Children's services

[nimsem2]

My friend's granddaughter has had her 3 children removed by children's services. ( 3,2,1). I don't know the full story but it must be serious as she isn't allowed to see them. She is expecting another baby in July and my friend is convinced she will be allowed to keep this baby. All the children have different dads. I feel so sorry for my friend and not sure how I can support her. Speaking my mind would not be helpful to her.

Depends why the otters have been removed and what support she has now. It’s not out of the question

Does this unborn baby have a different father? This can sometimes make a difference

Yes but the father isn't the problem it's the mother. They were taken off her due to her actions.

It is very unlikely that she will be allowed to come home with the baby if they have been taken away like that. Presumably there was neglect and/or abuse of some kind. I don't imagine this will be rectified in time for a new baby to be born if she is not even allowed to see them. That seems like very extreme circumstances to me.

The LA will already have the baby under a child protection order, and it will most likely go straight to a foster carer. The mother will already know this.

How often does your friend see her granddaughter and what sort of relationship do they have? Children aren’t just removed, the situation will have been under monitoring and close supervision for some time now. If they are close then your friend must have some kind of an idea what’s been going on and why her granddaughter can’t care for her children.

I’m going to take a guess that four children under four all with different fathers is at least part of the reason: it indicates a chaotic lifestyle, choices which aren’t for the benefit of the children, instability and potential for emotional harm. I think it’s unlikely a newborn will be left in the granddaughter’s care if she can’t provide a safe and stable environment for the others. Has your friend enquires about the possibility of becoming a kinship carer for any of the children or the new baby? Would she want that?

Given the youngest child is still only 1 then these court proceedings have only recently happened. Without knowing why they were removed then it is impossible to say with certainty. However, it is unlikely that there has been enough time for the mother to address the concerns which led to the other children being removed. It is highly likely that this baby with either be removed at birth or be subject to child protection plans. If the father is safe and protective then that might help.

It depends a lot on why they were taken off her. If they were taken off her because she was abusing them then there is no chance. If they were taken off her because she was using heroin and gets on a methadone program and gets a place on a mother and baby unit then maybe. If she had puerpal psychosis and is now under the care of mental health team and following all their guidance, may have a more positive outcome. It is really hard to know without knowing more specifics. And it sounds like your friend doesn't know that much either.

@ednatheevilwitch

In these circumstances the baby would be put on a child protection plan before its born.

My friend doesn't know the full story. Her granddaughter has decided to have nothing to do with her family. Probably due to the seriousness of the case. The other children were only taken 6 months ago. Without her granddaughters consent she can't find out what is happening.

She is wondering if she will have any rights once the baby is born.

@nimsem2

She won't have any rights no. Parents are the only ones who usually have rights, but only once they have registered the baby. I think in cases like this they don't even get to register the baby. They are never the babies legal parents. It really is terribly sad and a shame she hasn't reached out to family who may have been a good alternative placement for the kids and could have avoided foster care and stayed within the family. Although that may also not have been possible depending on the circumstances

Your friend could contact local social services and let them know that she could be assessed as a possible kinship carer if this baby is also removed. That is if she would be willing of course.

SS could get a court order to remove the baby at birth and either place it into foster care or with a family member (they'll look at both Mum and Dad's families to see if anyone suitable would take it). Or she could go into a Mother and Baby placement. It really depends what she's done.

Thank you for all your replies. My friend is 74 so taking the baby isn't really an option. I will pass the messages on and see what she can do. Thanks again.

She could offer herself as kinship carer to one or more of the children.

Baby will already have a social worker and a care order. Likely to stay with mum for 3 days and then be placed in Foster care. If family members are coming forward to be assessed then social workers will look at them.
Having 4 different fathers isn't a reason to take a baby away if the children are cared for. So it's likely to be physical abuse, emotional abuse or neglect.
One thing your friend could do is write a letter to go in the children's files. They wouldn't access it til 18 - and only if they wanted - but provision of a family tree, details of any genetic illnesses and descriptions/photos of what family members are like and their full names would probably be greatly valued in the future if baby is trying to make sense of who she is.

@PicaK thank you. Your comments are much appreciated.