Dear AM123
Thank you for you post and welcome to the parents’ discussion board.
My name is Suzie, online adviser at Family Rights Group.
I am sorry that you are feeling unhappy about children’s services’ refusal to agree to a planned return for your children to your care. In your post you say that you have had a good assessment although not 100 per cent. You have not mentioned what needs to be worked on. However, it seems that if your assessment was a good one and there are things that could be worked on, that children’s services could offer you support in those areas.
The main thing that you need to think about when considering an application to discharge a care order is whether the concerns that existed at the time the care order have been addressed and there has been significant changes. In order to be sure what things the court thought were important and led to the care order, it is important that you read the judgement given by the judge at the final hearing. You say you have destroyed all the documents you had, but you can ask the solicitor who represented you for a copy from your file. You may be charged a small fee to get the file from storage, normally solicitors keep their files for 6 years, so you should be able to get the judgement. Once you have the judgement, you will need to read carefully to see what the judge said was the reason why your children could not return to your care. A copy of our advice sheet about
Reuniting children in the care system with their families will give you more information.
It will not be necessary for you to get all the court papers from the previous case in order to make an application to discharge the care order. You should have evidence of the changes you say you have made since the care order was made as the court will want to see this information.
I suggest you write a letter to children’s services requesting that they explain what further work they would expect you to do to satisfy them that your children can be rehabilitated home. It is important that you are willing to cooperate and work with children’s services. Ask that they identify specifically the things that they are still concerned about and whether any support can be offered to address these things.
A copy of our advice sheet about the
Duties on Children’s Services when children are in the care system .
Having good regular contact is also important to show that the children have maintained a strong bond with you. You could ask for increased contact depending on the amount you are having now. You can discuss your concerns about the children returning to your care and more contact with the independent reviewing officer (IRO). If you do not know who this is, ask the social worker. Do read our advice sheet about
Contact with children in care.
Please see our advice sheet relating to
Challenging decisions and making complaints. This should help you with the complaints process as you say you have already complained.
Should you wish to speak to an adviser, please telephone our advice line on 0808 808 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays).
Best wishes
Suzie