Family members will sometimes want to be appointed as “co-guardians” or “co-conservators” for a loved one who needs protection, based on chronic mental illness, dementia, or other problems. The aim behind a SGO is that it will give a child permanence and stability but also allow him to retain links to his birth family,  for example in situations where it might not be appropriate to get an adoption order. In short, Special Guardianship Orders should neither be recommended nor endorsed nor determined expediently where the test and bar for a carer to pass is lower than that for a permanent placement outside the family, whatever the proposed legal framework for that placement. when tragically it was not safe to do so. But I wasn’t there and didn’t see what you did so can’t really comment! The Best Practice Guidance (see below) says it is important for Special Guardians to understand the following: The Best Practice Guidance from 2020 (see below) does not think this is a good idea.Â. So quite easy to get to the right person. Report of the Nuffield Family Justice Observatory. It is wrong ingnoring medical advice Whilst Special Guardianship is a positive option for many children, we are writing this note out of concern about a number of cases where we believe children have been placed at risk through a Special Guardianship Order being made without sufficient consideration of the placement’s long-term viability. She’s in and out of hospital as she refuses medication. Since my last post things have im afraid got worse, the male special guardian has unfortunately died leaving just the female who fully intends to allow my son to grow up thinking his dad is dead until such time as she sees fit to tell him the truth, I have been in contact with social services about this but so far they are ignoring me although I did only contact them for the first time about this a week ago, I really hope social services will actually do something to stop this vile plan of hers because the psychological damage this could do to my son is immense although I have to be honest I dont hold out much hope and think social services will just let her get away with it. There has been a steep increase in the number of SGOs made over the past seven years. https://childprotectionresource.online/category/legal-advice/. Teams are called different things in different LAS but you need their team involved in first responses, the SW who will go out an assess the current situation. This is just as crucial if professional concerns relate to the long term capacity of the proposed special guardians to parent well, as it is if the child has neither lived with the proposed special guardian/s nor has a relationship with or attachment to the proposed special guardian.5. It is intended to benefit those children who cannot live with their birth parents, however, it does not extinguish the legal relationship between the child and their birth parents as an adoption order would do. Undertake research to address the challenge of how best to ensure safe and positive contact with birth parents and the wider family. If there is any issue about the child being harmed or needing social work intervention in any way, you need to make a referral as anyone would. Those statistics show that the use of special guardianship orders rose in England from 2,770 in 2013 to 3,330 in 2014. The whole point about an SGO is it recognises that the SG is NOT the parent. you are named in a  a child arrangements order as a person withÂ. And the ranks of guardians and conservators include some highly dedicated, caring and selfless people. You could apply for a specific issue order, but the whole point of an SGO is that it gives the SG ‘super’ PR so they can override yours in almost every area. It is important not to regard a Special Guardianship Order as a default option because of the higher hurdle of an adoption recommendation – ‘the nothing else will do’ test, or ‘last resort’ concept. CAH-Adviser forum member Havering Citizens Advice. This note looks at what must be considered, the assessment process and the financial allowance. You won’t get automatic legal aid to be represented in care proceedings but usually local authorities are asked by the court to pay for you to have a few hours of legal advice to explain your options. He was a member of the Department for Education’s Review of Special Guardianship undertaken in 2015. The father is convincing the social worker that he is clean, however, sadly drug users and sellers do tell on each other and I have been regularly informed that he is still a drug user. I took yr advice and have reported the special guardians behaviour of lying to my son to the relevant social services department, they are refusing to investigate the matter and as far as they are concerned my son will suffer no ill effects from her deceitful behaviour, its absolutely unbelievable! My sis has mental health issues, no drugs or anything involved, her drug intact is her religion(she’s a fanatic). Unless you can convince a court that things have changed and you can sustain the changes, you won’t have much chance of discharging the SGO I am afraid. MoreGuardianship in the U.S.: Protection or Exploitation? more robust and more comprehensive special guardianship assessments and special guardianship support plans, including a renewed emphasis on (1) the child-special guardian relationship, (2) special guardians caring for children on an interim basis pre-final decision and (3) the provision of support services; on-going review of the statutory framework; further analysis and enquiry into (1) review of the fostering regulations, (2) the possibility of interim special guardianship orders, (3) further duties on local authorities to identify potential carers, (4) the need for greater support for special guardians; a review of public funding for proposed special guardians; effective pre-proceedings work and the use of the FRG’s Initial Family and Friends Care Assessment: A good practice guide (2017), For a discussion of the merits of adoption versus special guardianship orders, see, In December 2015 the Department of Education. Bollocks! I am in the case where we have been told that the LA will apply for us to have SGO status over my two nieces. Yes I know the sgo teams are mainly for carers. You can apply to be a child’s special guardian when they cannot live with their birth parents and adoption is not right for them. Conversely, the social work assessment and the children’s guardian’s analysis must demonstrate that the special guardian can meet the needs of the child in question including, where appropriate, recovery from the trauma associated with severe abuse or neglect if that has been the child’s prior lived experience.7. It’s always worth trying to sort things out as a family before taking a matter to court, but if she won’t tell you why or you don’t think her reasons are good enough, then court may be your only option I am afraid. Appendix E sets out Best Practice Guidance, which the report recommends is implemented immediately. Everybody I speak to says this behaviour from her is emotional/psycological abuse including yourselves. Many practitioners have expressed concern about the impact on the processes used and the future outcomes for children.2. I bet some of their members will have been through exactly this situation and may be able to give you more focused advice about best way to proceed. As with everything it is a matter of degree. It will consider the fostering allowance as a starting point and may make appropriate adjustments to that. Jargon and Cliche in professional practice, Interim Removal and Emergency Protection Orders, I want to appeal or discharge the care order. child benefit) you should complain to the local authority using a template letter that we have designed for this purpose. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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