Child with no parents left with young uncle

How very sad and difficult for them both. Is the little guy in school? Can M access help through them ? Eg counselling?

That’s awful... can he afford to pay for therapy himself for the child? Does he have any support ? Could he join some kind of support network that foster parents use - even though he’s not a foster parent there are some similarities?

Here's an NHS page with some charities who might help. Bereavement counselling for the pair of them sounds essential.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/stress-anxiety-depression/children-and-bereavement/

That sounds so tough for your colleague. It's really sad the social services have been no help. A good place to start would be his local children's centre, they should have family suppprt workers who can visit at home and offer support/signpost to more support. Maybe getting in touch with a bereavement charity would also be useful, they will know how to support children who have been bereaved and may know how to get practical help. I'm guessing the nephew is at school, would they be able to help put in place pastoral support/counselling for him?

Has he looked at Winstons Wish? I hear that they are very good.

School should also be able to help with referrals for counselling etc. Has he talked to the school?

How difficult for both of them. I can't imagine how he's coped. And the poor child

I was going to say the same about Winston’s Wish.

Would I be right in assuming that your colleague has lost his sister? So presumably he is grieving too.

Not expecting you to say where you are but if you Google 'kinship carers support groups' in your area, they can give advice.

www.winstonswish.org/helpline/

Helpline info, a very informative page.

God that's awful. Could Gingerbread help with practical guidance as to benefits etc if he is effectively now a single parent? They have a fantastic parents' helpline which can be hard to access because demand is so high but could be worth a call for signposting to benefits and so on.

Has he sorted out parental responsibility for the child? Say if he needs any legal pointers. Might not be a good time, mind.

Has this child moved from one local authority area to another to be with him? Which Social Services has he approached?

Definitely speak to the school for help to support the child. SS aren't likely to be able to help as they are so stretched with child protection issues. Depending on how the mother died you might be able to access support from charities working in that area or consider community groups, beavers etc.

GP for him to get help and support. Well done for talking to him about it. Keep checking in on him it will make all the difference. It's the little things. Others things that might be ok for him (but make sure he won't be insulted) make him food, bake him a cake, a pie for tea. Look after him, make him a drink from time to time etc. I don't know if you would want to go as far as offering to have the child for an hour or so just to give him some space.

This is such a sad situation.

If the child is not in school is there a health visitor about? Children's Centre is s really good suggestion. I really feel for them.

How is he managing to work if the child is not going to school? What is he doing for childcare?

Is there a homestart in his area. They can provide help by way of a volunteer to support him. They may also have additional projects that may suit his needs. They are also excellent source of guidance as regards signposting to other local services. He can just call them and refer himself to the service

That’s sad and shocking.
Are there any grandparents ?
If he could get the child into school he could then access other help.
Would M even consider foster care ?

He needs to get school sorted ASAP. For both of their sanity and the support school can offer. Poor guys 😰

I think M should see about getting the little boy into school asap. It will give the child some routine and stability, and school will be able to point M to other sources of help.

Is he claiming child benefit and anything else he might be entitled to?