can you withdraw a placement ?

[Basil]

Hi being put under presure to have one of my children in a placement with foster carerers, which I think is not going to solve the problem, I thought cs were meant to keep families together not split them up, so far cs not done anything other than assesments, cp conference drew a plan work not done, coming up to review of cp plan they now want a placement I have said no, so they are calling for a plo meeting surley they can't do this.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hello Basil

I have responded to your brief enquiry on Tribblehunter’s thread but also wanted to answer your queries in more detail here.

You have said that children’s services have had a child protection conference regarding your child and drawn up a child protection plan. They are now saying that they want you to agree to your child being accommodated with foster carers. You do not feel this is in your child’s best interests and have not agreed.

At the moment, children’s services have no “parental responsibility” (PR) for your child. This means that they cannot remove your child from your care without an order from the court. If children’s services feel that your child is at risk of “immediate significant harm” in your care, they will have spoken to their solicitors about issuing care proceedings in order to obtain a care order and share PR with you. This will give them the legal right to place your child with a foster carer against your wishes.

The PLO meeting is the first step in issuing care proceedings. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the level of children’s services concerns and make it absolutely clear to you what would need to happen in order to avoid them going to court. You will be advised to attend the meeting with a solicitor. The letter you will receive inviting you to the meeting automatically entitles you to a limited period of free legal advice and representation.

This meeting is an opportunity for you to try to come to an agreement which is acceptable to you and children’s services. It may be worth considering whether there are any family members or friends who are in a position to care for your child on a temporary basis to avoid your child being placed with a stranger foster carer? Alternatively, is there any scope for agreeing to a limited period of respite care with a clear timescale set for relevant work to be done in order that your child can return home?

As I have said in response to your other post, any agreement you give to your child being accommodated can be withdrawn at a later date if you feel that circumstances have changed or that children’s services are not sticking to the agreement made.

I hope that this is helpful Basil. I would advise that you have a look at our advice sheets on child protection procedures, care proceedings and powers and duties of local authorities when children are in care

Do post back and let us know how things are going or if you would like any more advice. You are also welcome to call our advice line 0808 8010366 which is open from 9.30- 3.30, Monday- Friday

Best Wishes

Suzie
FRG Adviser

[Basil]

Thank you for the reply, it's foster care for min of six months maybe longer I have asked for the plan in writing but not got it, so they have given a date for PLO meeting to discuss plan, nothing has been done from the cp plan, cs have said if I agree to foster care they will take me children from the cp register, also when we had the cp conference cs was asked by the chair why this was even called, i have no body who can help, cs don't want my child to know about going into foster care until I agree and it's time to go we are talking about a teenager, any advise please

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Basil

You say that you been given a date for the PLO meeting. Have you had an official letter confirming this? This letter entitles you to automatic, free legal advice and representation at the PLO meeting. I would advise that you find an appropriate solicitor as soon as possible to help you to prepare for the meeting.

Your solicitor will be able to advise you whether the local authority would be likely to succeed if they applied for a care order. They can discuss your options with you and advise what course of action is likely to be in your best interests.

To find an appropriate solicitor, I would advise that you look at The Law society website and use their search facility to look for a solicitor, specialising in children’s law, who is on the “children’s panel”. This means they have additional accreditation in this area of law.

Did you have a chance to read through our advice sheet on care proceedings? That gives more details about the process. If you would like to speak to an adviser about your situation directly, please do call our advice line (0808 8010366) from 9.30am- 3.30pm, Monday- Friday.

Best Wishes

Suzie
FRG Adviser

[Basil]

Yes I have solicitor, so far all the excuses my solicitor has said will not stand up in court, so waiting for letter, they are I'm thinking going to try and use my illness, which they have said doesn't come into it, except my children need to know what is going to happen to them if I die, my children already know this, but cs say it is affecting them emocotionally, that why they think foster care wou
D be good for one of them