Contact
Posted: Tue Oct 15, 2024 12:36 pm
Hi
I am a special guardian to a little boy of 4 who was originally with me on a friend and family foster placement with the LA after he was subject to a care order.
He has been in my care for 3 years now and under an SGO since May 2022.
His 'recommended' contact by the local authority with his birth family is set out in the court order with ultimate decisions regarding contact to be decided by myself. This is clearly stated.
All contact so far has been supervised by myself as recommended and because I feel due to safeguarding concerns that this is fair and proportionate and in the child's best interest.
During the care order the child's great aunt (mother's aunt) had supervised contact in my home. Since the SGO I have been allowing only her and her family unsupervised overnight contact in their own home. This happens sporadically and usually in 3 to 4 month intervals for one night. I felt this was a thought out and considered option for them and I did not have concerns. However, the last but one visit, the child was left with a family I did not know for a few hours and was not told until he had been left there. I did express concern about this and asked that this didn't happen again especially without prior consent. Then the last visit there was a family emergency and without consent again, he was left, in the middle of the night in the care of her 14 year old daughter.
She called after I text her and I asked her to get the child ready for me to collect. I was then denied the child on collection who was not ready and I was told to go to her bedroom and wake him myself. When entering the home there was a very strong smell of cannabis and her daughter was asleep.She then continued to voice her displeasure at this and justify her actions. I bought him home. I am now not able to trust that she can safeguard him adequately and have told her that unsupervised contact will not be facilitated anymore.
She is not happy about this but I am resolute in my decision.
Does she have any legal standing on this? Or am I in my rights to dictate contact with the child's safety in mind.
I am happy for her to have supervised contact in a contact centre or participate in family time that I also supervise with her sister (the maternal grandmother) and mum herself.
I am a special guardian to a little boy of 4 who was originally with me on a friend and family foster placement with the LA after he was subject to a care order.
He has been in my care for 3 years now and under an SGO since May 2022.
His 'recommended' contact by the local authority with his birth family is set out in the court order with ultimate decisions regarding contact to be decided by myself. This is clearly stated.
All contact so far has been supervised by myself as recommended and because I feel due to safeguarding concerns that this is fair and proportionate and in the child's best interest.
During the care order the child's great aunt (mother's aunt) had supervised contact in my home. Since the SGO I have been allowing only her and her family unsupervised overnight contact in their own home. This happens sporadically and usually in 3 to 4 month intervals for one night. I felt this was a thought out and considered option for them and I did not have concerns. However, the last but one visit, the child was left with a family I did not know for a few hours and was not told until he had been left there. I did express concern about this and asked that this didn't happen again especially without prior consent. Then the last visit there was a family emergency and without consent again, he was left, in the middle of the night in the care of her 14 year old daughter.
She called after I text her and I asked her to get the child ready for me to collect. I was then denied the child on collection who was not ready and I was told to go to her bedroom and wake him myself. When entering the home there was a very strong smell of cannabis and her daughter was asleep.She then continued to voice her displeasure at this and justify her actions. I bought him home. I am now not able to trust that she can safeguard him adequately and have told her that unsupervised contact will not be facilitated anymore.
She is not happy about this but I am resolute in my decision.
Does she have any legal standing on this? Or am I in my rights to dictate contact with the child's safety in mind.
I am happy for her to have supervised contact in a contact centre or participate in family time that I also supervise with her sister (the maternal grandmother) and mum herself.