‘She’s been diagnosed with an attachment disorder,’ Lori put in. ‘We’ve made a referral to CAMHS [Children’s and Adolescent Mental Health Service] and the educational psychologist, but there is a waiting list for both.’
The IRO nodded and looked at me. ‘And presumably you reassure Anna and answer her questions as best you can?’
‘Yes, although she doesn’t really have many questions. She keeps it all bottled up.’
‘Why aren’t her parents here?’ the IRO now asked Lori.
‘Anna’s mother didn’t feel she could cope with it, and she wasn’t sure what good it would do. I’ve only just traced the father and he said he didn’t think he could contribute much to the meeting. Both parents are struggling with what has happened.’
The IRO made a note and looked to me to continue.
‘I am helping Anna with her school work and am working closely with Miss Rich, her TA.’ Miss Rich nodded. ‘Sometimes Anna is very resistant to learning and finds it difficult. She’s on a reduced timetable at school.’ I didn’t say any more about Anna’s education as Miss Rich would give her report later. ‘I try to involve Anna in my family’s life, but often she prefers to play independently – in the same room. She finds it difficult to make friends.’
‘You have children of your own?’ the IRO asked.
‘Yes, two.’
‘How does she get on with them?’
‘She doesn’t really,’ I had to say. ‘I’ve tried, and it’s early days yet, but she struggles to know how to make friends. It’s the same at school and other children are wary of her angry outbursts.’
‘Is she angry often?’ the IRO asked.
‘Yes.’
‘How does she show it?’
‘She screams, and tries to hit and kick people and throw objects.’
‘What does she get angry about?’ the IRO asked.
‘Anything she doesn’t want to do. I have to hold her sometimes when she is very angry to stop her from hurting herself or others. And you should know she can make things up. I’ve had a few incidents, which I’ve noted in my log, where Anna has said something that was blatantly untrue. Some of it she has repeated at school to her teacher and TA.’
‘For example?’ the IRO asked.
‘She said my son was bullying her.’
‘I take it he’s not?’
‘No, of course not,’ I said, a little irritated. ‘She doesn’t want anything to do with my children and they are never alone. Anna was told off at school for bullying and retaliated by accusing my son of doing the same. My supervising social worker, Jill, is aware.’
As the IRO made a note Lori added, ‘There was a similar incident at the previous carers’.’ I looked at Jill; this was news to us.
‘What happened?’ the IRO asked.
‘Anna threw their cat down the stairs and when I spoke to her about it she said she’d done it because she was angry with the carer for hitting her. The carer is adamant she didn’t hit Anna.’
I held Jill’s gaze. I should have been told at the start that Anna had made false allegations, instead of letting me find out the hard way.
‘They were new carers and might not continue to foster now, which is a pity,’ Lori added.
‘Great pity,’ Jill said pointedly under her breath.
‘Thank you, Cathy,’ the IRO said. ‘Is there anything else you would like to add?’
I glanced at my notes. ‘Not really. Hopefully the referral to CAMHS will help.’
‘And Anna can stay with you until a decision is made on her future?’ he asked. It was a standard question.
‘Yes. She must. She can’t have another move.’
He nodded and now looked at Lori. ‘Would you like to give your report next?’
Lori sat upright in her seat as I sat back in mine and tried to relax. I was still smarting at the IRO’s suggestion that Adrian might have bullied Anna. The worry with unfounded allegations, apart from them being hurtful and causing trouble, is that they can leave a stain, even though they’re completely untrue. Anna’s previous carers wouldn’t be the first to stop fostering because of being wrongly accused.
‘Anna is in care under a Section 20 at her mother’s request,’ Lori was saying. ‘She was adopted from –’ and she gave the name of the country. ‘The parents, Elaine and Ian, couldn’t have children of their own. They followed the correct procedures for international adoption and passed the assessment. It seems likely that Anna was badly neglected as an infant in the orphanage and during the brief spells she spent with her birth mother. As a result she failed to form positive attachments. She was diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder prior to coming into care and I’ve asked for a copy of that report. The parents paid to see a psychologist privately, but I understand from Anna’s mother that no treatment followed the diagnosis.’ Lori paused to allow the IRO time to write.
‘There is no contact at present,’ Lori continued, ‘and the care plan is that Anna should return home, but that is looking increasingly unlikely. The parents are separated now and neither feels they can offer Anna a permanent home, so I am looking into kinship carers, but that isn’t hopeful. Both Elaine’s parents are dead. Ian’s parents are living but are in their seventies, and they had reservations about them adopting from abroad from the beginning. Ian has a brother but they already have three children. Elaine’s sister has been supportive but she is single and has a career. She has said she will think about offering Anna a permanent home, but she hadn’t planned to have children and would be reluctant to take a career break, which is what would be required for Anna’s high level of needs. If she does put herself forward then we will assess her.’ Relatives wanting to look after a child in care still have to be assessed and police checked, just as foster carers do, and they are not always accepted.
‘Anna is in good physical health,’ Lori continued, ‘and she’s up to date with her vaccinations, and dental and optician check-ups.’
‘Any accidents or illnesses since coming into care?’ the IRO asked. It was another standard question.
‘No,’ Lori confirmed. ‘And no exclusions from school, although she is on a reduced timetable. I know Miss Rich will cover that later.’
‘Any complaints about Anna’s care from the parents?’ he now asked. This question was usually put to the child’s parents if they were present.
‘Anna’s mother was concerned that Anna has had to move twice since coming into care but appreciated why that was necessary.’
He made a note. ‘What are the parents’ long-term wishes for the child?’
‘They don’t know. The mother is very distressed. Putting Anna into care was a last resort. She was close to breaking point and I’ve advised her to see her doctor.’
The IRO nodded. ‘And she doesn’t want contact now?’
‘No.’
‘Will you be applying for a Full Care Order?’ he now asked Lori.
‘Not at present, but the department will have to consider it in the future.’ A Full Care Order would transfer parental rights and responsibility to the local authority.
With Lori having finished her report, it was the turn of Miss Rich, and she looked slightly nervous and flushed as she started to speak. She had my sympathy. Speaking at a meeting is a bit of an ordeal if you aren’t used