I need a push !

[bright sparks]

Having had my children in the UK, I am not 100% clear on how things work here, so correct me if I'm wrong.

Regardless of the age of a parent or financial situation, their child should be clean. These are not good enough reasons. Sounds like they are short on support and guidance and maybe they are somewhat clueless but the only excuse for being dirty is having no washer, no sink with water and no soap!!! My washer broke down last week and I had to wait a week to replace them. If I didnt have the money to go to a laundrette I would have asked a friend or washed the necessities by hand. I am also a young parent, just turned 30 with a nearly 12 year old and a 10 yr old, and my age doesn't play a role in my ability to care for my children even in the early days. Whats missing from these parents is......common sense. Now they may not be totally at fault for this obviously their upbringing and the people who should have taught them basic life skills are to blame also. I would hope that if you called CAS, that they would step in not to take the child away but to support the parents in the areas where they needed help. Would they not do that??? I would hope so but I think that it is at a point where at least it would be a good idea to call and speak to CAS for advice.

If all else fails, I would write the note that someone suggested and if it doesn't change things then I think you can more than justify terminating. Especially as what you describe is a health risk to everyone in your house.

If I was looking after this child, while I decided what to do or was in the process of terminating, I would take care of the child in the meantime. bathe them and wash their clothes. NO this is absolutly not my job, and not plesant to do, but it is the best thing for the child if in the meantime the CAS are doing something. I'd be afraid that if you terminate without reporting this that nothing is going to change and things will possibly get worse even with another provider. I think that this is a neglect situation and the statement you made...

I don't think it's to a point of abuse or neglectfull to a point that I worry about the child's safety but it's not healthy and is disgusting.

kinda contradicts yourself.

If it isn't healthy then it isn't safe for the child or others coming into contact with them.

Call CAS and ask for their advice. What harm can it do and if you do terminate at least you will know you did everything you could, right?

Good Luck. This child is lucky to have you.