Hey Guys
I'm writing a fictional short story which involves social services. Any thoughts whatsoever on how realistic the following could be would be really appreciated. I have a general idea of what I would like to happen, for the emotional thrust of the story, but don't want it to seem completely far fetched.
In brief, what I'm asking is...is it possible for an unfit parent who has had their child taken into care, to somehow prove themselves as a fit parent again, and once again be a parent to the child?
If there is such a process where they have opportunities to appeal or prove themselves as a fit parent (having undergone alcoholics anonymous etc), could you outline what it might entail?
The story is about an alcoholic mother (single parent) who had her child taken into foster care by social services due to her being an unfit parent, as a result of a tip-off from a family friend.
Her child is afraid of her due to her Jekyll and Hyde nature when drunk.
She wants to get back in touch with her child, ideally to have the child back in her care.
Unfortunately, she continues to drink. In her haze of drink, she's in denial that she was a bad mother, and blames social workers for taking her child from her.
What steps would you suggest she takes to get back in touch with social services, and prove to them (or someone else?) that she has cleaned up her act.
For the sake of the story, I would like there to be a happy ending, that she undertakes a scheme of sorts suggested by social services, in which she reports to social services with her progress, in an effort to prove that she is fit again to be a parent. Is there such a thing?
Ideally, once she's cleaned up her act, she would have opportunities to meet her child again, and try to resurrect the relationship she has with them.
It would probably have made more sense to post this to children's, not adults services.
It could be deemed a bit judgemental to deem a parent 'fit' or 'unfit'.....it's about whether they can meet a child's needs or not. Children are removed where their needs are unmet, the morals of it are irrelevant.
No sw talks of 'bad mothers' in these situations-just struggling ones and the l.a has a duty to look at the possibility of the child returning home for every child in care.
The scenario is common, but you have wrongly assumed that the parent would lose contact with their child in care, whereas contact and further assessment would be maintained.......(regardless of whether parent has 'cleaned up their act).
If any parent addressed the issues, the child could, in theory, return to their care....it happens all the time.
Thanks so much for your feedback redana I appreciate it
Perhaps if the moderator reads this they could move it to the children's section, if that is a more relevant area of the forum?
Okay my understanding now is that a parent could still be able to meet up with their child despite the child being in foster care.
What kind of tasks would a parent be required to perform (if any) while under assessment, if they were an abusive alcoholic?
'socialpeter' - you need to better acquaint yourself with Social Services before writing your tale. You need to research issues such as The Welfare Checklist; the role of CAFCASS; Sec. 20 accommodation; Sec. 37 and 47 Reports; Sec. 7; Fostering Regs; read books such as 'Significant harm...' see what help is available from the Voluntary and Charitable Secors; look into Children's Centres etc.
Absolutely, and although I haven't touched childcare directly for over a decade, I think the principle continues that unless "permanance " is being considered, , unless there are very exceptional circumstances some level of continued contact with the child is maintained, towards the potential of resumed care at some point.
If adoption had already taken place, you are writing a very different story.
However, if you have a serious prospect of getting published or screened, the advice to really really do very comprehensive and in depth research would be appreciated by the profession.
I sense the more a writer understands of the complex world of statutory childcare, the harder it will be for you to write a punchy "gripper" that will become a best seller.
The public prefer a simplistic moralistic and dynamic plotline, which can be easily accessed through a standard "man in the street/common sense" value frame of reference.
It's almost like Newtons unfinished law of motion. The largest mass is attracted to common misconceptions of the Social Work profession. Difficult concepts repel, and market forces always find the dominant level.
Now, if you want to write about vets or a doctors........
That's great, thanks so much Rupert and Silver Sage for your valuable advice.
socialpeter: Thanks so much for your feedback redana I appreciate it Perhaps if the moderator reads this they could move it to the children's section, if that is a more relevant area of the forum? Okay my understanding now is that a parent could still be able to meet up with their child despite the child being in foster care. What kind of tasks would a parent be required to perform (if any) while under assessment, if they were an abusive alcoholic?
Your questions are very basic and show you really need to do loads more research.
Contact would always take place between parent and child if at all safe and possible. For the child to return, the parent would need to resolve whatever it was that caused the risk to the child in the first place. In this case, work with agencies, stop drinking, build positive/regular contact with child...so child/agencies feel safe enough for child's return.
Brill, thanks
For a child to be moved into foster care the parent would either have to give their consent or there would be a court care (Care Proceedings) where the Local Authority would apply for an Interim Care Order to move the child to a place of safety. For the court case the SW would have to produce substantial evidence that the child is at risk and would be subject to cross examination if the parent contested. All parties are legally represented.
A child moving to foster care would be part of child protection procedures, therefore there would be multi agency meetings to formulate a plan to help the parent make things safer for a child. A plan would probably include things such as attending the alcohol service, parenting skills, work to address the underlying issues that has led to the alcoholism, parenting assessment etc. Part of the plan would be the contact arrangements which are likely to be fairly frequent although supervised. Sometimes contact is supervised by a family member, sometimes by a worker from the LA. All the information from the contact sessions feed into the assessment.
In a nutshell, because the procedures are complex, if a child is moved into care it would be part of an intense process where much work would be undertaken with parents and the child/ren. If all the assessments and work show these is no change (and this is reviewed often and over a long period) a permanent plan would be made about the child's care - if in court this may be adoption. Children don't just move into foster care and stay there indefinitely, there is always a plan to accompany this arrangement.
You would need to read loads because I've really simplified this but hope it helps.
Given their age and understanding a young person can place themselves into Sec. 20 'accommodation.'
'DK' is incorrect that it 'would be part of child protection procedures...' it MAY be but not necessarily so. Going into 'Care' is different to CP Procedures in some important ways - being subject to a Child Protection Plan is quite different to becoming subject to Fostering Regs. Many children and young people are in 'Care' but not subject to CP Plans - indeed once entering 'Care' usually results in the CP Plan being terminated and Fostering Regs. take over with the involvement of an Independent Reviewing Officer.
That's tremendous info DK and Rupert thanks so much - you have made things a lot clearer for me.
I am interested in why you have chosen this subject/storyline.
Most successful authors draw on a lot or autobiographical detail until they hit a formula for their own successful genre.
However if you had been in a similar situation, you would know more about it, so I am wondering why the choice?
It does strike me as a difficult area to write both fictionally and accurately for someone who doesn't know the field.....
I think you have your own story somewhere?
socialpeter: Hey Guys I'm writing a fictional short story which involves social services. Any thoughts whatsoever on how realistic the following could be would be really appreciated. I have a general idea of what I would like to happen, for the emotional thrust of the story, but don't want it to seem completely far fetched. In brief, what I'm asking is...is it possible for an unfit parent who has had their child taken into care, to somehow prove themselves as a fit parent again, and once again be a parent to the child? If there is such a process where they have opportunities to appeal or prove themselves as a fit parent (having undergone alcoholics anonymous etc), could you outline what it might entail? The story is about an alcoholic mother (single parent) who had her child taken into foster care by social services due to her being an unfit parent, as a result of a tip-off from a family friend. Her child is afraid of her due to her Jekyll and Hyde nature when drunk. She wants to get back in touch with her child, ideally to have the child back in her care. Unfortunately, she continues to drink. In her haze of drink, she's in denial that she was a bad mother, and blames social workers for taking her child from her. What steps would you suggest she takes to get back in touch with social services, and prove to them (or someone else?) that she has cleaned up her act. For the sake of the story, I would like there to be a happy ending, that she undertakes a scheme of sorts suggested by social services, in which she reports to social services with her progress, in an effort to prove that she is fit again to be a parent. Is there such a thing? Ideally, once she's cleaned up her act, she would have opportunities to meet her child again, and try to resurrect the relationship she has with them.
This is a story of concurrency, or maybe not??. Not sure if you already work in the statutory sectory, but the phrases of 'fit' or 'unfit' are not used as a terminology. It might be worth watching (if you havn't already) the Protecting Children BBC programme if you are looking for some research to help out?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01bskrq