How Cafcass works with young people
Kate's Story
Hi. My name’s Kate and I’m 15 years old.
Life’s been a bit crazy for me for a long time now. I’ve been in
and out of foster care and children’s homes since I was about eight
or nine. I’ve also lived on and off with my mum. Just recently my
gran moved closer so she could look after me (and keep an eye on my
mum!), so my social worker said it was okay if I lived with
her.
Last year, I had a really bad time. I
wasn’t going to school very often, and kept running away from home
because things were so awful between me and mum. I ended up in
secure accommodation because everyone was so worried about me
getting into serious trouble. The way everyone carried on, you’d
have sworn I was spending my days drinking, taking drugs and
shoplifting! I must admit though, I’ve calmed down a bit since
then. I’ve even been going to school quite often.
I guess the people at Social Services
know me well by now. I also have someone called a Children’s
Guardian who comes to speak to me whenever there’s a court case
about me. My Guardian’s name is Gwyneth, and she spends loads of
time talking to me, my family, my social worker and even my
teachers. She always tries to find out what it is I really want.
Sometimes it’s hard though, because I don’t really know what I want
myself. I used to think I wanted to be with my mum, and that’s what
I told Gwyneth. But now I don’t think it is ever going to work out
with my mum. I’ve spent my life waiting for mum to sort herself out
so I can go back home and live with her. I’m tired of waiting
now.
Things have been much better while
I’ve been living with gran – except when mum comes around and
causes trouble. The last time Gwyneth came to see me, we talked
about me living with gran. Gwyneth told me that my gran could apply
to the court for something called a Residence Order. This would
mean that Social Services wouldn’t be taking care of me anymore and
that my gran would be responsible for me.
I told Gwyneth that it sounded like a
good idea. I was just worried that mum would think she could
interfere if she knew I was living with gran and Social Services
weren’t involved anymore. Gwyneth said that was a good point and
she would be sure to discuss this with my social worker, gran and
mum before we went ahead.
Things started moving after that.
Gwyneth introduced me to a solicitor who she said would speak for
me in court. I asked Gwyneth if I could go to court as well, and
she said she would try and get permission for me to go along. She
wrote her report after speaking to everyone and then came to tell
me what she was going to say to the judge. She did tell me that my
social worker wasn’t too keen for the Residence Order to be made,
and my social worker would explain to the court about her
concerns.
The next step is the
day we go to court. Gwyneth has told me that the judge will listen
to what everyone has to say, and then will make a decision.
Whatever the judge’s decision, I know that I will probably carry on
living with my gran, although I may still be looked after by Social
Services. I don’t mind really, I’m just glad that I’m with my gran,
because she’s the greatest. And I still get to see my mum, even if
she does turn all our lives upside down whenever she’s
around!