New to all this
Posted: Sat May 30, 2020 11:00 pm
Hi,
I am after some advice really. My niece was born earlier this month and she was taken into care on discharge from hospital due to my sister’s drug and mental health problems, she is currently with her foster carer and is under a care order (I think?). I am not currently in a position to care for her for multiple reasons, however my dad is getting a viability assessment on Monday to see if he could potentially be assessed to be a special guardian should my sister not make the required changes. I have read through the guides on this website on different decisions the courts can make and also the one on SGOs but I have some more specific questions in relation to these:
- Is there a specific criteria my dad has to meet and what should he expect from the assessment?
-Should a SGO be granted and my sister doesn’t make the required changes will she still be allowed contact with her daughter?
- If a SGO order is declined can this be appealed?
-We are desperate not to let it get to the stage where my niece could be adopted (as this is what ss will look at if my sister doesn’t make the changes) is there anything else we can do to stop it getting to this point?
For information, my sister does have all the required support in place but she struggles to remain abstinent, the bond is there with her daughter and she wants to have her back but at the moment this isn’t going to be realistic for her. We also do have a solicitor for the case as well.
Any help and advice is much appreciated thanks
I am after some advice really. My niece was born earlier this month and she was taken into care on discharge from hospital due to my sister’s drug and mental health problems, she is currently with her foster carer and is under a care order (I think?). I am not currently in a position to care for her for multiple reasons, however my dad is getting a viability assessment on Monday to see if he could potentially be assessed to be a special guardian should my sister not make the required changes. I have read through the guides on this website on different decisions the courts can make and also the one on SGOs but I have some more specific questions in relation to these:
- Is there a specific criteria my dad has to meet and what should he expect from the assessment?
-Should a SGO be granted and my sister doesn’t make the required changes will she still be allowed contact with her daughter?
- If a SGO order is declined can this be appealed?
-We are desperate not to let it get to the stage where my niece could be adopted (as this is what ss will look at if my sister doesn’t make the changes) is there anything else we can do to stop it getting to this point?
For information, my sister does have all the required support in place but she struggles to remain abstinent, the bond is there with her daughter and she wants to have her back but at the moment this isn’t going to be realistic for her. We also do have a solicitor for the case as well.
Any help and advice is much appreciated thanks