Plese help, advice needed.

[babytinkabell]

Ok, i started a thread here the other day titled "An unsuitable placement". Basically my 14 yr old foster d has been moved to another placement where there are 2 bothers in the family (sw said 14 and 16 but i think from talking to foster d they are 15 and 17) and a 16/17 year old foster son. As foster d has recently become sexually active I was concerned about the placement.
She keeps texting me saying she fancies all the lads and one of them has asked her out. She says they (the lads) go drinking in the shed at night and that one of them came into her room drunk the other night. Nothing happened, she pretended she was asleep but apparently he had been looking for her to go drinking with them. The foster parents go to bed early apparently and have no idea that this is going on. One of the lads has now asked her out and she is over the moon.
So do I have a word with the social worker about this? I dont want them to think I'm interfering, technically its none of my business but i'm so concerned for her safety there. On the other hand fd is inclined to exagerate and stretch the truth a little on ocassion so this may not all be true.

[Sausagesarenottheonlyfruit]

If you feel she's in any kind of risk from the situation then you are obliged to report it, as she is a vulnerable child.
It shouldn't be viewed as interfering as it's a PoCA issue. You are right, this placement does seem inappropriate for the girl.

[babytinkabell]

Thanks I feel the same but when I questioned the safety of the placement in the first placement I was told by the sw it was fine as the kids would be fully supervised at all times. Obviously not if they're drinking half the night in the shed.

[Sausagesarenottheonlyfruit]

SW was a little optimistic I think!
Best to have a conversation with Foster daughter's key workers. Even if this is mostly fiction, it needs to be cleared up, I can see the teenagers becoming a risk to each other in a variety of ways.

[p99gmb]

Without a doubt... I would speak to the girls SW immediately, read her the texts you have received and then follow it up in writing(email preferably) to the SW and to your SSW....

It is then their responsibility to investigate and hopefully protect her - I don't think you can do anything else but report these things officially.

Who cares if its seen as interferring... so what!!!! It is your business when you have received these texts...

Good luck!!

[shaz298]

Absolutely corroborate what the others have said. Keep her txts too so you can show the SW if necessary. Hope it all works out for the best. xx

[damsonjammy]

hi
im new to this forum but i have been involved in fostering for over 30 years, first as the daughter of a foster carer(my mum) then as a carer myself.

i would advise you to contactt he childs guardian asap. this way you go over the sw's head, no sw wants to hear they have made a mistake. (ime)

i would definately voice concerns over this. even though she is no longer fostered by you, she is coming to you with this information.

let me put it this way. if this was a friends child and you knew this was happening, would you tell your friend?
if the answer is yes then you should absolutely let someone know.
good luck.

[NanaNina]

Agree with most poster that you should advise the sw what the girl is saying and if she is exaggerating well so be it, but there may be a grain of truth in it. Damsonjam the child will not have a guardian unless the LA are in care proceedings in respect of this girl. I don't know the girl's legal status - she may be looked after under S.20 (voluntary) or S.30 (Care Order) but even if S.20 no guardian will be involved and if S.30 will only be involved during the care proceedings and will makes his/her recommendations for the final hearing. After that the guardian is no longer involved. I don't agree either that contacting a guardian is "going over the sw's head" - guardians are social workers too - they have the same qualificiations as social workers, and sometimes sws work half time for a LA and half time for CAFCASS as a guardian. I won't deny that guardians are very influential in court though.