Question on new health visitor/social services

[Spicymole]

Hi all.my best friend is quite worried about this so I thought I'd get other people's views on this ..
If you have had previous social service involvement but case has been closed for a while,if moving to a new area will the new health visitor want to make a new referral?
My friend is looking to move to a bigger property in a different council but she is worrying because she knows she will have a new health visitor check for her little one in the new council, therefore is worried the health visitor will see the notes on the system about previous SS involvement even though it is closed ,she is saying she is worried in case the new authority will want to reopen the case or refer her again to get there view on things.
Does she have anything to worry about here?Is it likely the new health visitor will want to delve into her previous involvement?

[ComtesseDeSpair]

It depends a lot on why there was involvement in the first place; but a new HV wouldn’t necessarily want to make a referral, more work with your friend to identify whether she could benefit from additional support to prevent the same situation arising again. Everything will be recorded in the notes, including the decision making process in closing the case, and if the case has been closed for some time, and nothing has changed which suggests further potential problems, the HV won’t have any reason to question the decision of SS in the old area to close the case. Your friend just needs to be open and honest and accept support offered if she thinks she might need any.

[FenellaVelour]

Unless the health visitor has any concerns, they won’t refer. Social services don’t just reopen cases to check on children, there has to be a current welfare concern reported.

[Spicymole]

Why would it depend on why they was involved in the first place? surely if it's closed its closed

[Soontobe60]

If the involvement was linked to issues around a new baby, and you have another new baby, they may have access to your notes. That doesn't mean they will need to take any action.
If you lie to the HV if you're asked about any previous involvement, that may set alarm bells ringing.

[justbeingelle]

If it's closed then it's closed. They won't re open just to check in; SS are too busy for that. They'll only reopen if the health visitor reports there are current concerns about the care of the children.

[Spicymole]

Soontobe60 it was issues after she had the baby .she isn't planning on more.but I'm asking about this child and the previous involvement if the new health visitor will be conserned

[SoyDora]

They will only reopen it if they have concerns about the child.

[Spicymole]

I understand that but the question is would previous involvement give them concerns..

[Clangus00]

No. But they might want to keep a closer eye on that family.

[AndWhat]

HV are linked under your GP rather than council. If you stay with the same GP you wasn’t have different HV. Although they may have a team closer who will ‘caretake’ you.

[LoisLittsLover]

The only reason i could think would be if the move caused new safeguarding concerns eg if she was moving in with someone with whom she had previously had an abusive relationship. But a straight move wouldn't warrant a new referral.

[Spicymole]

Would the previous health visitor contact the new one?

[SoyDora]

Very unlikely. The previous HV wouldn’t even know you’d moved unless it was brought to their attention by someone.

[Spicymole]

Ok my friend thought she would have to inform the old HV that they are moving

[SoyDora]

No, I don’t think so. The HV is linked to the GP. When your friend registers with a new GP, she will be assigned a new HV.

[SoyDora]

I have moved house numerous times with young children, and have never informed a HV that I was moving.

[Spicymole]

So just because someone has previous involvement that won't give the new HV cause for concern

[Isitnearlyweekend]

It’s great that organisations share information as it helps with safeguarding and having a true picture of a family. The hv is unlikely to make a new referral unless she is concerned about something.