What happens at a Care and Protection hearing?

[whosaidthat]

can't say too much obviously..

[whosaidthat]

maybe that's not what it's called!

Social worker....anyone?

I have some input with the children involved and I care

[ScummyMummy]

I'm not a children and families social worker but have small amount of knowledge from work as social worker with adults.

Basically all involved professionals invited to meet (ultimately with parent(s) and any other key carers/family but there are sometimes professional only pre-meetings, I think) to thrash out what should happen next to keep the children safe. Main options: do nothing, put children on child protection register, take children into kinship or local authority care. Or do nothing, take children off child protection register, return children to parental care. Contact issues will also be discussed, if applicable.

Hope it goes well, wst.

[whosaidthat]

I wouldn't and couldn't divulge any facts here but have a strong feeling of an inevitable injustice about to happen.

Myself and another proffesional involved with this family have been totally gobsmacked by the events unfolding.
Neither of us have been consulted once by the social worker.
It's a very steep learning curve and my conscience is churning.

[ScummyMummy]

I think it's always horribly stressful for all concerned, wst. Could you ring the social worker and let him/her know about your involvement with the family and ask a bit more about the purpose and process of the meeting? It might be also worth putting your involvement and thoughts on what should happen next in terms of supporting the children in writing for distribution at the meeting too. Your views should count. Among others.

[whosaidthat]

Thankyou so much sm

Everything you have posted has been consistant with my (limited knowledge)understanding of procedure.
I needed someone else to confirm it.

I have not been informed, invited or asked to provide a report, yet I have done eighty hours of work in the last month with the family.
I have witnessed first hand how a family (struggling already) become bewildered and confused by a process meant to support them.

agggghhhhh!

[monkeymonkeymonkey]

Is the social worker aware of your interest? If not then they would most likely be pleased to hear from you.
I'm not a social worker, but in my experience of them they generally seem to want as many people as are relevant contributing to discussions like this.

[ScummyMummy]

wst- ring and ask to be invited. I do all the time. They may not know of your involvement. They may know and be crap. Either way, ring and say "I know this family and would like to be there."

[lisad123]

I used to work for childrens schools and families in social care. Now in education but can help if i can.

If the SW is already aware of the imput you have then call her, if shes not happy, the call her manager. She is only one person and the decision isnt only hers.
If the children are on CP reg then ask to be part of the meeting, you should be there. Can you give a little more detail, no name, places ect just an outline??

[lisad123]

it also depends how far this has all got to how you act. If its a court hearing tis not as simple as calling up.

[whosaidthat]

We have a contract with ss
Neither of us have spoken directly with the social worker.
It seems like the cpn has been used as a co-ordinator so far.
I only knew this meeting was happening because I was asked to work extra hours with the children on the day of the meeting.

I think the family have been making progress!

[whosaidthat]

It's my view that Mum is working hard to improve
It's my opinion that a lot of the critisisms aimed at her stem from disorganisation at route level
She's not so much in a muddle as the system is.
I'm having difficulty getting my head around it let alone her.
I have a team leader.....I'm wondering if she has been blocking my concerns a bit.

[ScummyMummy]

Say so say so say so say so say so.
If you can't be there to say so write it down. Or send your team leader to say so. If it's going to court write it down. Address your letter to the judge and copy it to all parties (but check with your line manager first).

I'm not saying for one second that they are necessarily doing things right. But if concerns have been raised they have to investigate. If what they've found is potentially worrying then they have to put a plan in place to keep the kids safe. So if they've heard wrong or only heard one side of the story let them know your side of things.

[lisad123]

what meeting was it? what was it to decide? are the children home? do you send a written report to sw?

[whosaidthat]

Thanks everyone

Tomorrow I am going to stick my neck out a bit. I really must!
There are a couple of days to maybe provide a bit of a positive.
I have read the letter to mum from ss. It is innacurate.
I don't think it is right that I post anymore on this subject.

Thanks for you help

[ScummyMummy]

Good luck, wst.