SGO for nephews - can their dad stop it

[KR94]

I have been fostering my nephews for coming on 5 years and now in the early stages of going for an SGO. My nephews are twins almost age 9 and there dad has never met them or been involved in there life. However as of last week he made contact with their mom asking to see them, as he is not on the birth cert the social will need to do DNA test first. If it comes back as he is their dad is there any possibility he could stop me from becoming their SGO? Im very worried about this as i love the boys so much it would break my heart if they let them live with him or something instead.

Has anyone had any similar experiences or no of anyone?

I'm no expert in this, but common sense would suggest there is very little chance, if any of him stopping you. It is one thing wanting to see them, taking over the responsibility full time is a whole different ball game. I'd be very surprised if he even wanted that to happen. I'd also imagine social services will look at what is in the best interest of the boys first and foremost. If they have been settled and well looked after by you for years, they are not likely to want to uproot them now.

Hi. I’m a kinship carer too. The courts and Childrens Services will be focussed on the needs and rights of the children. As they are settled with you, they will not want that to be disrupted. However the children have a right to a relationship with their father. Questions would be asked about his suitability to be in their life, and reasons for his non involvement until now. He could be made Party to the Proceedings, in the application for Special Guardianship, but he wouldn’t be making the decisions. They will want to know that you will always put the childrens needs first, so the sensible way forward would be to raise your concerns about possible safety / destabilising/rejection etc if a relationship was established, rather than jumping to a fear that the children would be snatched away and placed with someone they don’t know. I know that’s a counsel of perfection, but trust yourself, you have loved and cared for these children for half their life, you are important! It would be very unusual for that to be discounted.