First assessment

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BLFT33
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2021 10:27 am

First assessment

Post by BLFT33 » Sat Feb 27, 2021 8:15 am

Hi I have done a assessment with a social worker I am trying to get my granddaughter at the moment they are going to put her into temporary foster
They have said they are going to put my name in to the judge as all across the board was happy with my assessment if all goes well I then have to do another assessment
Is there anything that I could read on this assessment to help prepare me on things going to be asked
Thank you

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Suzie, FRG Adviser
Posts: 949
Joined: Thu Jul 28, 2011 12:25 pm

Re: First assessment

Post by Suzie, FRG Adviser » Thu Mar 18, 2021 5:17 pm

Dear BLFT33

Welcome to the family and friends carers’ discussion board and thank you for your post. Please accept my apologies for the delay in responding to your query.

I am sorry to hear that your granddaughter is going into foster care, but it is good that you are putting yourself forward to care for her. Although you had difficulties in the past, your situation is much improved now and it sounds as if you have had a basic assessment which was positive and hopefully you will be having a fuller assessment.

Here is our advice sheet on care proceedings which explains what happens in the court process.

I think that you may already have had a viability assessment; here is our guide to viability assessments and we have a specialist updated guide for those which take place virtually. Appendix D has information specifically for family and friends carers – the earlier information is aimed at social workers doing the assessment, but I think it will be helpful to you as it explores the issues which are discussed.

If the court makes an interim care order for your granddaughter then she can only legally be placed with you if you have been temporarily approved as a foster carer under what is known as a regulation 24 placement . Hopefully, this has been done but do check with the social worker that you have been temporarily approved. You would then have to be fully approved, usually within 16 weeks (up to a maximum of 24 weeks) . We have an advice sheet which explains all of this, including the areas that will be covered and what to do if for any reason the assessment is negative. If you read this advice sheet it will help you understand the process as you go through it.

You may also be asked to agree to be assessed for Special Guardianship at the same time as having a full fostering assessment. At the end of care proceedings, the court must decide which, if any, order to make. Sometimes if a relative is the best person to care for the child this may be under a Special Guardianship Order (which ends any fostering arrangement). You can find out more about what is involved in the assessment and in the court report in appendix 3 of this advice sheet.

You mentioned a residence order in your first post; they are now known as Child Arrangement Orders and are a way for relatives to obtain parental responsibility. The court could agree to this instead of a SGO or a Care Order although it is not seen as robust. Here is our advice sheet for your information.

I know there is a lot to take in. You have already done well in putting yourself forward and getting through the first hurdle. You are also seeking advice at an early stage which is wise.

Do get advice about your/your granddaughter’s support needs too, as required, and have a look at the local authority’s family and friends care policy which hopefully you will find here. If you were to obtain a SGO or a CAO, then it is important that you receive the right support and allowances to help you.

If you would like to discuss the situation at any time then please do call our freephone advice line on 0808 8010366; the lines are open from Mon to Fri, from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm. You can also post again on this board and other relatives or an adviser will answer your query.

With best wishes

Suzie

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