Do I contact social services or go straight to the courts?

[MumGoneCrazy]

My DB's girlfriend was 18 and still under social services care when they got pregnant, they have since split up and social services are trying to get the baby (who was taken from her mother and put in foster care with someone else) adopted, they are saying she is too immature to look after a baby.

My DB cant have custody but has an hour supervised visit every month (baby is 5 months old now and he has had 2 visits so far the mother visits every day for 2 hours) the rest of the family however don't have contact but wants it very much.
I have been told by my niece's mother that we can apply for contact...Do I contact the social worker or apply straight to court?

Also...Why are social pushing to have her put up for adoption instead of helping DB's ex care for her baby?
I've read that it is social services duty to try to keep the baby with family if possible....so why are they not trying?

My mother, sister and myself have all told my DB's solicitor that we would be willing to help or take in the baby so the baby stays wth family but social services hasn't contacted any of us about it. It's like they are determined to put my niece up for adoption!!

Yes, Social Services do have a duty to place the child within the family wherever possible. However, they also undertake what is known as parallel planning where they assess a family member but also make provision for possible adoption.

If you have not come forward to care for the child, social services cannot consider you or other family members.

My advice would be to speak to a solicitor yourself and if you, or other family members are absolutely certain you wish to take on this responsibility, then social services should be written to as soon as possible. It is vital they are contacted. You do need legal advice.

You need to consider how you would want to care for this child, residence order, special guardianship or a care related order.

You need to find out how far down the line they are regarding adoption.

Someone may come on with legal advice for you, I am just speaking from my own experience.

Hi,

Thank you for replying, I would do absolutely anything to keep the baby in the family, I put my name down with my DB's solicitor when they asked if anyone in the family would be willing to take her in and the list was given to social but social hasn't got back to any of us about it.

I don't know if they would consider me as I have 4 children (10, 5, 4, 14 months) of my own, so a full house but I have the experience to look after her, my partner is working so we have the money and we live in the same county where the baby is now.

My mother and sister both live 100 miles away and while my mother has the experience, she works a lot and is separated from my dad and my sister has no children and has only been in her relationship for less than a year.

I will contact a solicitor as soon as possible, Thank you again.

Have you spoken directly to the SS? Presumably there is a case number, and presumably your DB knows it, so you should be able to phone them and tell them directly that you wish to be considered for adopting your niece.

I have no direct experience, but if it were me, I would consider speaking to the child's social worker.

Your db should have this info - if not, you could presumably find out by asking the sols concerned.

babybarrister, have PM'd you.

@babybarrister - link for you
Thank you!

you need to make sure you speak to Ss directly, ask to set up a meeting with them to put forward your offer. do youa vhe copuy of the letter/lsit that was given in?

papers can and do get lsot so you cant rely on that piece of paper ahving been properly noted - or it may be in teh file but has been buried - ring and speak and ask to emet with them face to face.

I've heard that the Family Rights Group can be very helpful in these circumstances. Good luck!

Thank you all for replying, I will be on the phone tomorrow morning to her social worker and a solicitor