I also forgot to say, every local authority should have produced a 'family and friends carer policy' by September 2011, though not all have done so. The Family Rights Group website also has details of this and the ones that have been published can be accessed on there. If your local authority has one, it should help you to check whether they have followed it. If they do not have one, you are within your rights to ask if they do have one. However I do know how difficult it is to assert your rights whilst trying not to upset anyone, when you feel they have such power over your grandchildren's future.