At a time of family crisis it can be grandparents who step into the breach to protect and care for grandchildren, often without reward or support. It is a common situation for grandchildren to be placed within their own extended family, in an emergency situation, where their parents are unable to provide consistent care due to a variety of factors such as substance misuse, mental health problems or domestic violence.
When grandchildren have been quickly removed following the intervention of the Local Authority, you could be placed in a difficult and sometimes vulnerable situation, expected to balance the needs of your grandchildren with those of your own children.
Grandparents can be unaware or misinformed as to the most appropriate court order to apply for to secure care of the grandchild/grandchildren and as importantly, the support which is available to them to provide that care whether it be in the short, medium or long term.
As a carer for your grandchildren you are entitled, just as any other carer is, to support and assistance to enable you to continue to provide day to day care and "if you don't ask you don't get". Recent experience has demonstrated this point well with one grandparent receiving a lump sum payment in excess of £3,000 for back payment of residence order allowance in caring for her two young grandsons. It was possible to secure a more suitable property for the family and nursery provision to allow some respite time for her. It has also been possible to secure landscaping for the garden in the family home, the provision of respite care and ongoing assistance from the Local Authority in supervising contact between grandchildren and their parents. There is often an understandable reluctance to seek financial help to care for one’s own family rather than paid external carers. Whilst appreciating that many are not wishing to be seen as motivated to care for their grandchildren for financial gain, there is support and assistance available to grandparents even where they are reluctant to ask for it, when it is desperately needed. There is no need to struggle on. If in doubt, then seek advice.
If you need to know more about your rights as a grandparent or you have an issue to discuss, please feel free to contact Liz or one of her team on 0121 212 7417. Anthony Collins Solicitors LLP