CM club: should i phone social services?

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any news dmo? I've thought of nothing else for days now!

How have you got on today dmo?

Hope you find them more helpful dmo - this is terrible don't let it lie! That poor lad! They must know what they are doing is wrong to medicate him but that is even more dangerous imo!

This is slightly off the subject but...

If a child isn't collected on time and parents aren't responding to your phone calls, then you try the emergency contact and get no response there, so you call SS as the last resort, what will they do then?

If SS aren't responding as we'd all expect, to something that most see as a serious situation, then are they going to respond to a child not being collected? Or is that just something that's logged and held on file?

Sorry for the rambling. I have no experience with SS and hope I never do.

This boy is lucky to have you and I hope things get sorted soon.

I have to agree I have worked closley with SS in the past and my local team are very conscientious and would have been out on a referral such as this straight away.
We had a similar case where an older child was being left at home alone whilst a parent was out working nights adn they would not let it go.
You sometimes have to make a nuisance of yourdelf to get something done.
I would ask to speak to the team manger as often the people answering the phonea are not qu;aified SW's.
Excuse typing please

have spoken to a friend of mine who works in child protectin (senior position) and she says the way your SS department are handling this is not standard. She is truly shocked and says you must phone back and demand action is taken,

Am appalled by the way you and this case has been treated. It is absolutely shocking.
I think you are doing absolutely the right thing and wish you lots of luck with it.

Oh yes, please follow DD's advice, I still can't get over how all these different people are just ignoring you!!

dmo, i really think SSD are fobbing you off. It is their job to investigate child protection matters that are ongoing.
The Police should attend in an emergency, but you should not have to wait for an emergency to happen. If SSD are not responding appropriately, ring your local main police station and ask to speak to teh sergeant on the child protection unit.They might get things moving.
I have worked in child protection and this hread is really worrying me.

God this is awful, all our training etc. led me to believe things like this would be dealt with, I am shocked

Dh is fuming at this thread and said that you should threaten SS with going to the press if they don't do something. I think he's really because he had an awfully abusive childhood and thought that these days, a lot more was done!!!

I really feel for you! I'm so pleased he has someone like you looking out for him!!

good luck dmo. What an awful position to be in. Fingers x for the little boy and you.

You must have a 2nd sense about this as if she was lovely you wouldnt really put 2 and 2 together over her going away (although 2 wks is a goodly long time..)etc You would just assume that he was going to a friends or another family member..x

This tread is the most shocking I have ever read on mn. Social services are always in the news defending their actions when there's been a cock up, promising that 'lessons will be learned' etc... It all appears to bollocks in this case though.

Thank god YOU care about this child's welfare dmo but you must feel incredibly frustrated at the lack of concern shown by the very people who are supposed to be protecting vulnerable children.

I really really hope for the child's sake that this is all just a big misunderstanding but if it isn't then the time to act is NOW

I can't believe the lack of support you are getting! Document everything, take people's names when you speak to them etc. If anything does happen (heaven forbid) to this poor little one then the correct people should be held accountable. Keep us up to date on this and take care.

sorry if I missed it in someone elses post, but have you called your early years team at the council or your OFSTED advisor? I am soooo shocked that, as CMs we are told that if anything is really wrong we should contact the duty social worker and they will deal with it blah blah blah and you are getting no support at all! No wonder things like this go un-noticed! Poor him and poor you to have to deal with this.

Hi
I agree with Quietmouse, if you feel a child is in danger then there is no need to discuss with parents first, my Child Protection policy clearly states this too.
This is appalling. You can see how all these cases go unoticed for so long can't you beacuse SS can't be bothered or have lack of resources or whatever.
I really feel for you DMO.
I would urge you to back to SS again and speak to someone else.
Take care
Frankie

I may be wrong but I think if you feel the child is in immediate danger you do not need to talk to the mother first, as it may just make her up sticks and go. Then there will be no immediate way of tracking what happens to this child.

I thought that as cms we were allowed to refuse to let a parent take their child when they come to collect if we feel the child is in danger and then contact ss. May be wrong though!

i cant believe they are acting like theyre on the mother(and i use that term losely)side!..DMO you def need to ring ss back and demand a mamgerm god knows what is happening to that poor lad at home and although very difficult, you maybe should speak to the parent reg what he has told you?..i would ring ofsted too, see if they can advise or back you up?

Please ring them back today DMO - then they may be able to guarantee resources to visit on Friday....and like another poster said - it's still fresh in their minds. If you ring back they may take you more seriously.

The boy was left alone on both Friday and Saturday night and social services are not concerned? I'm really astonished at that response. I would put your concerns in writing to the manager, I think. Or perhaps you should try the NSPCC?