Section 20 - how much say?

Not sure, but I don't think you have much grounds for objecting unless FC was negligent.

You can have a certain amount of say, but not a lot as far as I am aware. For example I was given a choice of two care homes for EDD. One was absolutely miles away in another county about 2 hours drive away and I said no way, as she would have had to leave her school and friends behind, and as DD has never had any problems at school I did not want her education and social life being disrupted, so I had to agree to the other care home, which is still about an hours train journey from school, but at least she could continue to attend the same school. They are about to move her into a new foster placement as they now realise she should never have been placed in a care home in the first place (another story), but this time I am insisting that they find her a placement closer to school as she has not been able to maintain any contact with any of her friends after school or at the weekends because of the distance. Also last SW was very PC and insisted she was placed with black carers (DD is mixed race), and this time I am saying I don't care what colour the FC is, as long as it is closer to school/friends/home.

I think you have a certain amount of say and you should at least get a choice of two places. They will always try and tell you they have no other placements, but that's rubbish, you should be offered at least two places to choose from and if you just agree to the first one offered they won't bother looking for another one and will take the easy way out.

Try writing a list of all the reasons why this offered placement won't meet her needs and say that you are not happy about it. Worst case scenario, she might have to go there for a few weeks until they find her another more suitable placement, but remember SS, will always try and go for the easy option and will always try and tell you that they don't have anywhere else in the hope that you take her home.

Stand your ground and make a fuss. Ask to speak to the IRO if nothing appears to be happening regarding search for more suitable accomodation. He is DD spokesperson and should speak out on her behalf.

Good Luck

Let us know how you get on

Hi Mooster
Our ad's first placement was SS's choice - cheap and cheerful, and as we were really rather desperate for her to be S20, we consented. She received no education in the months she was there, as her school had excluded her to a pupil referall centre, that she just used to walk out of!
The home was in an awful area and she was targeted by Sex gangs. It was all an utter nightmare, we thought she would just dissapear or be killed, but she was groomed and could not see the horrors of it all.
I shouted loud and hard to SS and told them they would have to deal with a dead child, not a live child. They quickly removed her into a home in the middle of nowhere, which had their own EBD school. She did well on heir 1:1 education, but she has learning difficulties and will never achieve much.
She now lives in a council flat on Housing benefit and the bank of Mum and Dad, but she is a kind, loving girl. What her future holds we do not know.
If you are not happy with SS suggestion, stand by your guns. We were lucky we had a fiesty SW who did her best for our ad, and stuck her neck out many times.
We found the IRO a complete waste of time, just someone who attended the meetings to tick boxes!
Good luck.
Spring x

Thanks for all your replies.

Meeting went much as we thought - no other options available. We clearly stated our concerns which were acknowledged. Current FC's want out and this is best quick option for now. They could look for FC's with more experience but then it could end up over the other side of the county etc. etc. SW was clear it was not what she wanted for AD but....... We have no worries about new FC's keeping her safe, which is after all their primary job just that the location is isolated for her and there is limited experience in terms of helping her develop the skills she needs for life. We continue to fight the battle for the right therapy to support her!

Haven't met our IRO yet as the last one left a few months ago so no idea how supportive/up to speed they will be. Our next review meeting is in a couple of weeks.

Need to speak to AD about it but our guess is she wants to go there without really thinking through the longer term implications, we will see how long the honeymoon period lasts this time!