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Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on fostering.

Fostering

wwyd regarding arranging contact?

13 replies

SenSationsMad · 08/01/2011 09:31

Before Christmas, LO were seeing their grandparents for an afternoon every weekend, it was in their care plan as they saw their mum during this time. Something happened which resulted in this regular arrangement stopping.

Because the 5yr old LO is asking constantly when can he see them, I took it upon myself last week to phone them to see if they wanted contact, and they did. On returning LO nothing was said about this weeks contact or any further visits. ( Mum and GP have had a falling out)

He asks me every five minutes from the moment he wakes up, when he's going there.

So, I've texted the GM to was whats happening with weekend contact from now on. DH thinks I should leave it to them to phone us.

Just wanted to moan really, but would you be more pro-active? WWYD?

OP posts:

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SenSationsMad · 08/01/2011 09:33

I should mention that they did go to their GP for Christmas as arranged, its just the weekend and further contact that's gone to pot.

OP posts:

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shaz298 · 08/01/2011 12:38

I would speak to Sw and ask her to fir up the arrangeents as they seem to have slipped recently and you're not sure what's going on. x

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shaz298 · 08/01/2011 12:38

Sorry firm and arrangements ( duff 'm' key)

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p99gmb · 08/01/2011 13:28

I'd put it in the hands of the LO's SW... feed it back to them about the constant asking and ask them to sort something out..

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SenSationsMad · 08/01/2011 14:12

She knows about it but last time she called them they wouldn't talk to her :-(

It's been a sad day for him expecting a call and its only so much lying and distracting I can do.

Hopefully going swimming tommorrow will make it up for him.

OP posts:

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SenSationsMad · 09/01/2011 16:14

still no call

oh well, LAC review on Tuesday, might get some answers there.

OP posts:

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SquidgyBrain · 13/01/2011 22:09

:( don't birth families suck some times :(

Hoping the LAC review gives some answers and that LO has dealt OK with the disruption, if only the families could put these precious little people first and see the damage they are doing to them

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fostering · 26/01/2011 22:56

OP - who oversees the contact sessions?
Do you have a good relationship with parents and GP?
Does Mum not feel cross about GM seeing LO behind her back?
What feedback did SW's give you about arranging contact for GP and LO?
Do you foster for LA or IFA?
So many questions, sorry, but the situation sounds really interesting.

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fostermumtomany · 27/01/2011 19:57

m a little bit confused here as i though only the sw and the court could arrange contact, i wasnt aware we as carers could do it off our own backs.
i only say this because as christmas our lo's mum was told there would be no contact at all over christmas as the centre was closed for 2 weeks, we thought ths was barbaric with it being lo's first christmas so took her to see mum on christmas day. ss went crazy at us saying we had absolutely no right to arrange contact without their or the courts say so!

so are you saying we can arrange our own contact with bm?

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fishtankneedscleaning · 27/01/2011 21:04

fostermumto many.

Contact arrangements should be laid out in the Care Plan, which you should have a copy of.

Parents contact is usually set in stone - dates, venue, time etc

Sibling contact is sometimes left to foster carers (If siblings are living in different placements), although contact arrangements are set out such as -

Siblings to have contact twice monthly, on a Fri, for 2 hours - foster carers to arrange time and venue most suitable for all involved.

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fostermumtomany · 29/01/2011 00:23

yes but sensations is talking about contact for grandparents that she herself has arranged.
thats what i was reffering to.

i was under the impression that if contact has fallen by the wayside that this had to be reported to the sw and left for them to deal with, that way nothing can come back on you.
i dont understand why sensation is chasing contact herself as surely she i sputting herself at risk?

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fishtankneedscleaning · 29/01/2011 10:40

fostermum

Yes I was agreeing with you.

Contact should always be arranged via Social Worker unless there is a stipulation in the Care Plan that FC's to arrange it.

Very risky for FC's to take it upon themselves to arrange, especially as FC will not be party to all info regarding birth family.

The fact that sensations LO's contact with GP's suddenly stopped could well have stopped for a very good reason.

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SenSationsMad · 31/01/2011 16:47

Hi, didn't realise you had written anything.

It says in the CP that the maternal GP can see LO over the weekend, its meant to be a written arrangement, but due to their other commitments, work, other children etc, it has been left for us to organise between us.

FYI, contact now back in place with LO, so they are seing LO after school one day and one day ( to be arranged as and when - not ideal) over the weekend.

We have a good relationship with GP, they are supportive.