How long do other parents of looked after children get

[Pebbster]

Hiya, my children were taken into care April 2025 I was allocated 90 minutes every Saturday to me this doesn't seem enough after some heated discussion with social and the iro they won't change it said its sufficient amount of time. What do other parents get and has anyone had any success on making a court order change etc.
Thanks

Why was they taken in to care.
Where's the dad.
How old are the kids.

Yes doesn't sound like enough time to have a meaningful relationship with them. Can you ask for more time?

@Ukholidaysaregreat

"after some heated discussion with social and the iro they won't change it"

Are you likely to get them back or are they likely to be adopted? I think that’s relevant in how much contact you have now.

They will be looking at the impact the contact has on your children. Why were they taken into care? Is there a plan for them to go back to you?

It sounds like the 90minutes is enough for now. Look at what happened for then to be taken away and for you to be allocated 90 minutes and then ask yourself what do you need to do differently to get more time? Only you here knows the circumstances.

It very much depends on why they were taken into care. They clearly don't think any more contact is good for the children.
It doesn't sound good tbh, Id be bending over backwards to cooperate with social services at this stage or you may even lose that contact.

I presume the heated discussions may have raised red flags for them

@Pebbster you need to remind yourself that the authorities hold all the cards in this situation and are trying to protect your vulnerable children.

You would get much further with the social workers if you were more compliant and less combative, can you see that?

Agreed but come on! How many of us would stay calm and collected while someone else took our children away?
I don’t know op’s situation but animals would fight to the death to protect their young so just because we’ve been socially conditioned doesn’t mean we don’t have instincts.
OP that doesn’t sound like a lot of time but without knowing the potential outcome of the situation it’s difficult to assess the time your children should have with you as if adoption is on the cards they may be phasing out contact for the transition if adoption.
Do you think they are likely to be coming back home to live with you?

Hi all thanks for you replies, so I am their Dad been single parenting for 10 years, the children are 14,15 and 16 main cause for removal was Educational Neglect (trauncy), Health Neglect due to complaince with medication being taken which resulted in my parenting being branded as inadequate my view is slightly different and very long winded but there is always a reason behind circumstances but the judge agreed theres no immediate risk just potential of future harm, I have never been argumentative with social i have always been accommodating and friendly, I helped settle the children in their placements, made meaningful recommendations to ensure the children settle and have always done whats asked of me even when faced with stressful situations. The main post was just to get a rough idea of what other parents are allowed what other parents have been given as when you try to look into it i can not find any details about what would constitute a suitable amount of time as wanted some information to start a appeal to court about updating the care order visits as to me going from 24/7 to 6 hours a month is a massive difference.

Forgot to add the Judge said there's potential to be reunited but social worker and the iro said they highly doubt that would be happening in the short amount of time they'll be in care for until they are 18.

Ask them what steps you could take to allow you more time with the children?

@Pebbster
My first foster child had 1 hour a month with dad, nothing with mum
My second had 0
My third nothing with dad (mum deceased) 2 hours a week with grandparents.

What do you think would be fair?

But more importantly what do your children want.

Do you know if their school attendance and medication compliance has improved since being taken into care?

Only 1 child has improved school attendance mainly because the school is part of the placement, 1 will not attend still and 1 hqs left no college arrangements in place no careers advice given etc and medication has been fine for years but social claimed it to be not which was legally allowed to be used as evidence on the case even with blood test evidence stating the medication is in the child's system etc.

That sounds awful sorry to hear, I was just thinking increased to 3 hours as 90 minutes does fly by when haven't seen 3 children for a week occasional phone catch ups but not the same and obviously my children want to be back in my care but their wishes and feelings get disregarded every time I raise their feelings.

@Pebbster

Ok, I'm a foster carer for children in this age range. However it is very unusual for children to come into the care system at this age.

Are you sure about your children's feelings because to be blunt, at that age they can speak for themselves and I would be listening to them, not you saying what they want. And Im sorry but you shouldn't assume that they 'obviously' want to be back in your care.
However, are you aware that as a foster carer I cannot physically prevent a child from leaving my home and its not uncommon for children of that age to go and see family outside of the 'authorised ' times.
You don't of course have to give any more information than you wish to but it does seem to be an unusual situation.

If the contact is in a facility or supervised there is also the issue of availability and needing to give every family time for their visits.

Do your children want to see you? They may have told their social workers they don't want the time increased. Also are they together or do they have separate placements?

What were the reasons for low school attendance if I may ask? And how low was it for each child? As it would need to be quite low for them to go into care. Especially with the social workers saying they think there's little chance of them going back before they turn 18 it was have to be a drastic issue as most of the time there is room to increased time with parents and go back.

On the medication - what medication and for what condition was it for? If you genuinely have evidence they were taking it, then I'd try and deal with that. But the best way forward is to work with social workers and the judge.

Yes everyone involved in the court case said its unusual and even more unusual as the circumstances are very minimal with next to no evidence (besides the school attendance)to why I was at court but my barrister said theres a huge spike in such minor cases, during meetings and face to face they have expressed such feelings but the worker keeps saying its early days and expected at the start, i have read that the police have no legal power if a looked after child left so long as the person they are with poses no harm and they are safe etc but I was hoping to not do such drastic measures but I'm getting blanked and refused any leave way on any approach ive made/discussed why I'm now on forums and researching how to move forward.

Yes all 3 have asked multiple times to social, iro, staff anyone that'll listen but keep getting told its settling issues or anxiety over change and they will discuss it later. 3 different places in 3 different areas.
So since covid both began with anxiety and few other issues referred to camhs with a 2 year waiting list during the wait it decreased till last year when 2 didn't go at all.
So 2 have epilepsy 1 has hormone injections, I took photographic evidence varying durations over a 4 year period, blood tests for hormone was always positive with it being present, 1 child signed a statement saying so and the judge had Dr and nurse statement but sided with social that it may still not be administered.
I have tried but even since April ive had 3 change of workers each starting the case a fresh and each with their own take on how to handle it so never consistent.

Sorry but Im struggling to believe that you have had 3 children of that age removed because of school attendance.
My point about me not being able to prevent a child from leaving my home is that if a child really wanted to see a parent, they would take matters into their own hands, unless they were somewhere inaccessible

I had 5 barristers tell me the same thing and that the case wasn't a case but we ended up losing so I'm not sure i would share the judgement but id be in contempt of court. I have told them not to make any trouble as i want to lessen further distress, further complications if police get involved and make the move back long term by doing the correct way.

What was each of your children's attednace percentage for the last year? Again very rsrw, I've seen kids who are abused etc at that age not be taken out because well they're almost 18 so can leave soon.

So 2 children have epilepsy and the social workers believe you haven't given the medication. Even though the doctors disagreed? And they still took them, that's sounds ridiculous, not saying it's not true but if so ridiculous. What are the hormone injection for?

On the mental health issues, was that for 1 kid or 2. What issues just anxiety around school attendance. Are they now still going to the same schools as before in their foster placements or no? Did the school help out? Do strategies like part-time timetable or arriving later? Did the school give pastoral support or any therapy? What about CAHMS? Are you saying they closed the case or didn't help? If so use that to your advantage. Sorry for so many questions but it's easier to give good advice when you're more specific.