what rights in the uk does aunties have when dealing with socail services?

Question

i have 2 nieces and a nephew who are curently in foster care with a view to adoption, i then was recently turned down for contact with my youngest niece, i was then told and i qoute" it would not be in the intrest of my niece to start arranging contact or to be assessed for me to be a carer" even though i consider myself a respectable person who has never been in trouble with the law and i have children of my own who live in a secure family environment , what rights do i have to chllenge this?

Answer 1

I wish I knew but do everything oyu can to stop them being adopted,
its just WRONG what they do these days
you should be next of kin and have full rights, its your siblings kids for God sake, how dare they

Answer 2

You could go and see a solicitor in family law. You also have the right to access what is written about you in the children's social services file, and can apply for this in writing. As others have said, there may be issues with the children coming into contact with the parents they can no longer live with. From what you have said it does not appear that you are disputing the fact that they have been removed from their parental home. Just because you are a respectable person it does not mean that you can take on 3 more children (who are likely to have emotional / behavioural problems stemming from their home life) and manage all of this with your own family. I'm surprised you'd even have room to house another 3 people.

Answer 3

I would guess that their reasoning behind this is not personal, but as the children are now being placed for adoption they want their attention focussed on having a new family and supporting them through the process of losing their old one. They may be worried that contact with you will bring them back into the circle of your brother/sister who was the parent that has relinquished custody. If this was an abusive situation then i have to say that this would be horrific for the children to get sucked back in to their family.
The children have been through a terrible ordeal as social workers try very hard to keep families together. If these poor kids are now up for adoption then they need to look forward and not to the past. Contact with you is far too close for comfort.
If you genuinely love these children, then let them go for their own sakes, do not selfishly hang on for your own reasons. Your brother or sister has let them down, it is up to you to let them go and find happiness with another family. This is hard enough for them.

Answer 4

Sounds weird. I'm not familiar with UK law, but I can't imagine it being too far from US law. Here they would rather place a child with family then strangers unless there is something wrong with that person or that person cannot support the child. You have to get in touch with a lawyer and find out why you were denied.

Answer 5

It depends on the circumstances:

If they have been taken away from their parents with good reasoning, they are going to do their best to make sure the kids stay away from their biological parents. If you have them, they will remain in contact.
Maybe they are worried because of your relationship with the childrens parents?

If on the otherhand, the childrens parents are no longer alive, you have every right to contest the decision. It also depends what is in their wills. Get a solicitor involved.

Answer 6

that just seems so absurd, im sorry i dont know anything about social services but youd think they would be greatful that another close family member is interested in the children....i just cant believe that they would be like that im totally shocked , id do what faerie suggested and seek legal advice because social services are being ridiculous....good luck

Answer 7

snow angel is correct, SS don't want to risk contact with the parents