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Original poster

Social services

88 replies

brokennana · 07/08/2023 19:39

Basically I'm a nana to a beautiful 11 week old
Her parents known to ss
Baby was 3 days old when an emergency court decided baby was to be taken into care.
It wasn't until 3 weeks later when her family received the ss reasons that the wtf moment happened
Baby was taken based on unfounded opinions of ss
Solicitors at the time said there was no reasons for child to be taken.
Back story history of recreational drug use but both parents clean since mum found out she was pregnant

2nd court date child was to stay in care. New sw. Parents ordered a drugs test (hair strand) and various other agencies to work with.
Tests done , worked with drug and alcohol agencies. Mum even did freedom project even no dv

3rd court case drugs test negative. Ss not having that - they admitted they didn't understand the results
Ss refused to do referrals
Left court with a good luck off the judges and we don't want to see you here again

4th court date after another negative drugs test postponed by ss as they hadn't got their paperwork in order.

5th court case ss threatened with a non compliance order. The judge said it's up to the courts to decide not the local authorities. Court said that ss were judgmental and had a closed mind. And this wasn't fair on the child or the parents.

6th court date in a couple of weeks in front of the same judges at court 3.

The parents have seen their child daily. Never missed a contact. Done everything ss asked and beyond.
Mum now has pnd , infections and is still healing from a crash delivery.
They have nothing but good reports from all agencies involved.
Clean from cocaine. No alcohol. They don't even smoke.

Everything ss say is in our opinion this , in our opinion that . But can't and never have backed anything up with fact. They have now started psychological warfare, now playing on mums pnd , she will be unable to properly parents etc

I don't know what I want from this post, just a rant. I've seen my grandchild 2 times since birth.
How can ss take a child based on opinion , be told by the courts to sort their house out, stall and stall again and keep getting away with it?
I know they have a job to do and there are children in danger.
Mum and dad just want their baby back and to love a normal happy life. It just feels never ending

OP posts:
Startyabastard · 07/08/2023 19:44

I don't want to be condescending, but are you sure there's not more to what they're letting on?

YoSof · 07/08/2023 19:46

Social workers don’t order removal, they recommend and the judge decides based on their reports and reports from other professionals/agencies.

Babies don’t get removed at birth for no reason. They just don’t. There’s more to this, what exactly are the concerns?

Anothernamethesamegame · 07/08/2023 19:47

Op have you read the assessment and court reports?
If the judge really felt there was no need for the child to be in care they should have discharged the care order.

CandyflossKaren · 07/08/2023 19:47

What were the 'unfounded opinions'?

BiscuitsandPuffin · 07/08/2023 19:48

It sounds like there's a few concerns here from SS. Occasionally, they do go overboard based on tick-box "red flags", but usually they have good reasons for swooping in, for example if the boyfriend has a history of dealing and the mother won't break up with him.

If a care order is what is happening, and if the separation is inevitable, can you offer to be the child's carer in place of the mother? SS are usually very keen on children going to family members as they don't have to pay you the way they have to pay foster carers! It could be a way to keep the baby in the family so that later, the baby knows their parents and history, and doesn't have to search for them.

What will be best for the baby? That should be what SS are putting at the centre of their decision making (should be).

I am a little confused that your DD is still healing from a CS but has managed to already complete a freedom course. Did she do it while pregnant? Were SS already involved pre-birth?

CandyflossKaren · 07/08/2023 19:48

And have you been present in court to witness this or are you hearing it all second hand?

UndercoverCop · 07/08/2023 19:48

The threshold for removal at birth is so incredibly high, and must be ordered by a judge not social care. Have you seen the full court bundle from that hearing?

CandyflossKaren · 07/08/2023 19:50

Freedom course is a 12 week long course....

ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 07/08/2023 19:51

Nope sorry.

I work with families who's children may be or are then removed.

For a child to be removed, a HELL of a lot needs to happen before then.

Mother would have been subject to a child protection plan before the baby was even born.

This doesn't just crop up on people with no notice.

Unless you have been in the meetings with her, you don't know the full story.

She isn't being honest with you.

elm26 · 07/08/2023 19:53

UndercoverCop · 07/08/2023 19:48

The threshold for removal at birth is so incredibly high, and must be ordered by a judge not social care. Have you seen the full court bundle from that hearing?

This.

My Mum's best friend is high up in SS, my "stepsister" (I don't ever want to say she's anything to do with me but will for the sake of this post) had her 5 children taken from her and adopted out and if she ever has another, they will be removed at birth.

She said that they had a couple of bruises from falling over. Mum's BF said they do not remove children let alone 5 of them for a couple of bruises.

90% of people I know did recreational drugs (not me, family addiction put me off of ever trying them) and had kids and stopped as soon as they found out they were pregnant/started trying. None of them were removed and we are all in our 30's now with multiple kids in our friendship group.

Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 19:53

YoSof · 07/08/2023 19:46

Social workers don’t order removal, they recommend and the judge decides based on their reports and reports from other professionals/agencies.

Babies don’t get removed at birth for no reason. They just don’t. There’s more to this, what exactly are the concerns?

Neglect for drug use

OP posts:
BiscuitsandPuffin · 07/08/2023 19:53

CandyflossKaren · 07/08/2023 19:50

Freedom course is a 12 week long course....

Yes that's what I thought, and the courses run by Family Support Centres are not instant access on-demand, they usually have cycles of start dates. So I'm confused on the timeline here.

Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 19:54

Anothernamethesamegame · 07/08/2023 19:47

Op have you read the assessment and court reports?
If the judge really felt there was no need for the child to be in care they should have discharged the care order.

Yes all off the paper work
Found many inconsistencies that solicitors have also highlighted

OP posts:
Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 19:55

CandyflossKaren · 07/08/2023 19:47

What were the 'unfounded opinions'?

Drug dealers at the house
That parents will put drugs before baby
That as mum is autistic she is unable to look after a child

OP posts:
ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 07/08/2023 19:55

For one thing, SS suspect DV (I see you don't. Presumably that's your son they are referring to?) and parents are still together.

So she is prioritising her relationship over the baby.

Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 19:55

CandyflossKaren · 07/08/2023 19:50

Freedom course is a 12 week long course....

Mum had done it before birth
Ss involvement for 7 months

OP posts:
Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 19:57

ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 07/08/2023 19:51

Nope sorry.

I work with families who's children may be or are then removed.

For a child to be removed, a HELL of a lot needs to happen before then.

Mother would have been subject to a child protection plan before the baby was even born.

This doesn't just crop up on people with no notice.

Unless you have been in the meetings with her, you don't know the full story.

She isn't being honest with you.

Mum is autistic and didn't understand what the meetings were about.
Dad didn't understand the terminology
I have read all documents, reports and court transcripts
Ss have now said that they do not under autism themselves and have been ordered by the courts to not see mum by herself , I am her advocate

OP posts:
Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 19:58

ADHDDDDDDDBOOM · 07/08/2023 19:55

For one thing, SS suspect DV (I see you don't. Presumably that's your son they are referring to?) and parents are still together.

So she is prioritising her relationship over the baby.

Nope

OP posts:
MillicentTrilbyHiggins · 07/08/2023 19:58

Have you not been offered the chance to have the baby? I thought they kept them with family where possible?

Jellycatspyjamas · 07/08/2023 19:58

In 5 court appearances none of the judges have discharged the placement order, why do you think that is?

BiscuitsandPuffin · 07/08/2023 19:59

What would be best for the baby?

The baby needs to come first.

YoSof · 07/08/2023 19:59

Jellycatspyjamas · 07/08/2023 19:58

In 5 court appearances none of the judges have discharged the placement order, why do you think that is?

This.

So have SS been involved for 7 months? What did they ask of your daughter and has she done what they asked?

Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 20:00

There is a hell a lot more of this than I am willing to post on here.
I have been brief with the details which is obviously confusing
I have attended all network & core meetings

OP posts:
FoodCentre · 07/08/2023 20:00

Jellycatspyjamas · 07/08/2023 19:58

In 5 court appearances none of the judges have discharged the placement order, why do you think that is?

The judge can't randomly discharge the order unless the hearing is specifically relating to the care order.

A court application to submit evidence, for example, cannot be used to discuss another random topic like removing the care order.

Original poster
brokennana · 07/08/2023 20:01

Jellycatspyjamas · 07/08/2023 19:58

In 5 court appearances none of the judges have discharged the placement order, why do you think that is?

We have gone from 1 court to the next
All different places either remote or face to face

No dv
No drug use
Parents prepared for baby
No outside agencies were expecting the removal outcome
The last meeting before birth was for child to come home with ss supervision

OP posts: