I will try to keep this brief (name changed for obvious reasons).
I was brought up in care from the age of 4. My siblings and I were full wards of court until we were 18. We lived in a variety of different children's and foster homes, being split up when I was 8.
Around the age of 9 I started to show signs of disturbance and I attended an appointment with a consultant child psychiatrist. His recommendation was intensive therapy, possibly residential, as I was showing signs of a serious personality disorder. Without such intervention, he predicted a very difficult future for me - an inability to form relationships, hold down a job, possibly abuse of alcohol and/or drugs.
This is where the story gets odd. Around about the same time, I was sent to live with a new foster mother - a single woman aged just 24! (No, I am not joking). She was a teacher at a local private school and, I suppose, considered herself an expert in childcare matters. Soon after I started living with her, she was asked to take me on a visit to some kind of residential facility of the kind the doctor recommended. She was horrified by the place and adamantly told my social worker that I couldn't continue to live with her if I went there....wouldn't fit in with her very upper middle class family.
Apparently, she and the social worker had a stand up row about it, and the upshot was that I was instead sent to a very middle class all girls boarding school. I lived there during the term, and went back to said foster mother in the holidays. This lasted for 3 years then a new foster family was found for me.
Although it was a good school, I failed utterly there. I did not fit in, and I knew it. I was very poorly behaved and achieved close to nothing academically. Eventually, I was expelled.
Anyhow...in spite of my obvious struggles at no time, not once, did any of the therapy recommended by the psychiatrist happen. In fact, I never saw another doctor again, except for things like tonsillitis. And, no surprise, most of his doom laden predictions have happened....bar the alcohol and drugs.
I have never had a relationship that lasted more than a few weeks. Never. I have been unable to hold down a job for any sensible length of time and I have suffered extreme anxiety and depression for years. I hate myself and my life and have no idea who I am meant to be or why I am even here. I have no one and nothing, and I don't think I ever will.
It didn't have to be like this. I can't help thinking that if the doctor's advice had been taken, perhaps I had a chance.
At that time, social services were in loco parentis. If I had broken my leg and they had failed to follow through on treatment for me, I know I could have sued for that. What's the difference with psychiatric issues?
Sorry for such a long read.
Basically, can I sue them? I don't especially care about money, it's more about recognition of how badly (I think) I was harmed.
I am 45 now, so this is historical. Any thoughts very gratefully received.
TY :)
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Should I consider suing social services? Better question...could I?
7 replies
ScoobyScoobySue · 02/11/2014 19:30
OP posts:
quietlysuggests ·
10/11/2014 00:01
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