DSD and DSS have to self isolate. Can they come to us?

[Fressia123]

Just got notified that my SDDs bubble at schook has to self isolate, I would have thought DSS has to self isolate too? I've heard contradictory information. Her DM is asking if she can stay with us some of the days. Two of those days the nanny/babysitter will be here but I think it defeats the whole self isolation purpose.

The solicitor website does not relate to the law as it currently stands. It was written back in March.

It has indeed been the general position that contact can continue between households to facilitate contact and the general health protection regs have been amended to that effect. And have been backed up by govt guidance. But, and it is a big but, the new regs for England concerning self isolation came into force only at the end of september and contain NO PROVISION for a child who is self isolating to move between homes. That independent article is baffling. Unless the govt are intending to amend the regs. But anyone who is considering sending a SI child to their other parent should take current, up to date legal advice especially if contact is court ordered.

See the heading of the first article linked (article was written last week):

"Editor’s note: On Tuesday the government confirmed that transferring children under the age of 18 between households, as required by court orders, is permissible under the new stay at home guidance."

.. The lawyers advising in the body of the article go on to say it should not matter if contact arrangements are informal or court ordered.

... Also see the advice offered, and posted by me above, from a family lawyer on here in response to my own post on Fri. That is the current advice being given.

... And I spent 6 hours wading thru legislation & guidance to try and work it all out. I'm a solicitor (altho retired from practice) and could not see clear guidance only that it was possibly at parents discretion. The lawyer commenting on my thread confirmed that there is nothing definitive and stated the cuteness advice being given.

Grrr.. Current not "cuteness".. Bloody autocorrect

Legally the children can move between the homes.
I presume that the child had been at yours already, so potentially if she's affected, you're all also affected.

I have to say I find this only the child isolates bollocks. I personally think that if someone has come into contact with a positive case then all the family should isolate. So in that case both of the families would.

I don't think that it's unreasonable to share the burden of the childcare with the mother.

I have 3 kids... Yr11 DC1 and Yr9 DT are SI as a close contacts of +ve cases in their school bubbles...

As it's children who are SI and no one presently has symptoms me and non SI twin... according to gov website... could go about our business as usual if we wished, for me that could even include carrying on going to Scouts (many SD rules, risk assessments etc) as a leader. I've opted to duck out of Scouts for now and I work from home full time and we have told my DM (73, lives locally, no underlying health issues) that we won't be seeing her - or anyone else really - until the SI ends.

DT's share a room and I did call school to ask if the one who has not been asked to SI still should be in school was told yes by the Head.

The two SI DC's and the other one had all been at their Dad's between being exposed and being notified by school of being close contacts anyway.. It all seems a bit illogical.

Still not convinced till the regs are amended or until I see written published guidance from the gov on this specific issue. That may be their intention but it isn't how the current legislation is drafted. There is something about fulfilling a legal obligation but the examples given are things like 'to attend court'.

@Augustbreeze

To those all saying children must stay with one parent when isolating, so you have any links to evidence for this view?

I think it needs urgent clarification.

Also re the resale link posted uphread: the article there states that the whole household has to isolate if a member is contacted by T&T. That's incorrect, see this from the NHS website:

If you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app:....

• people you live with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms
• people in your support bubble do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms

I think the nhs web is pretty clear How to self-isolate

You must not leave your home if you're self-isolating.

How are you going to another parents house without leaving the house

Because the other parents' house is also the children's home?

It seems pretty clearly to have been written with no thought given to the situation of separated families. (Ironic, given the family setup of a certain Prime Minister!)

My children are 50/50 with me and exH - an agreement we managed to reach without recourse to courts and conflict for them.

My children regard both houses equally as their homes, have both addresses registered on their details at school etc. Any movement between the houses would be door to door in ExH's car.

Many many kids will be in much tougher situations with separated/divorced parents who are not on relatively good terms and where contact arrangements are fraught at the best of times. I

We haven't seen my DSD since she was exposed so in that particular way this household is "clear". We are three households trying to figure out something that works for all of us.

As a PP had said I don't see the point of self isolation if the whole household doesn't self isolate. The virus can obviously "jump" from the exposed/self isolating (if infected) to any of the household members. Those household members can move as the wish taking the virus with them.

thanks @coldlocation. We are 50/50 too so both kids are living at both homes and tbh SI teen was with us 3 days before he was sent home to SI so would have already been in our home and if he is contagious we would be affected too. Any symptoms by either of the children or anyone else in either house I would assume both houses have to SI as in effect we are one big bubble?! That is my understanding and the most sensible option? Touch wood, we all OK so far ...

Probably very outing but our SI teen collected from our home today after school, teen has just text to say they went home via dropping off the courtesy car they were collected in and swapped back to normal car as it has been serviced today!

I really want to ring the poor dealership and warn them someone SI has been in it ... and it's very laughable as the parent works in NHS but clearly the rules don't apply then