Yesterday we were due in court with DS(8) for the final hearing about DH's application for step-parent adoption. We were told that there was only need for us to attend the celebration hearing later on. DS was told to bring his camera (not normally allowed in court) The SW assured DS that it was all OK and would go ahead when he expressed worry about it. All of this was very positive and DS was wild with excitement on Sunday night.
A couple of phonecalls on the way to court alerted us that there COULD be a problem as "some paperwork" was missing.
It turns out that Royal Mail has lost (and accepted responsibility for) my consent forms, not really a problem as I could sign a new set in court. It then transpired that the CAFCAS worker (who was bloody useless and already had my back up) had not obtained DS's birth fathers consent Therefore there was no way the order could be made (the SW had his consent but not CAFCAS and the courts will only accept consent witnessed by CAFCAS)
In fairness to the SW and the court staff, they were as helpful and apologetic as it was possible to be, but this does not alter the fact that we now have to wait until December for an available date. DS was inconsolable :(
The following day, I am unsure what to do. DS is now resigned to things and is coping well all things considered, but the idea of this happening to another family is awful. DH wants to just leave it, but I feel that we should kick up a bit of a stink about it, if nothing else so that the CAFCAS worker in question gets some proper training so she does not do this to anybody else (I shudder to imagine some of the lovely people on here who are waiting to adopt children from care going through this)
So what should I do, suck it up and keep quiet or start banging my drum? Any advice would be greatly appreciated :)
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Monumental cock-up. Not sure what to do about it and would appreciate advice please
7 replies
topbannana · 16/10/2012 10:29
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