To ask about financial support?

[FlyAwayBaby]

So, there is a very long back story here but I have been told (at 5pm Friday) that my 2 grandchildren may be sent to me next week under an interim care order. This was unexpected and I’m not going to go into reasons as there is a complaint going on about the whole SS enquiry.

Anyway, we both work full time. The children are newborn and under 2. I was asked by SS if I’d be able to fund childcare myself and the answer is a resounding no. I know some sort of fostering allowance is applicable for care orders but I’m unsure what we could get to financially support us during an ICO lasting up to 26 weeks. The SW has been wholly unhelpful and vague throughout and has not answered this question at all and is now not in work until after the decision meeting first thing tomorrow.

If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it. I am not entitled to any paid leave beyond 5 days domestic emergency so this is a real worry for us!

Oh wow, they want you to take the dcs but you can’t use childcare? Thats tricky!!

I think OP is saying they were asked if they’d be able to self-fund the childcare and no mention of SS/local authority support was made? Not that they can’t use childcare!

Childcare for children that age will be incredibly expensive even part time, I really hope an allowance/support package is applicable as it seems wild that SS could place 2 very young children with grandparents and expect them to fund it all themselves!

OP, really sorry to hear you've been put in such a difficult position with so little support. That really is terrible of SS.

You mentioned 5 days of paid leave for domestic emergency - is there any chance you (or your other half) work for the civil service?

Oh I see!

Yes, I do.

Yes sorry, I meant they basically asked us if we’d manage the cost of the children including childcare and I said no. Of course I wouldn’t mind supporting them with food/nappies etc but I simply cannot afford childcare which we need in place to continue in our jobs! I am just a bit stunned as you’d think that when conducting a viability assessment potential carers would be be told exactly what support (financial and otherwise) they would receive if this were to happen. It’s very difficult to find answers online where most answers relate to care orders of a more permanent nature. Their mother will be having supervised access in my home and I’m hoping it’ll be every day all day (within reason, she is absolutely no danger to them, and has never been accused of being a danger, this all stems from the father and her not agreeing he is a risk) which will negate the need for childcare but we simply don’t have a clue what is likely to be offered.

@SunsetsAndSandwiches sorry I thought I had replied to you, the yes I do above was for you, I do work for the CS.

OP I can tell you what I know from my sister. As SS are asking you to take the children then you should get financial payment for this. This is what my sister was told. Because she essentially took in her granddaughter rather than SS handing her to my sister. She has now spent the best part of two years fighting for funding and support as she’s had none since she took her in at 3 (she’s now 8) and SS have despite asking for her to do an SGO fought it. SGO is still not in place due to issues with mum and is now looking likely to be sorted in October.

basically, fight it. Tell them you want foster allowance as they are the ones telling you to take them. Do not take no for an answer, if they refuse get a solicitor (my sisters one managed to get SS to pay her fees) and get them to help you fight for financial support

Thats hopefully a positive thing then...Have a check on your departments parental leave policies, there should be a section on fostering and adoption leave. I think it should be similar to paid leave for maternity/paternity/shared parental? It should all be in the HR section of your intranet.

Having some paid time off might give you some time to sort a long term childcare plan and also just to generally get into a routine with the little ones and also to process everything that is happening.

Obviously you'll know best how to approach with your manager, but I'm CS and if you were a member of my team I would have absolutely no problem with you giving me a call to discuss this even on a Sunday given the meeting is at 9am tomorrow and I would support you every step of the way, for the children's sake as well as yours.

I do hope SS can offer you financial support with the childcare in addition to this. Good luck with everything xx

If you envisage your DD having supervised access all day every day could she stay with you? And do you work from home to provide that supervision?

If the answer is no maybe the children would be better off in a foster placement.

As for paying for the children’s expenses, well where would you draw the line? Clothes, furniture, car seats, pushchairs? All on top of food, clothes and nappies etc? Hopefully SS are trying it on and will either fully support you or make other arrangements.

It’ll be about £180 per week per child so £360 per week for the two children; you can ask for help towards nursery fees but if you can take time off it will make life easier.

The viability will explore your current finances not what you would potentially get if the children come to you. After a positive viability it should be passed to fostering team who will do assessment for approval for temp/emergency fostering carers whilst ico is in place. It's this middle ground where so many things are unknown which is one of the hardest as a judge may not agree with an order and therefore you're all left in limbo. I hope things do get sorted quick for you, it sounds a difficult situation