Aibu to ask for advice re social services, ally upset

[ChipsAndRedSauce]

Name changed as identifying. I really need advice or I won't sleep tonight worrying.
My dd 16 is under camhs due to anxiety and self harm , she has taken two overdoses this year. However since starting medication six weeks ago she is doing so much better. No suicidal thoughts, no self harm , going out with her friends etc
Last week sw assessed all our dc due to a malicious allegation. They have confirmed no concerns about our dc. However during the visit dd told them she was going to New Zealand to stay with her Aunt and Uncle after her exams. Dd has had a horrible year with bullying at school and mental health problems. This trip means so much to her. Today I received a phone call from
Camhs saying SS had concerns about dd travelling to NZ alone that she was vulnerable etc. Her Aunt and Uncle are both nurses , dd is three months of 17.
Dd would be devastated if she can't go to NZ . Does anyone know if SS can legally stop her going? I feel sick with worry for her. She has been through a lot.
We are still waiting for SS to write to us closing the assessment although in the day we were told she was recommending no action.
Thank you for reading.

Is she going to be fully insured and as said, have you gone through What Ifs?

Thanks so do I .

No its unlikely that the court will stop her when she's nearly an adult. Its possible they could, but unlikely they would unless they thought there was a real risk.

SS usually go with what the Psychiatrist recommends.

In theory, someone "vulnerable" can be stopped from leaving the country, but that's a extreme action and not used lightly.

Have a look on here...
www.servisairconcierge.com/packages
They offer a few different services, I think it's the airport buddy that would be most suitable.

I think if you've got a solid plan for the trip, travelling and whilst she's away, then that sould reassure any concerns that SS have.

Winnie the sw didn't know about the NZ trip until she came out to conduct the assessment. I hope it doesn't take as long as your friend, that's awful.
Birds yes insure cost £150 because of her mental health issues. Her dad and I have gone over what if but not camhs. I told camhs twice she was going but they didn't discuss it until the call today and clearly have memory issues as they say we didn't tell them!
Thanks dancing logically I am thinking they won't stop her.

a very stressful time indeed for you all, best wishes for better times ahead

I think that they would need to get a court order to stop her going - which you would be able to contest, and hopefully reassure SS well before it got to that stage that the trip would be beneficial not a risk

Hi, I'm both a social worker and in CAMHS so hope I can be of some help here.
What I would suggest that you do is ask the psychiatrist or mental health practitioner that you are seeing to offer you an appointment ASAP to go through a risk management plan for when your DD is away, to cover things like travel, medication issues, sources of help if your DD is struggling, would she tell Aunt and Uncle if she was struggling or self harmed, what would they do etc. a kind of 'what if' plan.
If you do this with the Psych / practitioner then they will be happy that any risk management concerns have been looked into, and the Social worker should accept this too, should they look any further into it.
If the social worker is going to close the case anyway then I expect they would be happy to know that you have addressed risk management with your DDs mental health team and that would be the end of it.
There is no way that they would go to court over this or try to stop your DD...I'm not sure on what grounds they could do, anyway!

I think SS have a good point in advising against your DD travelling alone to NZ. It is a very long tiring and stressful journey. Not sure if they can actually stop her going though.

SS can apply to have her made a ward of court, as with this Syria related case, but it is an extreme step

Yes you're right, but from what the OPs said it's highly unlikely that this scenario would fulfil the legal requirements for her to be made a ward of court.

Tbh, it sounds as though CAMHS haven't asked all the questions that they should have and realise that now (that's why they are saying that the OP hadn't told them about the trip).

Selks advice is spot on.

Thanks Selks that was really helpful. Dd has an appointment on the 10th so I will ask them to put a plan in place then. Initially I was going to ask them more informally nearer the time. Am I being paranoid about an interim care order?
Viviennemary yes I know it's long and tiring but my dd loves to travel, she is a fluke of nature that sleeps for eight hours solid on planes.
Closer I had forgotten about ward of court. Syria is extreme though so hopefully they won't want to do that.
Dd has been unwell but never admitted to hospital except for her overdoses.
Camhs haven't seen her for a while as she hadn't wanted to go due to her exams. When they see the change in her since her MEDS I am really hoping they will be supportive.

Birds I think you could be right.

If the SS was seriously concerned about this they wouldn't be considering closing involvement. No chance of an interim care order in my opinion.

Selks the SW said she had no concerns on leaving our house. I am assuming her manager expressed concerns about the NZ trip at a later date?
When I spoke to her today to ask why we has not had a letter confirming this she said due to half term she hadn't yet finished her assessment. She then told me she had spoke to camhs regarding the NZ concerns.
Does that sound concerning?

No, not majorly concerning, even if events did happen in that order. Her manager may just want it checking out. A risk management plan should put all minds at rest.
I know this situation has been highly anxiety provoking, but I really think it will be ok.

Thanks selks really appreciate your posts.

Glad to help. Hope your DD has a wonderful trip

Thanks she deserves it .

Jus