Advice please
Advice please
Please can I have some advice my child is on a interm care order she is with a foster carer because of domestic abuse with my ex partner, I'm no longer with him, im in a refuge I have got a order out against him , he doesn't know where I am , I'm also doing journey to freedom course , my child has been with foster carer 6 weeks where back in court next week I'm not sure what will happen I'm so scared what are the chances of getting my child back , is there other people who have had there children on a interim care order is it normal to go to court again after six weeks? I feel like I'm going crazy please please can I have some advice thank you.
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Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4234
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Advice please
Dear Irishlady
Welcome to the parents’ discussion board and thank you for your posts. I am very sorry that we have not been able to respond to your queries before now as the forum is very active at the moment. I am also sorry to hear about the difficulties that you and your daughter are currently experiencing.
First of all, I wanted to say that you are taking action now to do the right things to help keep yourself safe which should also help you to keep your daughter safe. You have separated from your violent ex-partner, accessed a safe place to stay in a refuge, got a court order to protect yourself from him (which I am guessing is a non-molestation order) and you are doing the specialist Freedom Programme with Women’s Aid domestic violence workers. You have also been asked to attend a parenting class and engage with a social worker assessment. None of this is easy and you may have struggled to do some of these things in the past for many reasons but you are doing your best now and this needs to be acknowledged. Do keep working with everyone involved, it is important that you get support and that you are able to show that you can maintain all the changes that you have made.
Your daughter is being cared for by a foster carer and you are going through care proceedings. You should also now have a solicitor who is representing you in the court case and they are the best person to give you specific legal advice about your situation. Here are some tips on working with your solicitor that might help you get the best out of their involvement.
You were due back in court in early June and worried about what to expect. You were also wondering if/when the interim (temporary) care order might come to an end. Usually temporary care orders continue until the final hearing (which is usually within 26 weeks of the beginning of the court process). Sometimes the order can end sooner if the judge decides that is best for your child but in most cases your child will remain subject to a temporary care order until the court makes a decision about the permanent order or plan for your child. It is unlikely that your daughter would be returned earlier – just to add the court process usually takes 6 not 3 months.
Here is a quick guide to care proceeding which sets out the process including the different court hearings, timescales and what possible orders can be made at the final hearing. Do take the time to have a read of this which may help your to feel better informed about what is happening and what you can do.
If you haven’t already been offered a family group conference then you can ask for this to happen; this would be a way of having your family and friends involved in making plans to help keep your child safe. You can find out more here .
As your daughter is in foster care you will also be involved in her looked after child review meetings and you will be seeing her in contact sessions arranged by children’s services. I am attaching links to duties on children’s services when children are in the care system , contact with children in care and our FAQs on care proceedings to help you.
It is a good idea to make sure that you understand what is expected of you to demonstrate that your daughter should be returned to your care. Your solicitor and social worker should be able to discuss this with you and the outcome of the assessments that you are having will flag up any concerns as well as positives. Be prepared to work on any issues and to seek any support that you need to help you keep up all the progress you have made.
If you would like to discuss your situation with an adviser please to contact the Freephone advice helpline on 0808 801 0366, Mon – Fri 9.30 to 3.00 pm. Do liaise closely with your solicitor though in terms of specific legal advice.
I know you are interested in hearing from other parents who have been in this situation. Perhaps some mothers who have been through care proceedings due to their experience of domestic violence could offer you some advice and support too?
With best wishes
Suzie
Welcome to the parents’ discussion board and thank you for your posts. I am very sorry that we have not been able to respond to your queries before now as the forum is very active at the moment. I am also sorry to hear about the difficulties that you and your daughter are currently experiencing.
First of all, I wanted to say that you are taking action now to do the right things to help keep yourself safe which should also help you to keep your daughter safe. You have separated from your violent ex-partner, accessed a safe place to stay in a refuge, got a court order to protect yourself from him (which I am guessing is a non-molestation order) and you are doing the specialist Freedom Programme with Women’s Aid domestic violence workers. You have also been asked to attend a parenting class and engage with a social worker assessment. None of this is easy and you may have struggled to do some of these things in the past for many reasons but you are doing your best now and this needs to be acknowledged. Do keep working with everyone involved, it is important that you get support and that you are able to show that you can maintain all the changes that you have made.
Your daughter is being cared for by a foster carer and you are going through care proceedings. You should also now have a solicitor who is representing you in the court case and they are the best person to give you specific legal advice about your situation. Here are some tips on working with your solicitor that might help you get the best out of their involvement.
You were due back in court in early June and worried about what to expect. You were also wondering if/when the interim (temporary) care order might come to an end. Usually temporary care orders continue until the final hearing (which is usually within 26 weeks of the beginning of the court process). Sometimes the order can end sooner if the judge decides that is best for your child but in most cases your child will remain subject to a temporary care order until the court makes a decision about the permanent order or plan for your child. It is unlikely that your daughter would be returned earlier – just to add the court process usually takes 6 not 3 months.
Here is a quick guide to care proceeding which sets out the process including the different court hearings, timescales and what possible orders can be made at the final hearing. Do take the time to have a read of this which may help your to feel better informed about what is happening and what you can do.
If you haven’t already been offered a family group conference then you can ask for this to happen; this would be a way of having your family and friends involved in making plans to help keep your child safe. You can find out more here .
As your daughter is in foster care you will also be involved in her looked after child review meetings and you will be seeing her in contact sessions arranged by children’s services. I am attaching links to duties on children’s services when children are in the care system , contact with children in care and our FAQs on care proceedings to help you.
It is a good idea to make sure that you understand what is expected of you to demonstrate that your daughter should be returned to your care. Your solicitor and social worker should be able to discuss this with you and the outcome of the assessments that you are having will flag up any concerns as well as positives. Be prepared to work on any issues and to seek any support that you need to help you keep up all the progress you have made.
If you would like to discuss your situation with an adviser please to contact the Freephone advice helpline on 0808 801 0366, Mon – Fri 9.30 to 3.00 pm. Do liaise closely with your solicitor though in terms of specific legal advice.
I know you are interested in hearing from other parents who have been in this situation. Perhaps some mothers who have been through care proceedings due to their experience of domestic violence could offer you some advice and support too?
With best wishes
Suzie
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