect of domestic abuse, drugs, alcohol, learning disability or mental health means that additional support may be required on a short term basis.
In order for the meeting to go ahead, the consent of at least one parent with parental responsibility would be needed for a referral to be made. In some instances, you will be referred to the Local Authority in-house services or they may have an external service provider. However, an independent chair would normally be used.
The Family Group Conference Coordinator is normally someone who has the skills to set up this type of meeting, would make plans to visit participants prior to the meeting to obtain their views and wishes. Furthermore, they should not normally have had previous professional involvement with your family.
The FGC process should normally consider what, if any support is required to facilitate the attendance of parents or family members to help their attendance at the meeting. For example, is an interpreter required where a family’s mother tongue is not the English language or where BSL is their first language.
In some cases, the FGC will need to factor in the timing of meetings in order to accommodate a families work commitments or have awareness to religious observations. Significantly, assistance with travel costs may be relevant if family members are coming from outside the area or from abroad, if it is essential that the presence of certain individuals will assist in the decision making process where a child’s welfare may be of professional concern.
It may be advisable to have a discussion with key members of your family, friends or anyone else in your support network to see if they would be willing to attend in person, or be at the end of the phone, telephone conferencing or by skype. At times it may be more appropriate for them to write in so the chair can consider their views and wishes for the conference, in advance.
I hope this helps.
Best Wishes
Suzie
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Thanks I already know I have the full support of my family.
Social services don't seem bothered about what my children want or how distressed they are.
My assessments are currently taking place but just seems to be a chance to pick on me as I have allowed domestic violence to happen around my children. Think the best one is I'm neglectful as my children have had headlice more than once.
I just don't see a way forward.
Social services don't seem bothered about what my children want or how distressed they are.
My assessments are currently taking place but just seems to be a chance to pick on me as I have allowed domestic violence to happen around my children. Think the best one is I'm neglectful as my children have had headlice more than once.
I just don't see a way forward.
-
Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4260
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Dear Sarah,
I can see that you are feeling desperate but there will be a way forward.
Speak to your solicitor about what you can be doing to work towards your children coming home. To do this you need to know your risk to your children.
What can you do to reduce that risk? Make sure you are getting the support you need to help deal with the effects of domestic violence.
How are your parents getting on with requesting that your children be placed with them?
You could help them by putting in writing your wish (as someone with legal parental responsibility)that your children be placed with your parents as foster carers instead of stranger foster care?
The law says that in an emergency, children can be placed with relatives and friends as long as they are then assessed as foster carers.(usually within 16 weeks after).
Your parents could also put in writing their contact details and ask that the children be placed with them under regulation 24 & Schedule 4, Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010. (CPPCRR). This allows children to go to relatives and friends who will then need to be fully assessed as foster carers.
Children services would want to first check their suitability by doing basic checks of your parents. These include police checks of all adults who live at their home and checking the suitability of their home.
See our advice sheet for relatives immediate placement of children with friends and family carers . Look at Page 14.
Always keep in touch with your solicitor and check with him/her before you take any steps.
If you have any questions or need further advice, please post again. Or you could call our advice line on 0808 801 0366.
Best wishes,
Suzie
I can see that you are feeling desperate but there will be a way forward.
Speak to your solicitor about what you can be doing to work towards your children coming home. To do this you need to know your risk to your children.
What can you do to reduce that risk? Make sure you are getting the support you need to help deal with the effects of domestic violence.
How are your parents getting on with requesting that your children be placed with them?
You could help them by putting in writing your wish (as someone with legal parental responsibility)that your children be placed with your parents as foster carers instead of stranger foster care?
The law says that in an emergency, children can be placed with relatives and friends as long as they are then assessed as foster carers.(usually within 16 weeks after).
Your parents could also put in writing their contact details and ask that the children be placed with them under regulation 24 & Schedule 4, Care Planning, Placement and Case Review Regulations 2010. (CPPCRR). This allows children to go to relatives and friends who will then need to be fully assessed as foster carers.
Children services would want to first check their suitability by doing basic checks of your parents. These include police checks of all adults who live at their home and checking the suitability of their home.
See our advice sheet for relatives immediate placement of children with friends and family carers . Look at Page 14.
Always keep in touch with your solicitor and check with him/her before you take any steps.
If you have any questions or need further advice, please post again. Or you could call our advice line on 0808 801 0366.
Best wishes,
Suzie
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Hi I am in the same situation as you and I was wondering how you are getting on. I just feel I will never get my kids back and so alone my kids are with my mum so I don't have that support as I can't go over there .
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Hi
I'm in a similar situation,my children are accommodated under section 20 and have been since November. The local authority have just issued care proceedings due to the fact that myself and the children's father(separated) haven't recognised the impact of domestic abuse on the girls. I have been told that i lack insight into the situation. They feel that the children are at further risk of emotional and physical abuse. I understand the feelings of helplessness as I feel the same,there is nothing I can do. I have the social worker from hell,who isn't making things easy. He has fabricated information and has nothing to back this up.
I would advice working with the social worker and try to be honest. My family group conference was a bit nightmare,the support the family were offering was deemed enough. I'm sure yours will be positive.
I hope everything goes well and if you have any questions just asked.
I'm in a similar situation,my children are accommodated under section 20 and have been since November. The local authority have just issued care proceedings due to the fact that myself and the children's father(separated) haven't recognised the impact of domestic abuse on the girls. I have been told that i lack insight into the situation. They feel that the children are at further risk of emotional and physical abuse. I understand the feelings of helplessness as I feel the same,there is nothing I can do. I have the social worker from hell,who isn't making things easy. He has fabricated information and has nothing to back this up.
I would advice working with the social worker and try to be honest. My family group conference was a bit nightmare,the support the family were offering was deemed enough. I'm sure yours will be positive.
I hope everything goes well and if you have any questions just asked.
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Youre allowed to ask for a new social worker. I did, because I felt she was treating me unfairly and we really didn't get on, and the new one I have got is a lot nicer to me and has been helpful. You might not always get one, but you can try.Minnie wrote:Hi
I'm in a similar situation,my children are accommodated under section 20 and have been since November. The local authority have just issued care proceedings due to the fact that myself and the children's father(separated) haven't recognised the impact of domestic abuse on the girls. I have been told that i lack insight into the situation. They feel that the children are at further risk of emotional and physical abuse. I understand the feelings of helplessness as I feel the same,there is nothing I can do. I have the social worker from hell,who isn't making things easy. He has fabricated information and has nothing to back this up.
I would advice working with the social worker and try to be honest. My family group conference was a bit nightmare,the support the family were offering was deemed enough. I'm sure yours will be positive.
I hope everything goes well and if you have any questions just asked.
Re: Section 20 and assessments
Things are not going good the last issued care proceedings and got an ico I feel so helpless and don't know what to do or what there problem with me isMeg170675 wrote:Hi I am in the same situation as you and I was wondering how you are getting on. I just feel I will never get my kids back and so alone my kids are with my mum so I don't have that support as I can't go over there .
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