After notice period

[AThorp]

I handed my 28 day notice period into my SSW 6 weeks ago for one of my placements but he is still with me. This is even after I've had multiple breakdowns while talking to social workers as its severely affecting my mental health as a lone carer.

It has got to the point of me asking you guys: Where do I stand legally with not allowing this kid back into my house? I'm easily out of contract and I've also had a bereavement where I've even said I'm unable to provide appropriate care for him and yet he's still here.

Any help would be appreciated 🙏

You should be focusing on what can be put in place to allow the placement to continue until an alternative is found, day care, respite, who is your back up carer for example?

Placements are extremely difficult to find and if there isnt one where do you think the child will go, sit in the offices for weeks until one is found?

This is why all foster carers need to be part of the union, ie so you dont get ignored or pushed around like this. Join immediately nupfc.com. You have fulfilled your contractual arrangement, they are clearly treating you appallingly and will continue to do so until you take a stand. The comment above is, in my opinion, completely missing the point. The corporate parent is the LA, not you. It is their responsibility and to put you and your other placements at risk is an appalling dereliction of their corporate responsibility. Arrange for a drop off date and time at their offices. Make sure you have everything recorded in emails. copy in head of childrens services not just your ssw. Also get IRO involved.

Copy and paste below from fosterwiki.com

l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Ffosterwiki.com%2Fwiki%2Fso_you_want-to_end_a_foster_placement%2F%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR0uoqIFfZqF9G1Zpa9KUKmoLKJ_vIHflfLDbdoINEgYLjrHIW-RsMZOJUM&h=AT0F6_NOP9SmazcSPHeN1jMg611u5VHf9YRN4R6lTFUDLRYHwkr7kYhOqMMiki4iQMptdGfccXhWqrPbutt78kAJvuxo__u2Bfz5EKwHZIfsZl_0cdTwMsLmdMwfSgxREPM

You think an IRO would be happy to see a child dumped at the offices? There would be significant implications for the carer at their next annual review.

I think the IRO will be keen to facilitate a good outcome for the child and be robust in challenging the LA as to why it has taken no steps to resolve a highly challenging situation. Bellac 11 you seem very hostile towards a foster carer in distress who is, quite rightly, reaching out for help. In my experience foster carers do not "serve notice" lightly and when it comes to that every effort should be made to immediately put resources in. If a LA hasnt done any of that 6 weeks down the line then it is not unreasonable that the foster carer should demand the placement end. The LA is the parent, it has legal responsibility. It cannot just turn its back. Direct your fire at the people who are not doing their job. Not at the person who has stepped forward to help and been battling to provide a home for a challenging child.

Of course you sometimes have to end a placement. We fostered and had a vulnerable girl with us. Had a second girl placed whose behaviours made things totally untenable. (Violence, attempting to set fires in the night, continuous cruelty to our animals etc). We gave notice and no placement was found. Eventually the first child's social worker escalated and the child was removed. She went into a secure unit

OP hasnt said what resources have or havent been put in place and that was my first comment

You say that no steps have been taken to resolve the situation, how do you know this? Placements cant just be magicked up out of thin air, this is why children bounce around from placement to placement because people just wont work through difficult behaviour.

Absolutely right that Im hostile to situations where someone is suggesting dumping a child at the offices!

The OP does not have to go into chapter and verse. The point is that nothing has happened for 6 weeks and the health of the carer is rapidly deteriorating. She is entitled to ask for the child to be removed and the "parent" should not be avoiding their responsibilities. If they insist on doing nothing then the carer has no option. . Foster Carers are free to make decisions about their own lives and who lives with them. You appear to have a stance that this shouldnt be the case which seems at odds with the LA who issue a contract saying that it is completely acceptable for the foster carer to serve 28 days notice. As for "magicking up" a new placement well they have had 6 weeks so far. We are all aware there is a huge shortage of foster carers and some of that is because of false presumptions that you cannot choose who lives in your home. It certain doesnt help when LA standards of support are so poor. Once again I suggest you direct your fire at where the problem lies, not at someone who has stepped forward to help and is suffering. Maybe try fostering yourself ....

Inappropriate hostility here @bellac11 Please identify yourself as a fostercarer, social worker or whoever you are so we know where you are coming from and why so angry? This kids of emotional comments are extremely off-putting to prospective foster carers who are, let's face it, in very short supply.

@f0stercarer always gives balanced good advice.

'kinds' not kids

Agree, yet again f0stercarer spot on!
Of course no one wants a child to have to move on in such circumstances but I’m sure every bit of support has been put in place.
What if the carer was really ill, do you suggest that the child is just left with them?
As most carers know, the support of family and friends who originally said they would be part of your network trickles away over the years.
When the boot is on the other foot and an allegation is made the SW are swift to remove then, with no explanation. It’s different when their heads are on the line.
Sorry, I’ve no other advice other than what’s been offered. Lots of emails with everyone around the child cc’d in. Make sure everyone is aware of your situation and that the child’s SW is failing in their job.
I hope you manage to get it sorted out quickly.

Ofsted told a fostering agency I have dealings with that if they had safeguarding concerns about a child remaining in placement then they should absolutely drop the child off at the offices. Not the outcome anybody would want but ultimately it is the LA responsibility to find safe, appropriate homes for their children.