SW making changes to contact on a whim

[tunecedemalis]

I am really angry right now !
LO has a new SW who has spent entire half term week causing chaos by changing contact times even though it is different to what is in the court contact order. These chnages arrive via emails framed as demands- when challenged she says 'I don't see the harm'.
Tonight I got back home at 6.10pm with my other 3 DC who had been at a party- LO was due back at 6.30pm. At 6.15 I found two large burly council transport men on my door having a go at why I wasn't home when LO was dropped off at 5pm?!? They actually said, 'well, mum is very angry with you!!!' The changes are causing chaos to schedules and SW refuses to answer queries like 'what time will transport come and when will she get home'- so we spend hours sitting and waiting. My link worker is on hols this week so can't ask her, last time she told me to hold firm to the contact order, hence the fight I have had an argument with transport and SW but still made no progress and feel stressed. Any advice?

[shaz298]

Yip, make a complaint! SW is being completely unreasonable. You have a life and another child too!!

[SquidgyBrain]

I would be phoning on Monday morning and asking to speak with the senior social worker and making a complaint

It is totally out of order what is happening and not good for you or the LO

good luck and let us know how you get on

[maypole1]

Stick to the order also I would get some advice from someone on the support team my be the sw on duty

[EllieG]

Stick to the court order, sw not allowed to change it without the permission of the court (I know this, am a sw in court services - not in UK but same stuff). Speak to someone on monday asap. Not good enough.

[tunecedemalis]

Thanks everyone- kind of ruined my weekend. Feeling wary as have found out the last time a foster carer challenged her she claimed he was drunk when she visited- this was because he made a legitimate complaint about her failure to come and see one her LACs for months. Whole thing was proved to be lies- but still makes me wary. I have emailed all with dates and times etc to my link worker. I have to go to work tomorrow but DH will ring first thing. LO not happy as SW has failed to file paperwork to allow overnight with mum as per court order- SW (against mum's wishes) told LO she could have overnight and then told her she couldn't. OMG! Thanks all!

[corsa100]

Hi OP. Does the child have a Court Guardian appointed? If so your best bet would be to discuss the re-arranged contact with the CG.

[fostering]

Good idea to contact the gaurdian or if the child's SW unreasonable and/or your SW not available then seek advice from team leaders - preferably in writing.

SW should not be changing contact. It is normally the SW who realises the contact is not helpful but has to stick to timetable due to court - so very strange.

Poor you.

[tunecedemalis]

Brilliant ideas- thanks. Link worker back today- got me to make a bullet point list of issues to send to manager. Will phone guardian tomorrow- never had his number before but SW accidentally emailed it to me- so am sorted! Thanks- another mess up tonight- transport came to ours and not mum's for tea- poor LO