So sorry Doin - I can imagine how heartbreaking all this is for you. From some of the things you say it seems like even though your DD is 16. she's functioning at a much younger age emotionally - maybe even under 5 at times! This is not at all unusual but of course it means that you have an emotionally young child trying to function as a teenager and there will be consequences for her actions that she is going to find very hard to handle.
I don't want to de-rail the thread but I must take issue with you Selks as I think you have totally unrealistic expectations of LA Children's Services. I don't know what your experience is but I have over 30 years experience in Children's Services and when I retired in 2009, the situation for helping teenagers like this one was pretty grim, as indeed were a lot of other services, with sws trying to cope with unmanageable caseloads, and vast under resourcing in all areas. Fast forward the tape 10 years and I can say without any doubt whatsoever that services have been cut to the bone. I'm not just talking about Children's Services, I'm thinking of all public services, as this govt is slashing the budgets and expecting improved services! Teachers, doctors, nurses, police, social workers are all struggling with massively increased workloads and fewer resources. I don't know if you follow the political agenda but Osborne is planning more massive cuts if they win the election - shrinking the state to the size it was in the 1930s...........very scary.
Social work intervention has always had to be prioritised but in this unprecedented situation, more people are not going to get a service, and it's no use people demonstrating outside Town Halls because the real culprit is the govt - they are the ones slashing the budgets of people who help others, while looking after their rich friends.
OK back to this case. I think you are misleading the OP Selks by insisting that CSs will have a "plan" for this girl and that they have a duty to help because that simply isn't the case. Neither is it true that Out of Hours Teams are more likely to play "hardball" as you put it. CSs will not accommodate a girl of 16 and the only reason they have got involved is because of the PPO and then only offered B & B. You talked of "supported housing" for young people and yes I remember Hostels and Foyers and supportive lodgings placements but these have all long gone. Yes there are still hostels but usually very poor standard not like the ones I recall from the 1980s specifically for young people.
Thing is doin the Out of Hours social workers are responsible for a large geographical area and there are usually only 2 on at any one time. They have to deal with everything children and adults. SO let's suppose there is a 6 week baby with a fractured skull and abuse is suspected, which means going to court to ask for an Emergency Protection Order to keep the baby safe, maybe 3 under 5s are home alone and there is a seriously mentally ill man who is refusing to go to hospital so will need to be sectioned under the Mental Health Act as he's a danger to others ..........I could go on but I'm sure you've got the picture. Then your stroppy 16 year old who is abusive to you - she's just not a priority. In an ideal world maybe, but this is the real world.
So I'm sorry Selks but you are misleading the OP - Children's Services have no responsibility to this 16 year old at all - they can't cope with child protection and are having to leave young children in unsafe homes in some areas because they don't have the resources to care for them. Birmingham City Council is in this position and the leader of the council has openly stated on TV that children in the city are not being kept safe and this will be the situation nationwide I'm sure. I don't know what your experience is but I think it may well be a case of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
OP I'm sorry really I am - I've come across many cases like this and the tougher things get the higher up the drawbridge is pulled and if this govt get in next year god help us all. I hope I haven't confused you but I think it's important that you understand the reality of the situation.