last resort arrangement order

Good luck Suzie

You need to get a solicitor who is included on the Children Panel.
In complex private law cases, the Court may appoint a Children's Guardian to represent the children's wishes and feelings and provide an independent view of the situation.
The only people with parental responsibility here are the parents. SW have to work within that, it sounds as though the mother agreed to the children being 'accommodated' voluntarily and the sw placed the children, rightly, within there family.

There are good websites like the Family Rights Group but honestly - get a solicitor who specialises in child care.

Getting real nervous, but got police reports that I requested and recent crb check which totally discount their allegations of violent behaviour and saying we are constantly drunk, well as part of my job every week I get alcohol tested and a random other. Again this negates their allegations. Social worker will be there who said she thinks he won't be there and my daughter will just agree with what the judge says... so everything is filed and ready let's just hope this brings us a step closer to the girls, in need of nanny time ...fingers crossed for us plz xx

How did this go Suzie?

Please let us know

I am in the wrangles of a court battle myself now so know how hard it is but I hope you had a good outcome? (smile) (smile)

It is hard to remain impartial AND voice concerns , personally I am voicing my concerns to the hilltops if it saves little man from any further suffering in his life!!!

At least we know we have done our best for the children and will always be here for them as a place of safety and healing xx

Hugs to you whatever the outcome!! x

Hello again, well went to court with crb police statements proving and negating their argument that we are a negative influence on the girls, the boyfriend was at court but disappeared when we went in so judge asked for him to turn up for next hearing which I agreed with as he is part of the girls lives. I turned in my statement of truth to usher with copies for all parties the sw gave us the family conference report that we were not allowed to attend but that turned out to be totally rubbish so I requested a clarified version with correct information in it which I now have. However, we didn't get given the sw report at court, so I asked her for a copy but she said it was only a chronology of her involvement so I insisted that under transparency I would like to see this she refused, so the court have order ss to supply or report to them the reasons why we can't have it.
in court judge asked why I thought we should have contact so outlined our connection and family, then asked my daughter why she thought we should not, she said due to the derogatory remarks we make about them in front of the girls. Then sw was asked and she said the local authority do not support contact at this time, omg she's very good at manipulation as she said before we went in it the first step to getting your family back together. Gggrrr so why say different to the judge.
Then the judge said she had read through my application and was satisfied that we do have a connection and bond with the girls and cannot rule out an arrangement order. Then asked sw for her to put a sec 7 together outlining the concerns they have on contact. So does it look like we are going to see them or not, and can I ask for an interim contact order if the case goes to yet another hearing, going out of my mind here xx

OMG Suzie am glad you have come back on for support!

It is such a stressful time I had to ring my doctor today

Manipulation - I know it WELL believe me but am still hoping the judge etc have been in the job long enough to see through it all and look at the REAL TRUTH

My daughter is doing everything in her power for little man not to remain with me , lies , dirty tactics slurring me too but yet SS know he is well cared for and it was not an easy process / assessment etc to get him here but they have no concerns and know she is just doing it out of spite

Is there a court appointed guardian as they can be GOOD as they only focus on the CHILD and they are the child's voice as it were so it may be a very good idea to get them on board and make contact with them xx

It is sounding a lot more hopeful for you than before tbh and well done! x

Thank you, do I ring the court for that, as cafcas have not given a recommendation or shall I request one, I'm really trying to cover all the bases here. Can't you get a mental health assessment on your daughter, maybe that will be what seals it her unstable mind.

Suzie great minds think alike - I have suggested to them she has a psychological evaluation after the pet abuse incidents , she has even tried to turn that around and PLAY THE VICTIM! lol

She said the RSPCA have no concerns ( so I am the baddy for reporting her and trying to protect her poor little dog ) but even her dog is showing signs of aggressive behaviours now but I am NOT SURPRISED after everything she goes through and the affect on her little mind!

The poor dog has ended up disturbed now and I am supposed to end up sending my GS back there?!!

Anyway , yes ask for the court appointed guardian to get in touch , not sure through who as I had the assigned one ring me just before the first court date and he has been brilliant!!

Hi Suzi, we are going through the same problem. have already been to court once and have our second hearing in front of the district judge this week. been advised that the law is changing next year so keeping our fingers crossed. not sure what to expect at this hearing.

Please come back and let us know, my daughter who the girls were placed with by ss I have included her and her husband, so should they be in court too... seeing a solicitor for direction tomorrow, in our case ss say that they lost the files when the system was changed ovor to windows 10,,, convenient as it seems like the neglect and drug drink were made up by ourselves x

How did it go, would really like some direction, xx

My Son has just been to court for access to his son , contact was stopped on many occasions by his X out of the blue for no good reason . It has been a long hard road but he now has joint custody which was actually more than he expected , the judges/ cafcas / social workers are very experienced at seeing the truth regarding bogus claims by bitter X`s . They do very detailed reports and seem to be accurate in their assessments of what is going on regardless of involved parties `take` on what is right for the child . I have been very impressed by the level of scrutiny of all parties and am delighted with the outcome . My GS was quite untrusting at first , he had been told that Daddy was too busy to see him ( which lasted for 8 months) unforgivable ! He has been told gently and without accusing his Mum what actually happened , that it cannot happen again and that he can count on seeing his `other family` regularly . I hope things go well for you Suzi and that the right outcome is reached .

I think its unlikely you will get the amount of access you want as thats alot. I would have a think about it logically then go for a more realistic amount.
What happens when they start school? Their parents won't see them for a whole weekend. What happens during if they have a Holiday? Want to see friends? Other family? parties etc.

Asmuch as my dd loved her nan, she didn't want to stop over as she got older. What happens if that happens? You're wanting 2 children to see their mom on a Friday morning and not see her till Sunday, what about homework? Getting ready for school the next morning?

I think that because you have been a good role model and a reoccurring person you will get access but as a grandparent, not a parent. You don't have the same amount of rights as a parent and what you're asking for, to me sounds alot, maybe the amount of access a parent would get.

Yes but the girl never go out and as for school that's a long way of for nursery as they contact lying stop them going anywhere. They need stimulation and interaction with others but I do take your point on board xx

we have been to court but caffcass hadnt been in touch so was adjurned. had the awaited phone call today. both of us accused of being alcoholics. drug takers and beating my daughters from previous marrage. both are grown up with families. never heard so much rubbish. now we wait for our new court date.seems like it could end up a slanging match in court. not by us

Omg why can't the kids just see the bigger picture... you can pay £10 and your local police can give you any police reports against you or a another person. You can also get your Dr to do drug tests and supply paperwork for them. Keep fighting do not give up for the sake of your grandchildren it proves you care xxx

Well so I got leave that's a positive step, now I need to write a statement of intent, eg why the girl will benefit from contact with us, before we enter court we will be trying to negotiate a contact plan. If an agreement is made the judge will record and order it. If they refuse any contact we will need to go for PR, difficult but with the evidence I've amassed it should be straight forward. Everytime I start writing and having to think about the girls I end up a jibber in reckon, 8 weeks ends up being 12 till the court date 23rd Nov, this is agony ... on the plus side we are recording the rest of the families doings and can sort them all out after. Xx

I feel for you Suzie please keep in touch and let us know how you are going , can't say much right now , having a pretty bad day myself x

Bless you hun, we have to hang on for the sake of the next generation our grandchildren xx

Imperfect - where are you ?????

hi just an update. court set for next week. have written 4 page statement. letters from family, and work references.copies of emails, text messages and facebook messenger. it seems to be that the court knows nothing about myself and wife. its all a bit one sided. we dont have social workers or any of that for us. it feels that we are on trial. i am approching it that way to defend us and our reputation. i hope we get a chance to submit our statements etc during the hearing.

We are in Devon. ...
put a page together of bullet points, in date order so judge and you will find it easier to refer to specific times, you need to write a statement of intent outlining why you should have contact, try not to be emotive, be proffesionals and clear and you will be fine, you can always get a mckenzie friend, look them up they help and support you in and out of court and are about 30 hr, a god send for us at mo just being told we are doing fine has given us a well needed boost. Xx

My D&GD lived with me, we had a very loving & special bond. My D met & later married, he lived with me too, I had no probs with him. They moved into their own place when D was expecting their son.

I & the rest of my D birth family were cut out a few years later, for no other reason than jealousy. I went to court, didn't have a solicitor, but now realise one is definitely needed! I was told the judge would see right through my nasty narsistic s.i.l, but she didn't. I went to court 3 times, first they didn't show up, second they contested, third the judge refused permission to go to court for a visitation order to see my precious GC, especially my GD, whose name had now be taken from her and replaced with his GM name! Not her first name [which I chose with my D] but her middle & last names, being the same as my own,

In the court room, my s.i.l lied the whole time, this was the third judge and completely unsympathetic, I would say not a mother or grandmother. I wish I hadn't gone to court now, made it a thousands times worse, also, as I've already said, a solicitor is vital, as they talk-the-talk.

I haven't seen or heard anything of my D&GC in 5yrs now!! My GD went from being the most loved, adored & cherished little girl in the whole wide world, to being an unloved stepchild in a family of heartless.....[not allowed to say the rest, or my post will be pulled!]

I wish you all the best of luck

Omg I just hope for your sake either your daughter comes to her senses or that your gd will come to you when she can. It's so hard for us parents when all we do is support our children only to be kicked in the teeth. Bless you and live with hope in your heart.

Thank you Suzi xx