Can my dad pick my daughter up to take her to counselling?

[Swizzel]

Hey all - I'm hoping for some advice, as I've read lots of the government guidance about lockdown, but cannot find anything that covers my situation.

My daughter is 17, and has been receiving counselling for the last year due to mental health issues. This counselling takes place a 25 minute drive away from where we live, and my dad has very kindly been taking her for the last six months as I am currently unable to drive to due a long-term health condition, and my DH doesn't drive.

My daughter needs to continue attending her counselling through lockdown, and my dad has said that he is happy to carry on picking her up and dropping her off, but I don't know whether that's allowed under the new rules? He lives with his wife about 20 minutes drive away from our house.

Does anybody know whether this is okay for him to do? He wouldn't be coming into our house, but obviously my daughter would be in close proximity to him in his car. Her counsellor has ruled out doing online sessions with her, and I'm hugely anxious about her missing any of her sessions. She attempted suicide back in September, and over the last few weeks her mental health seems particularly fragile.

Any advice? I'm totally lost as to what's allowed and what isn't.

Is that the only option? Can she get there by bus or taxi? If not I think that would come under caring needs if there’s no other way for your dd to get to her appointment, so would be allowed. Face masks for both in the car though, windows open and dd sits in the back.

I'm pretty sure it would be allowed under caring responsibilities but frankly, who cares. This is not some frivolous shopping expedition, this is important, medical treatment. She must go and I cant see there's a safer way of getting her there.

Yes it would be covered as providing care for mental health purposes

Yes

Is your daughter leaving her tier area to go to her counselling?

Yes he can. Loads better than bus or taxi.

Yes.

Hi.

As a childrens social worker, I would be saying your daughter fits the category of having a vulnerability which needs to be prioritised regardless of the covid restrictions. Your dad can continue to offer support to meet that need.

Hope that helps and wish you and your family all the best. This situation is so hard and I hope it doesn't affect your daughter too much.

I agree that it would fall under vulnerability and its treatment that needs to continue.

I don't see how tiers matters now as we are all in lockdown 🙄 Evem if it did, its essential treatment so as long as she is just going for her counselling I don't see the issue. If I want hospital treatment I would gave had to pass into a different tier prior to lockdown.

Yes, you are allowed to leave the house for healthcare (DD), and you’re allowed to leave the house to help a vulnerable person (your dad)

Yes it's allowed. It's caring for a vulnerable person. Vulnerable people don't have to be in your support bubble.

If it makes you feel better, could she take her referral letter with her? I always feel better if I have proof!!!

You must have gone through hell OP, I hope your DD gets the support she needs

Yes, though ideally it should just be them in the car. They should wear masks and she should be in the passenger back seat (ie as far from him as possible) and in a perfect world (not practical now) windows should be open.
That's our work guidance for lift sharing.

I would recommend they both wear a face mask, and she sits in back seat behind passenger seat with window open .

@Torvean32 There’s no tiers anymore, it was replaced by the national lockdown. The guidance now refers to your local area, defined as your town or village; or the part of your city that you live in.

I watched a lawyer talking through it on Twitter this morning, it was quite interesting!

Thank you for the replies and advice, and thank you for the lovely supportive messages, I cannot explain how much they mean to me.

Yes