Hi,

Having spoken to social services it appears that one of my cousins (the older boy, aged 7) is settling well, whilst the toddler (girl 18m) isn't settling at all.

I've spoken to my parents and partner and feel that I @ least need to find out whether or not it could be plausable for me to care for her.

The questions I now have are:

I live at home with my parents. Without assistance I would never be able to afford somewhere to live with the wee one. Would the council / social services be able to help me with this?

I'm currently studying for my degree, before the wee one went into care she had secured a nursery placement two days per week. Do you think such help would still be available if I were to care for her? For example I'd need help on the days I were at uni.

I'm not sure I'd be able to offer the behaviour support which the older child requires. Would SS split the children or do you think that they would see this as detrimental?

Does anyone have any idea what my legal rights are?

I'm sure I have more questions but those are the ones that are jumping out now.

TIA.

I have no answers for you I'm afraid.
Could you talk to the CAB or SS to see what you could get help with/see what's required etc? Talk to the council and find out if there's any help available in your situation.
I do wish you luck, you must feel very responsible for the poor kiddies.

Hi Simple, Under certain circumstances Social services would consider helping out with nursery fees but to be honest they will resist this if at all possible. Same goes for help with housing i'm afraid.
As for separating the children it really depends on how well they are or are not settling and whether or not they feel the children will do better apart. If i were you I would seriously consider what contact you can provide for the children to see each other as this will be key to whether or not ss will consider separating the children.
I'm sorry I don't know your back story and am just reading this post but best of luck with it all.
I'm sure ss are very reassured that you are very concerned about the children and that you are willing to help. It will also mean a lot to the children. Good luck

you would also be entitled to help from your local authority and the student services department from your uni/college towards chilcare if you have parental responsibility

Oh i forgot to say it would be worth speaking to someone about benefits etc as you would get child benefit and also you might qualify for family tax credits and help with nursery fees etc...
SS may be able to help prioritise you with the housing dept as they have a working together type agreement to support families.
The best advice i can give to you is keep on at ss, in my experience (as a social worker) those people who are constantly on the phone and are clear about what support they want/ need tend to get dealt with first.

Hi Attilla,

Is there reasons that SS would resist helping with nursery placements etc? Especially if this nursery place was sometihng which the child had been granted when with her mum?

I'm struggling at the moment to get contact this is def my first step.

Unfortunately until the ss know about wehter or not the children being in care is short, medium or long term, me being considered as a kinship carer is on a back burner? Can I pursue this?

Please help. I appreciate the help of EVERYONE but i'm finding my lack of knowledge of the protocol and procedures which ss follow a total hinderance.

TIA

Hi again, The main reason ss resist paying for ongoing nursery places is based on lack of money. However they would probably try to point you in the right direction of benefits advice and or other solutions. They might even be able to identify a free nursery place, for example at your local sure start centre. Not sure if this is the possible where you are but its worth asking. Its worth remembering (and reminding ss if neccesary) that funding a nursery place for your cousin and helping you to find accomodation will be less costly for them than paying for a foster placement meduim or long term.

Don't worry about not knowing about protocol etc as the main thing is that you want the best for your cousins. If you ensure that you keep in regular contact with ss and make sure they know how keen you are to see your cousins, they will do their best. I know i said it before but please keep on to them and dont get too disheartened if it takes a while. Your commitment to the children will be noted. If they don't get back to you about you having contact with your cousins in the next week, get on their back!
Good luck

Thanks Attila,

I'll let you know how it goes.

sabc

Hi When my daughter had her first child she was a single mum. She enquired about childcare at the uni and was entitled to and got a free care place at her university nursery. Try going to the uni's grant department and see if they can offer you the support you will need if you get the care of your cousin. It lovely to hear you want to help and I wish you every success.

Hey SAA

I'm posting this not as a wannabe mum but as a Social Worker. Firstly any local authority will look to place children with family members so you should have been approached but as you haven't you can contact the department to say that you would like to.

You need to speak to DP and find out how he feels about it as he will be spoken to aswell. About 5 years ago i managed to get funding to put a deposit on a flat for a 24 year old who wanted residency of her 4 and 2 year old younger siblings. She was at college and didnt get any income support at the time but recieved housing benefit and council tax benefit etc, but now Working family tax credit should play a role. I'm sure if you speak to social worker and say what you can provide but where you have issues they might be able to help you with the bare minimum. Social workers never like to split siblings but it does happen, could you and DP not consider caring for both, it might be stressful but could work out?

Hi SimpleAsABC. Im a childminder and look after a little boy whos mum is at college. The Care to Learn Scheme LSC actually pay for all her nursery/childminder fees. I think it depends on your age. She is 18. I dont know how old you are but it may be worth looking into. Good luck to you. You sound like a really caring person.

Hi everyone. It's been a very long five weeks that the children have been away but FINALLY tomorrow I'm getting to see them.

Only for an hour I might add, but it's a start.

Making a family, it's interesting to hear that we should have been approached. At present we are unsure as to whether this is a long or a short term arrangement. Had my parents been approached, they would have been more than willing to care for both children until the decision re the length of placement was made (even if this was months). The idea being that it would def have been less stressful for the children to have been living with us.

In terms of contact.. do we have any rights to this?

Thanks, will let you know how it goes.