I stand by everything I say about Social Services and others. Once they get involved, you lose all control. They make their own mind up and the Courts go along with them without question. The first Social Worker lied through her teeth to cover her own back. She was eventually sacker through a DPA breach! The second SW was wet behind the ears and was just told to get it finished. The Court appointed guardian was another Social Worker who just colluded with the others and as for CAFCASS, they made such a hash that the Judge had to drop them from proceedings. They couldn't even get names right!
The next case did have a decent SW who ignored her instructions and worked with us. Unfortunately, she retired after completing our case.
Subsequent SW's involved with the first case have been totally incompetent. One even told the parent with care that he did not have to abide by a Court Order granting us access to the children on Christmas Day!
Try complaining and you are met with a toffee-nosed manager who dares you to complain because you both know they will hide behind child protection.
And don't get me started about Family Court Judges, they are not worth the air they breathe!
I had to take out a secured loan of £17,000 to pay for legal costs in 2005 costing me £175 pcm which I finally settled in April with equity release.
Of the three Grandchildren involved, one is now 16 and visits us regularly. His sister we no longer have to visit because of her behaviour which was sanctioned by SS and the third grandchild lives with us permanently (the only thing they did get right).
I have every right to be bitter about Social Services! They are not the angels they are made out to be. You may not get the outcome you desire!
I occasionally bump into one of the Social Workers and we do have a chat and Social Services do keep me in the loop, when appropriate and that's because they accept the value of my input.
The best course of action would be to sit down with the son and granddaughter and discuss the situation as it stands. Then ask your Granddaughter what she would like and see if that is practicable and possible. If the mother is agreeable to whatever decision you come to, all well and good. If not, you may have to involve solicitors.
Another source of help may be the teaching staff such as Tutor, Head of Year or even Head Teacher but as with everything in life, some are good and some are bad, but that's another story!
If you take on full-time care of your Granddaughter, a residency order will give you Parental Responsibility which can make things easier. You will not necessarily be entitled to any financial support other than Child Benefit and Child Tax/Working Tax Credits and Child Support from the parents. Some Social Service \departments do have a fund for this situation but it would probably be means-tested and may have suffered budget cuts. We never sought this funding as we didn't want any further involvement.
The best support we've had over the years has come from school staff who have gone out of their way to be of help. In fact, I've just come off the phone speaking to them. Even though your Granddaughter is having problems at school, direct face-to-face contact can work wonders.