Girl Alone: Joss came home from school to discover her father’s suicide. Angry and hurting, she’s out of control. (13 page)

‘Excellent,’ Mark said and made a note. ‘So you are all getting on?’

Joss nodded.

‘And are you receiving your allowance?’ As the IRO, Mark would have a checklist of points he needed to cover in the review.

‘Sometimes,’ Joss said.

‘Why only sometimes?’ Mark queried.

‘Cathy stops my money if I’m very late home or I swear,’ Joss said.

‘Quite right,’ Linda put in.

‘Joss usually earns back the money,’ I clarified. ‘The little she doesn’t earn back I save for her. I’ve kept a record.’

‘Thank you,’ Mark said, making another note. Then to Joss: ‘And how is school going? Miss Pryce will give us a report later, but how do
you
feel you’re doing at school? You were having some problems before.’ He would know this from Joss’s last review.

‘School’s OK,’ Joss said with a shrug.

‘Joss is in detention a lot,’ Linda said.

‘What for?’ Mark asked.

‘Lateness,’ Linda said.

‘So you arrive late for school in the morning?’ Mark asked Joss.

Joss nodded but looked away.

‘She leaves home in plenty of time,’ I said. ‘But doesn’t always go straight to school. I’ve offered to take her in my car, but she doesn’t want that. I also understand that she’s late back after lunch, although she doesn’t come home.’ I needed to state the reasons for Joss’s lateness, otherwise it would reflect badly on me – as if I were allowing her to regularly leave the house late.

‘It’s worse than you told me,’ Linda said, turning to her daughter.

Joss shrugged and kept her gaze down.

‘I’m assuming you’ll cover this later?’ Mark said to Miss Pryce.

‘Yes, I can do,’ she confirmed.

‘So tell us what is going right for you at school,’ Mark now asked Joss.

Joss was silent and then shrugged. ‘Dunno.’

‘She’s doing her homework regularly,’ I said. ‘An hour most evenings, so she’s catching up.’

‘Well, that’s a great improvement,’ Mark said to Joss. ‘Well done. Whose idea was that?’

‘Cathy’s,’ Joss said a little moodily and finally looking up. ‘I have to do it before I’m allowed out.’

Mark threw me an approving look. ‘It sounds a good routine to me, and Miss Pryce will no doubt tell us more later. Have you given any more thought to the offer of counselling?’ Mark now asked Joss, moving on.

‘I don’t want it,’ Joss said.

‘All right. You know you can tell your social worker if you change your mind.’

Joss nodded and Mark wrote. Jill and Amelia also had notepads open on their laps and were taking notes.

‘Is there anything else you want to tell this review before we move on and hear from your mother?’ Mark asked Joss.

‘No,’ Joss said.

‘Well, if you think of anything or have any questions, tell me as we go. This is your review, so your opinion is very important. All right?’

Joss nodded.

Mark now looked at Linda. ‘After Joss, you are the next most important person in this meeting,’ he said. ‘Joss is in care under a Section 20 – or accommodated, as we sometimes call it – so you maintain parental responsibility for Joss and have a big say in planning your daughter’s future. Do you have an up-to-date copy of the care plan?’

‘Yes,’ Linda said.

‘So how do you think things are going for Joss now?’

With all eyes now on Linda, she was clearly nervous and she flushed. ‘I know Cathy is doing her best, but we feel so guilty that Joss isn’t with us. Eric, her stepfather, and I have been talking about it and we feel that maybe we should try again and have Joss home. Perhaps it would be different this time?’

There was silence. This wasn’t what anyone was expecting, but Mark handled it well. ‘Linda, as Joss is in care under a Section 20 you have the right to remove her from care and take her home. This should be a planned move, though, after discussion with Joss’s social workers. However, if Joss did go home and the social services felt there were safeguarding issues that meant Joss could come to harm, they could then apply to court for a Care Order. This would mean that Joss would have to return into care, although not necessarily to Cathy’s.’

Linda gave a deep sigh and looked worried. ‘I know, but Eric and I feel we should try. She is my daughter, after all.’

‘But I’m not his daughter!’ Joss snapped, turning angrily to her mother and suddenly finding her tongue. ‘So don’t include him in this. I’m not interested in what that creep wants! And I’ve told you hundreds of times already: I’m not coming home while he’s there. No way! I’d rather be sent to lock-up than live with him. He’s not my father and won’t ever be. Why don’t you listen to what I’m saying?’

It was obvious from Joss’s outburst that going home wasn’t an option. After some discussion Linda said she accepted this and would tell Eric. Whereas with a younger child he or she could be moved against their will, if necessary, with someone Joss’s age she would simply ‘vote with her feet’ and walk out. Mark said that if the situation changed and Joss decided she’d like to go home then she and Linda could discuss this with Amelia at any time – they didn’t have to wait for the next review, which wouldn’t be for another six months.

‘I won’t change my mind,’ Joss said.

‘But it’s nice to know you have the option of going home,’ Jill said. ‘Not many children in care can go home when they want to.’

Joss didn’t reply but stared moodily straight ahead. Mark moved the meeting on by asking Linda if she was happy with the contact arrangements or if she wanted them formalized.

‘I’d like the contact left as it is,’ Linda said. ‘Then Joss can come and visit whenever she wants. She chooses a time when Eric isn’t there,’ she added as Mark wrote. Again, I felt sorry that the integrated, happy family life Linda had hoped for had gone so disastrously wrong, with her daughter and husband unable to be in the house together at the same time and with little hope of that changing in the future.

Mark then asked Linda if she was satisfied with the improvements Joss was making at school, and Linda said she was pleased Joss was doing more school work but concerned that her behaviour wasn’t improving.

‘I’ve made a note of your concerns,’ Mark said. ‘And Miss Pryce will say more about Joss’s behaviour and school work presently. Is there anything else you’d like to raise at this review?’

‘Only that I wish Joss wasn’t allowed out so much. That’s when she gets into trouble. And with the summer holidays coming up I’m worried she will get into even more trouble if she’s allowed out all day and evening.’

‘Cathy would like to keep Joss in more too,’ Jill added. ‘But it’s difficult with the contract of behaviour as it is. She’s obliged to follow it.’

‘Do I have a copy of this contract?’ Mark asked Amelia, glancing at the folder he had on his lap.

‘I don’t think so,’ Amelia said. ‘It was drawn up after the last time I met with Joss. It isn’t signed yet. I may have to make some changes.’

‘Can you give me an outline of the issues we’re talking about, then?’ Mark said.

Amelia looked at Joss. ‘You have to be in at nine-thirty during the week and ten-thirty at weekends, don’t you?’

‘Yes, but I’m not allowed out on Wednesdays,’ Joss complained. ‘And Cathy makes me stay in all day Sunday as well as in the evening. It’s not fair.’

‘I think I mentioned the issue of Sunday to you when we spoke,’ Jill said to Amelia, and she nodded.

‘I don’t make Joss stay “in”,’ I clarified. ‘We have been going out together as a family most Sundays, and Joss has enjoyed it.’

Mark looked at Linda. ‘So you feel Joss should stay in more than one evening and all day Sunday?’

‘Yes,’ Linda said. ‘And what about the summer holidays? What is she going to do for six weeks?’

‘I have concerns too,’ I said. ‘I was hoping to go away for a week to the coast, but Joss said she doesn’t want to come because she’d miss Kevin and her friends.’

‘That’s a pity,’ Mark said. ‘Are you sure you wouldn’t like to go on holiday? You’d have a lovely time.’

Joss shook her head adamantly.

‘Perhaps you’d prefer to go to a summer camp?’ Mark suggested.

‘No way!’ Joss said, pulling a face.

‘If we’re not going away then I think it would be a good idea if Joss enrolled in some short leisure courses,’ I said. ‘For example, tennis, swimming, horse riding, orienteering or ice skating. There’s a lot going on over the summer and my children will be doing some activities.’

‘I’ll go ice skating, then,’ Joss agreed, as if it were a penance. ‘But not for too long. I have to see my friends.’

‘Perhaps you could find a suitable course?’ Mark asked me.

‘Yes.’ I made a note.

‘Thank you,’ Mark said. ‘That sounds positive.’ He smiled at Joss, who looked away.

‘That will help a bit,’ Linda said. ‘But what about all the other days Joss is allowed out? She won’t be ice skating all the time.’

‘What would you like to see happen?’ Mark asked Linda.

‘For Joss to just go out maybe twice a week, and not with that man she’s been seen with.’

‘He’s my boyfriend!’ Joss snapped. ‘You can’t stop me seeing him. We love each other.’

Everyone present was aware of the concerns surrounding Joss seeing Zach, but it wasn’t really within the scope of the review to discuss that in depth.

‘What are your feelings on Joss going out?’ Mark now asked Amelia.

‘I think if we put too many constraints on Joss she will not meet any of her targets,’ Amelia said. This had been her view at the meeting when the contract of behaviour was drawn up. ‘We have to be positive, and since coming to Cathy’s, Joss hasn’t gone missing all night, which is a step forward.’

Don’t put the idea in her head, I thought.

Mark nodded. ‘I take your point,’ he said.

I could see nothing was going to change, so I said, ‘If we’re not going to alter the number of times Joss is allowed out, can we at least confirm that she is with me all day Sunday?’

‘That seems reasonable,’ Mark said. ‘Do you agree, Linda?’

‘Yes. At least I’ll know where she is on Sundays.’

‘Joss, can we confirm that you are happy to stay in with Cathy on Sundays as you have been doing?’ Mark asked her.

‘I guess,’ she said.

I saw Mark look at the clock. Reviews usually last an hour, but forty-five minutes had already gone and there was still a lot to get through. Mark asked Linda if there was anything else she wanted to raise. There wasn’t, so he turned to me. ‘Cathy, would you like to go next, please?’

I glanced at the notes I held on my lap, but before I had a chance to speak, Joss – now having lost all her initial reserve – remembered something she wanted to say. ‘I still haven’t got a front-door key,’ she blurted. ‘And it’s been more than two weeks!’

Mark looked puzzled.

‘Joss raised this at a meeting I had with Cathy,’ Amelia explained. ‘Cathy said she would give Joss a front-door key when she was acting more responsibly.’

‘I have been,’ Joss declared.

All eyes were now on me, although Linda threw me a knowing look. ‘I’m still not comfortable with Joss having her own front-door key,’ I said. ‘And there really isn’t any need. I am always home before her to let her in.’

‘But you said after two weeks,’ Joss said, glaring at me.

‘I was at that meeting,’ Jill said, coming to my rescue. Then, addressing Joss, she said, ‘The agreement was that when you had been coming home on time for two weeks and your behaviour at school had improved then Cathy would consider giving you a front-door key. But I don’t think we’re there yet, and also there are other issues that would stop me from recommending Cathy gives you a key just yet.’

‘What are the other issues?’ Mark asked, looking up from writing.

‘Joss has admitted to taking money from Cathy’s purse and her daughters’ money boxes,’ Jill said. I was pleased Jill had raised this and I didn’t have to.

‘Joss!’ Linda exclaimed, turning to her daughter. ‘It was bad enough that you stole from me, but to steal from Cathy and her family is unforgivable!’

‘I’m paying it back,’ Joss grumbled.

I didn’t mention that Joss had told me she was allowed to help herself from her mother’s purse. I could tell by Joss’s expression that she knew she was in the wrong.

‘Allowing Joss to have a key at this stage’, Jill said, ‘could also have implications for her house security and insurance if things were to go missing.’

‘I think we’ll make having a front-door key a goal that you’re working towards,’ Mark said sensibly to Joss. ‘If this hasn’t been achieved before your next review, we will discuss it again then, all right?’

Joss shrugged a begrudging acceptance.

‘Please continue, Cathy,’ Mark added.

I glanced at my notes. ‘Joss has settled in well with my family. She generally has a good relationship with my children and she has met my parents. I include Joss in all family activities and, although she is reluctant to begin with, she always enjoys herself. We like Joss very much but understand she is hurting and this sometimes comes out in angry outbursts. I’ve talked to her about counselling, but as we’ve already heard she doesn’t want that yet. Joss eats well and has a varied diet. Her bedtime is ten o’clock when she’s in, and she does have nightmares. I always go to her room to settle her and she’s fine in the morning.’ I paused to allow Mark time to catch up as he took notes.

‘I am especially pleased that Joss is doing some homework most evenings,’ I continued. ‘I hope this is improving her grades at school. I am very concerned, however, that when she is out of the house she is smoking – cigarettes and cannabis – and drinking alcohol. I’ve talked to her about the damage she is doing to her health and also that she is putting herself at risk of coming to harm. She promises to change, but once out with her friends – who are all older than her – she forgets.’

‘Does she come home drunk?’ Mark asked, glancing at me and then at Joss.

‘Not always drunk, but she’s obviously been drinking and she doesn’t deny it.’

I heard Linda sigh.

‘I am also concerned that Joss is regularly late for school in the mornings and also after the lunch break,’ I said. ‘Joss was also involved in an incident at a newsagents close to the school and Amelia is aware of this.’ Mark nodded and I glanced at my notes. ‘I think we’ve covered everything else I wanted to say already.’

‘Thank you,’ Mark said. ‘And Joss can stay with you for as long as necessary?’ This was a standard question.

‘Yes,’ I confirmed.

‘I suppose I should have asked Joss this question, as she is old enough to answer,’ Mark said, ‘but health-wise, how is she?’

‘Fine,’ I said. ‘I have no worries about Joss’s health apart from the drinking and smoking and her unsafe lifestyle.’

‘And she’s up to date with her dentist and optician check-ups?’

‘As far as I know. I understand she had check-ups before she came to me.’

‘Joss still sees our dentist and optician,’ Linda clarified.

Mark finished writing. ‘Is there anything else you want to say, Cathy?’

‘Only that we like having Joss live with us and I hope she will continue to build on the improvements she has already made.’ I smiled at Joss and she managed a very small smile back.

‘Thank you, Cathy,’ Mark said. ‘Jill, as Cathy’s supervising social worker, would you like to add anything?’

‘Cathy is one of our most experienced foster carers,’ Jill said. ‘I am satisfied that Joss is receiving a very high standard of care. I visit Cathy every month and also see her at training. Her record keeping is excellent, and she updates me regularly on Joss’s progress and any issues that arise between my visits. I pass these updates on to Joss’s social worker. I have no concerns about Cathy’s care of Joss.’

‘Thank you,’ Mark said, throwing me an appreciative smile. ‘We’ll hear from Joss’s social worker, Amelia, now.’ He looked at her. ‘I’ve read all the relevant information. Apart from Joss moving to Cathy’s, has there been any other significant change since Joss’s last review?’

‘No,’ Amelia said.

‘Any changes to the care plan?’

‘Not at present, although the department is still considering the option of a secure therapeutic placement should it become necessary.’

He nodded. ‘Have all the decisions that were made at the last review happened?’

‘Yes,’ Amelia confirmed.

‘And we know the contact arrangements are staying the same,’ he said as he wrote.

‘Yes.’

These were all standard questions that the IRO would probably know the answers to but needed to confirm for the sake of the review.

‘My next question has to be: are there any complaints anyone wishes to raise?’ This again was a standard question. He looked around the room and we all shook our heads. ‘Good. And Joss is up to date with her medicals?’

‘Yes,’ Amelia confirmed.

‘Exclusions from school?’ Mark asked, working his way down a list.

Amelia briefly consulted her paperwork. ‘Yes, but it was recorded at the last review. Joss is on report now.’

Mark wrote. ‘Has there been any more involvement with the police since the last review?’

‘Yes. I sent you the details,’ she said.

‘Thank you. Please continue.’

Amelia said she was reasonably happy with the way Joss was settling in, that she saw Joss regularly and was in contact with Linda and Joss’s school. She said Joss knew she could telephone her any time and that counselling was available when Joss felt ready. She would have updated Mark prior to the review, so with nothing more to add, Mark asked Miss Pryce to speak.

Miss Pryce began positively by saying how pleased she was that Joss was now doing her homework, and she hoped she would continue to do some during the summer holidays. Joss pulled a face, but I nodded, confirming she would. Miss Pryce said Joss still had a lot of catching up to do, and although she’d begun her report positively it soon became clear that Joss did indeed have a long way to go. She read out some of Joss’s grades in a range of subjects and they were very low – Es and Fs – mainly because Joss had failed to complete many of the assignments. Her test results were no better due to the large number of lessons Joss had missed and was still missing, Miss Pryce said, which was all very disappointing.

‘But Joss is an intelligent girl,’ Miss Pryce said, ‘and if she applies herself in the new school year I am sure she can improve her grades dramatically. Next year is a very important one for Joss,’ she continued. ‘Her performance will largely determine which GCSE courses and exams she studies in the following year.’

‘What is Joss on report for?’ Mark now asked her.

‘Swearing at a member of staff, after returning late from lunch break,’ Miss Pryce said. ‘It was the last in a number of incidents, and Joss was originally going to be excluded because of it. Joss knows this is her very last chance.’