Dear Miss,
Welcome to the Parents Forum and congratulations on becoming a grandmother.
I can see that your teenage daughter is subject to section 20 accommodation. This means that she is a “looked after child” and children services owe duties to her.
Is baby also subject to section 20 accommodation as well?
How old is your daughter? If she is 16 or over, only she can consent (or not) to section 20 accommodation.
It sounds like children services were worried about baby, is that right? Or do they want your daughter to receive the support and parenting advice of a trained foster carer? The foster carer, as well as supporting your daughters will also be monitoring and assessing her care of her baby.
It is very important that your daughter is supported to cooperate with the foster carer and work to any agreement.
If she was to leave foster care suddenly, for example, children services might be worried about baby's welfare and consider care proceedings. The next few months will be exceptionally important for your daughter. If she was also worried about her family(and put you before her baby) she risks losing baby into the care system.
However, I can see how worrying it is not knowing what is happening.
You should be receiving your daughter's
care plan soon, if you haven’t already got a copy. This should outline your contact with her.
It will also detail everything about your daughter’s health, education and foster placement.
There will also an independent reviewing officer (IRO) appointed to look after her care plan. The independent reviewing officer will chair a review within 4 weeks and you should be invited to the review and consulted about your daughters care plan beforehand.
Because your daughter is accommodated, children services should promote reasonable contact with you and other relatives unless it is not reasonably practicable or consistent with your daughter’s welfare.
If you do not yet have the care plan, I suggest you telephone and then email your social worker and Independent Reviewing Officer (IRO) and ask for the care plan and for the contact plans.
But because your daughter has a baby as well, they will be putting baby's welfare before you. Ask in writing, what you as grandma can do to support your daughter.
Have a look at our advice sheet 11-(see care plan link above) which sets out the duties to your daughter and the role of the independent reviewing officer.
Finally, in case children services take care proceedings, is there anyone in the friend or family network who could be assessed to care for baby, if it is decided by the court that mum cannot provide safe and good enough parenting? Have a look our
advice sheets - 22 about fostering assessments and 15 care proceedings.
I hope this helps but if you have any questions, please post again. For in-depth advice, do also try and ring our advice line on 0808 801 0366.
Best wishes,
Suzie