Bonding at the start of an SGO

[BomDia]

I am probably going to be granted an SGO for my nephew. The social worker is recommending that my brother (birth parent) only sees him once per month when he is first bonding with me. My brother and I both think this doesn't seem right. My brother has been having contact with his son three times per week, and desperately wants to be allowed to be full time dad, but sw think he's not up to the job. I think he will be fine with just a bit more experience. Why does the social worker want to exclude my brother from my nephew's new placement with me? (he's not a danger or anything like that btw). Should I follow her advice, or ignore it? My Nephew has been in foster care since he was a couple of weeks old and will be 8 or 9 months old when he comes to me, if that's what the court orders . And while we're here, is there anything else I should look out for when taking on this SGO?

[BomDia]

I don't think you understood my question. If a sw is going to recommend what seems to me to be a cruel and heartless thing for baby and dad, there must be some evidence to back this up, mustn't there? If someone can show me this evidence, I'm going to find it easier to accept their advice. All I've been offered by them is phrases like "in my experience" when their experience isn't long enough to have seen the children they've placed grow up. I need to hear real life stories please.

And no, I don't think it will be ordered by the court, just recommended and up to my discretion how long to follow that plan, so it's quite open to my interpretation, as far as I know.

[Moomoomie]

Mrsdevere.... Very kind of you to take the time to post about your personal experience, especially as the op was very disparaging of your first comment.
This is why I like the adoption board, people are so kind and willing to help.

[Mrpip]

I'm not sure if my advise will be any help but as your situation is very similar to mine I hope I might be able to at least give the perspective of someone who has been where you are.
I have been raising my niece since birth, she's now 18 months. When she was first placed with us my sister was having contact 3 times a week. It was the right thing for us all at that time and I supported it wholeheartedly.
What struck me most about your original post was how your feelings of your brother and your nephew mirrored my feelings at that time. Only time does not standstill and though I still feel strongly that good contact with birth parents is important I no longer look at the situation as a sister but as a parent to my niece. She is my priority and I'm afraid my sister whom I love dearly comes second. It's actually very hard to keep up that level of contact without losing a certain amount if attachment yourself. I say this as a experienced parent of 4 birth children and not as a flippant remark. After the initial highly emotional start to placement life has and must return to normal and that level of contact (3 times a week) is just not sustainable. If you are applying for a sgo I'm assuming you understand that its a permanent placement whereby you are raising this child throughout their minority and not a temporary fix until your brother is able to take over the role of primary carer? It took me sometime to truly take this onboard. The nature of these situations don't allow us 9 months of pregnancy to get our heads around what's ahead of us. What I suppose I'm trying to say is keep an open mind around contact. If your brother was considered a viable option by ss his son would be placed with him. The fact that ss are recommending a Sgo mean they are not looking for either birth parent to care for him in the future. Having been where you are I can say with some authority that if you make it known to them you see this as a temporary measure until your brother is able to parent his son full time then you run the risk of losing your nephew to someone who is looking to give long term permanent care.
I'm sorry if that sounds harsh and maybe I'm wrong, after all I don't know your situation but what I have learnt from my experiences in a similar situation I would urge you to think carefully. You don't need to sever contact with your brother and you can where appropriate encourage and nurture your brother and nephews bond but it has to be about what is best for your nephew and that may mean you have to rethink your family dynamics. I have,and so far so good. I wish you the best of luck on this journey.

[BomDia]

I have contacted the FRG via the recommended website, and they have been very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to reply.