County Council Takes Child Away

[Windblows]

"Lawyers acting for a teenage mother from Nottingham whose new baby son was taken from her by social workers are taking her case to the Court of Appeal.

The baby boy, named only as G, was separated from his 18-year-old mother only a few hours after he was born at a Nottingham hospital in the early hours of last Wednesday.

An emergency ruling at the High Court then decided the child had been taken unlawfully because no court order was sought to take him away.


The baby was then returned, but was again removed and placed in foster care after a judge at Nottingham County Court granted the city council an interim order.

Now it has emerged two appeal judges, both experts in family law ,will be asked to hear an immediate appeal on Thursday.

At the county court, District Judge Richard Inglis said there could be "frequent" contact between mother and son, but a final decision would have to wait until later in the year." Nottingham evening Post 7/02/08

The mother is to appeal.

[Surviving Butterfly]

I am absolutely disgusted about this.

i have to say that as a daughter of 2 social workers, i know what pressure they are under - but there are so many more ways they could have protected that baby - without withdrawing it from it's mother straight away.

I am disgusted by it -not least by the suggestion that anyone with past mental health issues can't be trusted ever - she may have recovered with the responsibilty of motherhood... who knows - she won't as they didnt give her chance to find out..... and put them both through massive trauma.

[Windblows]

Hi Surviving Butterfly

Yes it is disgusting what is done in such cases as this - which is just one of far too many. The government sets adoption targets which send the social workers into the wrong mode - overlooking the joined up needs of a baby and mother like this.

Have you looked up fassit?

http://www.fassit.co.uk/

Might be best not to show this to your parents unless they are still able to think for themselves and have aquired or can attain a humanistic insight.

Hope you are OK.

[Windblows]

In Mondays local post it was reported that the mother has 3 hours contact with her baby 5 days a week whilst the proceedings continue.

This is not good.

The ability of mother and baby to form a healthy bond between themselves is being grossly undermined.

It would be bettter for the mother to be given 24 hour support if they are so concerned that there may be a danger - until they have assertained any truth of it. The support given should be of an empowering sort, not someone just hanging over her trying to find fault.

There are recognised forms of good practice and paternal strengths that seem to be getting overlooked - I do hope that this is not so.

[ems]

"Lawyers acting for a teenage mother from Nottingham whose new baby son was taken from her by social workers are taking her case to the Court of Appeal.

The baby boy, named only as G, was separated from his 18-year-old mother only a few hours after he was born at a Nottingham hospital in the early hours of last Wednesday.

An emergency ruling at the High Court then decided the child had been taken unlawfully because no court order was sought to take him away.


The baby was then returned, but was again removed and placed in foster care after a judge at Nottingham County Court granted the city council an interim order.

Now it has emerged two appeal judges, both experts in family law ,will be asked to hear an immediate appeal on Thursday.

At the county court, District Judge Richard Inglis said there could be "frequent" contact between mother and son, but a final decision would have to wait until later in the year." Nottingham evening Post 7/02/08

The mother is to appeal.

I JUST THINK THIS WHOLE SCENARIO IS SAD. NOBODY CAN GIVE THIS LADY BACK THESE PRECIOUS DAYS SHE SHOULD HAVE HAD WITH HER BABY.
SURELY THEY COULD HAVE ALLOWED HER TO TAKE HER BABY HOME AND OVERSEEN HER CARE TO MAKE SURE SHE IS OK. I FEEL INCREDIBLY SAD FOR THIS GIRL AND ANY OTHER WOMEN WHO HAVE HAD THIS SORT OF THING HAPPEN TO THEM.
IT IS HEARTLESS

[Michael]

I told myself not to post on contentious issues again but I feel I must speak up for the authorities.

As an ex magistrate, I found that the press never, even when they could, advise there readership of both sides of the story, which in turn left the authorities seemingly in a very bad light.
I do not know the ins and outs of the case, and no doubt there will be many, nor can I condone the actions of either side without access to ALL the facts. Since then this is the case I offer my cautionary sympathies to both sides and hope/trust that an amicable ending in the interests of the child will come through.

One other thing is the damned if they do and damned if they don't way the media come across in many situations has lead me to have a deep misstrust of them, and as such no longer buy so called 'newspapers'

Comment please on all issues but always ask yourself have I been told everything! Another good reason why my radio goes off at 12 noon when Jeremy Vine comes on!

Michael

[ems]

I told myself not to post on contentious issues again but I feel I must speak up for the authorities.

As an ex magistrate, I found that the press never, even when they could, advise there readership of both sides of the story, which in turn left the authorities seemingly in a very bad light.
I do not know the ins and outs of the case, and no doubt there will be many, nor can I condone the actions of either side without access to ALL the facts. Since then this is the case I offer my cautionary sympathies to both sides and hope/trust that an amicable ending in the interests of the child will come through.

One other thing is the damned if they do and damned if they don't way the media come across in many situations has lead me to have a deep misstrust

Comment please on all issues but always ask yourself have I been told everything! Another good reason why my radio goes off at 12 noon when Jeremy Vine comes on!

Michael

I DONT READ NEWSPAPERS AND I TAKE A LOT OF WHAT I HEAR WITH A PINCH OF SALT. MUCH OF WHAT IS PASSED TO US AS NEWS IS RUBBISH. TAKE THE BBC. HAVE YOU EVER WATCHED THEIR MORNING NEWS PROGRAM. WHAT IS PASSED AS NEWS IS THE NEWS PRESENTERS PUSHING THEMSELVES AND THEIR COLLEAGUES AS CELEBS. HAVE NOTHING TO SAY - AND WHAT THEY DO SAY IS TOTALLY BORING. SOME TIMES ITS ISNT EVEN WORTH PUTTING THE NEWS ON TO HEAR WHAT HAS HAPPENED.
I WAS RESPONDING TO THE STORY OF THE CHILD BEING TAKEN AWAY BY SOCIAL SERVICES FROM THE VIEW OF A WOMAN WITH CHILDREN, ALTHOUGH THEY ARE WELL GROWN.
THERE IS NOTHING QUITE LIKE THE LOVE OF A MOTHER. THE BOND BETWEEN MOTHER AND BABY IS VERY IMPORTANT AND VERY VITAL IN THE EARLY DAYS OF DELIVERY.
I HAVE NO DOUBT THERE MUST HAVE BEEN A REASON FOR THE BABY TO BE TAKEN AWAY - BUT SURELY THIS GIRL SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO TAKE CARE OF HER BABY INSTEAD OF JUST WHISKING THE BABY AWAY INTO CARE. THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE BABY TO BE IN CARE SO WHY NOT SPEND THE MONEY ON HELPING THE GIRL AND KEEPING HER BABY WITH HER. IF IT DOESNT WORK OUT THEN PUT THE BABY/CHILD INTO CARE.
AFTER ALL WHO DIED AND MADE SOCIAL SERVICES GOD?

[Michael]

I totally agree, honestly!

All I was trying to say is that I wished I got the other side of the story as well, then I could make my own mind up instead of sensational headlines telling me what to think!

The only person who really ever gets hurt is the child an my thoughts until I know any better remain there.

Michael

ps
it is hard to get the mood of the writer, please note that I am writing this in a conversational way and just expressing my thoughts, all of which I am prepared to modify with more information.
I do not decry anyone in any shape or form, I hope you read this in this light
Michael

[ems]

I totally agree, honestly!

All I was trying to say is that I wished I got the other side of the story as well, then I could make my own mind up instead of sensational headlines telling me what to think!

The only person who really ever gets hurt is the child an my thoughts until I know any better remain there.

Michael

ps
it is hard to get the mood of the writer, please note that I am writing this in a conversational way and just expressing my thoughts, all of which I am prepared to modify with more information.
I do not decry anyone in any shape or form, I hope you read this in this light
Michael

I TOTALLY AGREE - THE BABY/CHILD IS THE ONE WHO WILL HOPEFULLY GROW UP. THEN HE/SHE WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER LIFE HAS THROWN AT IT. WHICH CAN BE A WHOLE OF SOMEBODY ELSE'S BAGGAGE.

[Windblows]

Although this thread was introduced with an article from the local newspaper it is a 'topic' that I, sadly, know more about than most.

By 'topic' I do not mean this particular case but the general. However what is unusual here is that the media are being allowed to report anything about the goings on at all.

Personnally I do not think the post has been one sided. They are reporting what is known from whoever has been put in a position to provide information. Social workers often have heavy restriction put on them about what they can do or say publically. Nothing has really be heard directly from the mother herself.

It must be really terrible for her to be put under such a spotlight but I do not know what sort of character she has. I hope it is a strong one. Much personal information has been printed about her possibly without her consent. I do not know. She would probably like to have more say about what is written and to give her side herself. Even though her identity is concealled the truth remains truth whatever that may be.

We should not judge her on what we are allowed to know from whatever source.

Just imagine if you were that baby in 20 years time and you were suddenly made aware of your mothers true identity, you might seek her out and meet her - and the only thing you found to dislike about her was the sadness in her eyes. Who could you blame for that?

Anyway there are many parents in Nottingham in other situations that have separated them from their children. It is an isolating experience which is why the self help group PATCH was formed. The next meeting is on 5th March'08 and if you want to know more details about this contact me privately, please.