scarlettsmummy - Is this boy placed with you on a permanent basis. If so then weekly contact is totally inappropriate. I think you need to ask the social workers "What is the contact meant to achieve" - it should be based on the best interests of the child. If the child is not going to be re-united with birthparents and is in permanent foster care with you, then usually contact is quarterly or at the most x 6 per year. The social workers are unable to give you reasons why contact has to be so frequent is because they don't know! Possibly they don't want to upset the birth parent, but contact arrangements should not be made in the best interests of the birth parents. What is your link worker doing about this - he/she should be complaining about what you are being asked to do.
I feel so very frustrated at what I am hearing on these threads and you carers are being treated appallingly with these ridiculous contact and transport arrangments.
SM I think you should ask for a meeting with the boy's social worker, his or her manager and your link worker.
I think you need to ask quite directly "What is contact meant to achieve" and don't let them off the hook, be insistent.
You should then advise them that as far as you are aware, the boy has no interest in seeing his mother and spends the contact time playing on a computer.
If they are not prepared to re-visit these ridiculous contact arrangements, then I think that you need to tell them that you are no longer prepared to do this 60 mile trip on a weekly basis.
If you don't feel you are getting anywhere, then you need to ask for a copy of the complaints procedure and follow it through. You should not be being expected to carry on with these ridiculous contact/transport arrangements.
To be honest I don't know how you are coping, working 30 hours a week, a toddler to care for and 5 months pregnant. It just makes me so sad and frustrated at what I am hearing on these threads.
You must stand up for yourself - they will have to take notice of you if you are insistent. You don't need to be confrontational but you need to be clear in respect of your concerns.
Squidgy - I can barely believe what I am reading - how unbelievably awful of the soc works to think you (or your DH) should be at their beck and call.
I think you need to make sure that you bring this up at your annual review.
Bonnie - why is it difficult to complain and stand out Bonnie - if you don't then you will get nowhere - I am glad you managed to calmly say what you felt - but I wouldn't put money on it that anything will change.
Think I am going to have to stay of these sites as I am sure my blood pressure is getting raised. You must all be very long suffering foster carers. I can tell you that the majority of the carers in the LA that I worked for would never have put up with these arrangements for contact and transport.