Family court proceedings

[ame26]

Im asking for advice on anyone going through court proceedings with there children. Whenever you have not recieved or been refused help from children's social worker, who have you then gone to for help ? And what did they do to help you with the situation

Sorry not sure if I can actually help as court a lot more straight forward for me.

Will social worker not help because it doesn’t meet threshold? (I would turn to early help if this is the case) and are CAFCAS involved?

Have you got a cafcass officer involved?

What do they help with

Cafcass are allocated by the court to assess the circumstances where there is no social worker involved.
have you made an application or has the other parent done so?

Social services are involved they just won't help or support me in anyway because they arnt supporting for my children to come home.
I have just had a baby 6 weeks ago and my 2 other children are also with my mum... so I just want to be pointed in the right direction of an organisation that could support and help me.

Have you got a solicitor to represent you in court?

Are you able to say how old you two older children are and what are the reasons they are not in your care - that might help with suggestions of organisations who can offer you support.

That sounds really tough OP. Early help would normally work with families who need some parenting / family support but don’t meet the threshold for SS.

i really don’t know who could help you. Will social services not even sign post you?

G

MkKenzie friend might be available. However a solicitor is better. Could you get legal aid?

I have a solicitor I just want to be pointed in the right direction for more support I could get for myself

There is also Coram children’s legal centre which is a charity. At court, social services might well be a separate identity. That means they have legal representation themselves and are not there to help you. Is this why they cannot? More details about the case would help.

Ask your solicitor, that's part of their job, if you feel the social worker isn't giving you help. If your solicitor hasn't raised the question of the support you should be getting they aren't doing their job.

If children's services have taken her to court then they should absolutely be there to help. If they've been ordered to provide a section 7 report by the judge as part of private proceedings then there must be welfare concerns and they would also therefore be there to help.

@AuntieEsther What if they don’t want Dc with OP? Why are Dc with grandparents?

We have no idea why the DC are with grandparents but yes children's services are obligated to support parents especially where they have instigated the removal.

The OPs solicitor is still the one to help.

If DC have been removed to grandparents by social services or by agreement, and there is now a (further) court case, will SS still be fully involved with mum? With the baby, possibly. SS will have their barrister in court so although they should talk to op, I would think this will not be support in court if they are taking the case to court.

I think you're mixing up two aspects. No they can't 'support' her in court because they have their own case and representation. They must support her as a parent and offer support to make whatever changes she needs to make. If there are new proceedings relating to the baby then yes they will continue to be in involved with the mother and should be supporting her.

I'm a social worker. There is no reason why your children's social worker shouldn't help you or sign post you even if their plan is not for the children to return to you care. I would personally ask your solicitor to email the SWs legal team saying you have been asking for support and advise in x,y and z and would appreciate the SWs help.

Are the other two with your mum because they have been removed from your care? If so, what were the circumstances which led to that happening, and have they changed now?