Charter for Grandchildren considered for Wales & England

Dear Frank,

Thanks for your 23rd April e-mail.

Please accept my apologies for the delay in my response - I am backlogged with work.

You conclude by stating "I was approached on the 29th January this year by a researcher from the Assembly’s Research Department a Sarah Hatherley requesting my views on a “Charter for Children”.

See Sarah's response below and attached.

Does Janet have everything in hand at Local Authority level?

I will now pursue the Deputy Minister for Social Services and get back to you.

Best wishes

Mark

From: Hatherley, Sarah (APS MRS) [mailto:Sarah.Hatherley@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK] Sent: 13 February 2009 15:46To: Isherwood, Mark (Assembly Member); Jones, Toby (AM Support Staff, Mark Isherwood)Subject: FW: MRS090228 Charter for Grandchildren
Dear Mark/ Toby,
Following on from my response below to your enquiry on a Charter for Grandchildren, I have received the following response from the office of the Deputy Minister for Social Services:
Although our Minister has not had any specific discussions on a Charter for Grandchildren /Grandparents, we recognise that Grandparents play a significant role in the lives of children and young people. As well as being recognised in the Parenting Action Plan this is also highlighted within the Assembly Government’s Strategy for Older People.
The Parenting Action Plan which was issued under the policy portfolio of the Minister for Children, Education and Lifelong Learning and skills in December 2005, highlighted the role of Grandparents under Chapter 4 – Promoting Positive Parenting (see paragraphs 4.9 - 4.12).The action to develop from this was ‘Action 3’ as stated below:
“We will set up a Working Group in the Autumn 2005 to consider the Beth Johnson Foundation report on grandparents in Wales and propose an outline Programme of Action for the Assembly Government, statutory authorities and the voluntary sector, including the sharing of good practice and approaches. Subsequent actions will be built into the third year of the Parenting Action Plan (2007-08), linked with Phase Two of the Strategy for Older People”.
There are still some issues that are ongoing from the work on Grandparenting and the recommendations of the Working Group on Grandparenting. A summary of the actions are as follows:
Recommendation for a survey to be undertaken of the use made by local authorities of family and friends care, and of the arrangements in place to provide financial support. This is being pursued through the Children and Young Person Act 2008 that proposes to provide a framework for family and friend’s care.
Guidance to local authorities clarifying the use of family and friends care, to ensure compliance with the statutory requirements and to ensure parity of treatment, will link into the work pursued by the Children and Young Persons Act 2008.
Recommendation that the use of the Toolkit produced by the Family Rights Group be used. The Assembly government has funded production of a Welsh language version of the Family Rights Book and toolkit that is due to be published in March 2009.
Recognition of the role of grandparents in supporting parents is included in guidance on the role of intergenerational approaches in strengthening the family being developed and planned to issue in December 2009".
I have attached a copy of the Parenting Action Plan and Strategy for Older Strategy for your information.
<> <>
You might also be interested in the evidence to the Children and Young People's Committee of the National Assembly of Wales in relation to the Parenting Action Plan: http://www.assemblywales.org/bus-home/bus-committees/bus-committees-third1/bus-committees-third-cyp-home/bus-committees-third-cyp-inquiry/cyp-pap.htm
Best wishes
Sarah
______________________________________________ From: Hatherley, Sarah (APS MRS) Sent: 30 January 2009 09:46 To: 'Mark.Isherwood@wales.gov.uk'; 'jones.toby@wales.gov.uk' Subject: MRS090228 Charter for Grandchildren
Dear Mark/ Toby You asked whether Wales (or Wales and England) has an equivalent of the Scottish Government’s ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ – or what consideration has been given to one?
It is my understanding that the ‘Charter for Grandchildren’, which was published in 2006, applies to Scotland only. There is currently no equivalent document for Wales (or Wales and England). It was created in Scotland to accompany the Family Law Bill (Scotland) 2006 as advisory only and is not legally binding. The Charter was designed to remind parents, professionals, children and grandparents of the important role that grandparents and the wider family can play in a child's life, and how the wider family can be a source of support and stability in difficult times. You can view the document using the link below: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/04/21143655/2
I have contacted Grandparents Apart Self Help Group, (who have been actively involved in promoting the Charter for Grandchildren in Scotland and at a UK level) to ask them whether they have been involved in discussions with the Welsh Assembly Government regarding an equivalent document for Wales. I can confirm that they have not.
You might be interested to know that Grandparents Apart Self Help Group have called on the Scottish Parliament to make the Charter for Grandchildren legally binding. The following briefing provides background information on the Petition and the Scottish Executive's response and can be accessed using the link below: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/research/petitionBriefings/pb-07/PB07-1051.pdf
The group has recently presented a new proposal to the Scottish Executive to make the Charter mandatory for professionals dealing with children. Further information can be found on the Grandparent's Apart website using following link: http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&p10
The following article, 'Grandparents' rights and grandparents' campaigns', published in the Child and Family Law Quarterly might also be of interest to you. I have attached a copy of this article for your information below.
<> I have contacted the Welsh Assembly Government to find out more about any consideration they might have given to the Charter for Grandchildren. I should receive a response from the Assembly Government by Wednesday 4 February and I will forward it on to you then.
Best wishes, Sarah Sarah Hatherley Members' Research Service /Gwasanaeth Ymchwil yr Aelodau National Assembly for Wales/Cynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru 029 2089 8447 The Members' Research Service is independent of the Welsh Assembly Government and provides confidential and impartial research support to the Assembly's committees and to individual Assembly Members.
Mae Gwasanaeth Ymchwil yr Aelodau yn cefnogi Pwyllgorau'r Cynulliad ac Aelodau'r Cynulliad wrth ddarparu gwasanaeth ymchwil cyfrinachol a di-duedd, sy'n annibynnol o Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru.
Visit the Members’ Research Service internet page Cliciwch yma i weld tudalen rhyngrwyd Gwasanaeth Ymchwil yr Aelodau
Visit the Assembly Business Notice Cliciwch yma i weld Hysbysiad Busnes y Cynulliad

Journalist looking for a story.

Hello Jimmy,

Hope you're both well. You might remember I spoke to you a while back for an article for Best magazine. I'm not sure if it's been published yet as they contacted me just last week and asked me to send it through again, so it might be that it's due to come out in the next few weeks. Sorry for the delay! As soon as I find out when it will be going into the mag, I'll let you know.

I'm actually contacting you about another article I've approached to write, this time for Yours magazine. They're interested in the whole issue of grandparents separated from their grandchildren, but they're looking for quite a specific case study. I'll give you their wish list and we'll see if it draws any comparisons with any stories you may have come across.

They're looking to speak to a grandmother who became separated from her grandchildren because of a marriage break-up, but was then reunited with them at a later date and now has a loving relationship with them. They would like the grandchild to be over 18, to avoid any issues with identification.

I did think of your own story, but I'm not sure if the fact that you'll soon be in Best will cause a problem for them. If you can't think of anyone else in your organisation, I will suggest Margaret to them as a possible candidate and see what they think.

Hope this is okay with you. Please drop me a line when you've had a chance to think if you know of anyone suitable, either by return email or by giving me a call on the numbers below.
Many thanks and I'll look forward to hearing from you soon.
Kind regards,

Elaine.
Elaine McLaren
Tel: 01453 828 584
Mobile: 07799 830 672

BBC 30 minute Interview with Shareen Nanjinani

GRANDPARENTS APART INTERVIEW IN PARTS

1http://www.youtube.com/v/o7YBPu3QurYGRANDPARENTS APART INTERVIEW PART

2http://www.youtube.com/v/UFkj5LJX8CEGRANDPARENTS APART INTERVIEW PART

3http://www.youtube.com/v/QqvpRdl6Q4s

The Dundee Demo report.

Further info:- http://gapukinfo.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/swf/l.swf?swf=http%3A//s.ytimg.com/yt/swf/cps-vfl87070.swf&video_id=CE9Ih2169y0&rel=1&eurl=&iurl=http%3A//i4.ytimg.com/vi/CE9Ih2169y0/hqdefault.jpg&sk=Aba9SxvYfXrKBJCLn7NtepKKAW-42qmmC&fs=1%22%3E%3C/param%3E%3Cparam&hl=en&cr=US&avg_rating=0.0&length_seconds=40&allow_ratings=1&title=GRANDPARENTS%20DEMO%20AT%20DUNDEE%20SOCIAL%20WORK%20CONFERENCE

Dear All,

Our campaign in Dundee went very well. We were right outside the room where the attendees were having registration and their morning coffee breaks and they could not help but see us as we waved to them. Someone heard them debating us being there so we have achieved what we came for.

Alan Baird the boss man in question has refused to resign over the Branden Muir case in Dundee and would not answer our phone calls to his office. His secretary refused to give us any information as to his whereabouts and even refused to speak to the media.

The media coverage was Brilliant, GMTV, STV, Radio Times, The Telegraph, The Courier and a few radio and newspaper reporters which i can't remember them all but will be posted on the blog above as they become available. We can't thank them all enough for their coverage and kindness.

The Apex City Quay Hotel Dundee.

It cost £95+vat for social services to charge social services for the conference. £65+£13.50 for breakfast at this Hotel which lots of them stayed overnight. What a Bill!According to the locals there is huge social services building with lots of rooms and another one just yards from the Apex (luxury) Hotel which could easily have housed this conference.

Why was so much of your money spent on a big fancy hotel when an alternative was available? "Simply the best" for our social services that has an obvious policy on cost saving and treating our children as commodities to save money and they throw it away on luxury for themselves.

We should all demonstrate outside the social service headquarters in our particular areas and demand to be heard. Then report our findings to a central point of information for UK distribution.

Will you join us to bring justice for our children?

Jimmy

If I did not have personal experience of the behaviour of Social Services I would think your response over-the-top. But I do, and my experience is that Grandparents are non-persons as far as Social Services are concerned.

Regards

Edinburgh Business man.

Jimmy Deuchars
Grandparents Apart UK
22 Alness crescent
Glasgow G52 1PJ
0141 882 5658
http://www.grandparentsapart.co.uk/


March 26, 2009 9:06 AM

Changes that must come about for our children's best interests.

Grandparents Apart UK

Essential points that need to change for our children’s best interest?

1…Our motto is “Bringing Families Together” so we think the best interests of a child startsoff with Equal parenting when there is no valid reason not to. We know two parents should be first and formost in a childs life for a balanced upbringing with grandparents as a strong backer upper and first when parents are not avaiable.

2...The ‘Charter for Grandchildren’ to be Mandatory for professionals working in Children’s welfare to ensure children do not lose out on the benifits grandparents can offer.

3…The social services must stop treating children as commodities like a business deal

4.....If adopted a child must maintain contact with birth family.

5 ...Kinship care before strangers. Grandparents should not be by-passed for strangers.

6. ..All below accountable to law. The law turns a blind eye to the following. For courts not to
pursue these in condoning the use of them.
(a).....False accusations.
(b)....Erroneous reporting by social workers.
(c).....Flouting of court orders.

7…Proper recording of all social work meetings and discussions E.g. Dual tape recording similarto police proceedings for the protection of both the client and social workers.

8….More “transparency” and especially “accountability” of Social work and their managers

9….Specialised training for social workers in the best interests of our children.

10…Orchestrating “cover up’s”, when children are failed.

11…Accusations removed from record, when proven innocent.

There is a huge rise in drug and alcohol abuse and there is reckoned to be a million children in Britain today living in a home with one or both parents addicted to drugs or alcohol. Amid fear of the ever increasing cases of child abuse. Grandparents Apart UK have considered a new proposal in the best interests of children.

Our new proposal is considering the child in as much as not to have the protection of their grandparents in child abuse cases is devastating to them and not at all in their best interests.

We therefore propose that The Charter for Grandchildren in Scotland should be adopted for use in England and Wales, ‘ The role grandparent can play in their grandchildren’s lives’ must be mandatory for professionals dealing with children thereby ensuring in the absence of one or both parents that the love and protective role grandparents can play is not wasted as is the case at present because grandparents are regarded as irrelevant persons and therefore rarely considered in practice.…Being mandatory for professionals would not be an imposition on the parents or family in general…If the governments were to adopt this as an example it would send a message of encouragement to families that grandparents can be a huge asset in the family and it could be worthwhile attending mediation focussing on the best interests of the children.

It is generally agreed by governments and most organisations dealing with children that grandparents are important in the family.. It is also agreed that they can be vital in the early detection of child abuse and in the care and stability of children when they are in a crisis situation especially in the middle of the night. That is if they are informed about it at all, being irrelevant persons, this is not always the case. If the crisis has been violent and very upsetting it would be in the best interests of the children to be settled as quickly as possible with someone who cares for them.

Grandparents Apart UK is a non-profit staffed by volunteers Scottish Charity.
0141 882 5658
www.grandparentsapart.co.uk

Dundee Demo over rights for Grandparents.

http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2009/03/25/story12828010t0.shtm

Grandparents from across Scotland gathered outside the Apex Hotel in Dundee today to demand better rights, and urged social workers to listen to their concerns (writes Kirsten Johnson).

The protest took place as delegates from the Association of Directors of Social Work met in the hotel for a one-day conference to discuss developing a workforce fit for purpose.

The current president of ADSW is Dundee City Council’s social work director, Alan Baird, who recently fended off a resignation call over his department’s handling of the Brandon Muir case.
Jimmy Deuchars, from pressure group Grand-parent Apart UK, led the demonstration.
He told the Tele he hoped the lobby would make those at the meeting listen to the group’s plea.
“Grandparents are at the bottom of the list when it comes to rights, but we are the ones who can notice the first warning signs. We deserve to see our grand-children, and they deserve to see us.
At the moment the Charter For Grandparents is only advisory. We want it to be mandatory — it will save children’s lives.”

Brian McNair, chairman of the Equal Parenting Alliance, also attended the demonstration. He said, “I hope the social workers, especially Alan Baird, take note. You have to be seen to be heard nowadays. We hope this brings our message into the public eye.
“We are questioning the integrity of some social workers across the country. They often do not record meetings they have with grandparents. This is not right. “If grandparents are in contact with their grandchildren they can see the signs of abuse, but the social services class them as irrelevant.”

CHALLENGES

During the conference the delegates, representing each local authority area in Scotland, considered the challenges within workforce development. BT’s group human resources director

Alex Wilson gave a keynote speech outlining how the company addressed workforce issues and shared knowledge and experience of developing good practice.

There were also presentations given on the place of the Continuous Learning Framework in organisational develop-ment and the use of Social Services Knowledge Scotland, an online knowledge service for social services staff and their managers.