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Legal matters

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Original poster

can children be taken into care whilst im baby sitting on court day?

21 replies

ghostspirit · 04/11/2015 21:35

if there is a court hearing and judge says children to go into care. and im baby sitting for the children concerned. could i be put in the position of someone turning up and taking the children whilst im baby sitting?

i do have another thread but im quite worried about the above so i wanted to separate it in the hope i can get an answer/understanding. thanks

OP posts:
BusShelter · 05/11/2015 01:39

Oh dear Ghost, life is never boring for you. Confused Wink

I wouldn't know but if you are worried about it could you go out for the day somewhere?

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 07:36

life is well bloody boring..

someone told me yesterday it dont happen like that. hope not. i did think about going out but i dont think ss are 9 to 5 with that sort of thing. not sure though. plus the kids are bit of a handful not sure i could manage mine and the ones im looking after. got a few days yet so i will keep googling see if i can find anything

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DelphiniumBlue · 05/11/2015 07:52

Depends how urgent the situation is. I have seen solicitors go straight from court once they have the order in hand, to get the children in question, obviously with SW/police in tow.
Do not put yourself in the position of potentially breaching a court order.
However, I don't see how they could get to you before the parent does. This has to be the parents problem, not yours. Are you worried that they won't come back straightaway?

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 08:07

blue the court is up in london. the parent does not really know what she is doing will be using public transport so may be delays in getting back. ie getting a bit lost or generally slow in finding where to go. ss workers may have transport of own or if public transport know where they are going so faster. so may get back first... or even once they have the ok said a ss worker from the local office with police. and then im in the position of handing the kids over kind of thing. and i dont think friend would understand that i cant just lock all the doors etc. and then it will be seen that i gave her children. and the hole thing in general i cant handle its to much im not even the mum and its making me feel bloody awlful. i spend most of last night crying on and of and getting myself into a state. hopefully im over thinking... still dont change long term out come though :(

OP posts:
babybarrister · 05/11/2015 08:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 11:56

i think i will need to talk to friend.

OP posts:
AnchorDownDeepBreath · 05/11/2015 12:02

Yeah. If a court order is placed for the children to go into care, you will have no grounds to stop them.

Have they asked your friend where the children will be?

You need to ensure that your friend knows and understands that if the court takes the children into care, they will need to be handed over when a court appointed guardian comes to collect them. Locking the doors and refusing to hand them over would be distressing for the children, and would leave you in contempt of court. It won't help Mum, either.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 05/11/2015 12:13

Presumably you're looking after the DC to let the mum attend court?

If so, I think the very best thing all round is for your friend's DC to be looked after by someone organised by SS. I really don't think it's fair on anyone - least of all your own DC - to have the children removed from your house.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 12:19

poo... i dont know how on earth im going to talk to her. i cant be put in that position. theres her kids to think about and my own. i cant let them see that. and yeah i know i cant lock doors etc.

i dont know what she has told ss or what they have asked. all i know is she asked me to have the kids

OP posts:
Shutthatdoor · 05/11/2015 12:21

if you do not hand the children over, then you will be in court

^ this

munchkinmaster · 05/11/2015 12:25

I had a friend who as a newly qualified teacher this happened to. Police and social work were supposed to be there before end of school but the parent turned up first. No idea if it was legal but the school were asked to get mum and kids to stay till social work appeared. So she did. Was very upsetting for all

Nonnainglese · 05/11/2015 12:29

Could you phone Children and Families service and ask for advice? There must be someone there who could help.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 12:31

if i end up still baby sitter... i never said i was not going to hand the children over :/

munch simlar happend at our school once few years back now. mum had a toddler as well. we were sitting on bench having general chat .the mum got called into the school office and police ss worker were there and kids were taken there and then... it was awful.

i dont know what will happen in this case maybe it depends what time court finishes.

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Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 12:32

nonn i would be a bit scared of calling. i dont know why :/

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Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 17:57

the oldest child has been into care voluntary under a section 20. it was horrible at the school. the mum was crying and talking about it etc. i could not speak or i would have cried. when i left her to get my younger child from other entrance my throat went like sand paper and my eyes were going. had to stop myself from crying. the mum took daughter home and ss worker and the person looking after her came and got her from the home. i cant even think how it would have been for them.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 05/11/2015 18:06

She's already put one of her children into voluntary care? Hmm

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 18:13

no just one. gone into care today. im still meant to be looking after another 2 in a few days when its court hearing

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Gobbolinothewitchscat · 05/11/2015 19:45

The situation at school sounds awful.

Even more reason that you can't have the same playing out in your own home in front of your own DC and your friend's DC.

It is not in the children's best interests to be looked after and possibly removed from your house under these types of circumstances. I know you'll want to put your friend's DCs' interests first here so the kindest thing to do here is to say that you think it would be the best thing for the DCs if social services arranged care for them. I'm sure that a large part of the hearing will be focussing on examples of your friend (for whatever reason) not adequately focussing on her DCs' needs so it really wouldn't be fair to create another opportunity for that to be demonstrated.

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 20:01

gobbolin the child was not take away at the school. it was all the upset and emotions leading up to it knowing its going to happen. but yes i 100% agree with you. i dont know how im going to tell her though its to hard. her daughter has only just gone. and in a few days its court hearing regarding the other children. i dont know how i can say it to her. things are just so raw for her shes only just lost her daughter now im saying i cant baby sit. even though i said i would help and she needs me to. but also its the kids its going to effect even more...

ss know im going to look after the children. i find it odd they have not said that its not the right thing to do and that they will help with childcare.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 05/11/2015 20:02

Are you sure SS know? Not just because your friend has told you so?

Original poster
ghostspirit · 05/11/2015 20:05

true. no i dont 100% know.

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