I’m a Child Protection social worker AMA

[Lupinslupinelady]

I won’t be breaching any confidentiality...

@Lupinslupinelady maybe unfortunately I think it had the reverse effect she's just angry

Did she discuss it with the Social worker/ do a complaint?

Have you ever had a case that's made you want to throw the towel due to lack of appropriate action from the courts?

Yes.

I think the case was mismanaged (they couldn't spell the child's name correctly or get his ethnic origin right for one!) I think she was so frightened he would be taken off her she just played ball.

What types of home situation would see a social worker recommend that the child be removed immediately?

It’s awful that parents think that’s what we will do when we actually remove a tiny percentage of the children we work with. I always tell parents that when I start work with them and explain that only the Court or police can remove a child and that they would get free legal advice and fair warning if that was even being considered. I hate seeing parents frightened about that and Daily Mail etc does not help.

Immediate removal - genuine risk of really serious harm like living with a violent criminal/ sexual abuser/ off face on drugs. But we would usually try to find a family member/ friend where child could stay first rather than go straight to Court.

They did remove him for a week before they decided there was no case - that's enough to scare you surely!

The Court would have had to agree there was a case for that week of removal. They may have decided that the risks had reduced so could be managed at home.

I had a malicious report to social services by a neighbour who was also verbally abusing me. Some of the points were they thought I ordered too many takeaways and my bins overflowed sometimes. My daughter was 3 months old and I was a lone parent. I was not breastfeeding so not sure how takeaways was abuse My daughter is going to a private school, will it come up on her record and is there any way I can get it revoked if it was malicious? It happened 2 years ago can I still report to the police? Didn’t know that was a thing at the time

Why do ; heroine addicts / crack addicts get to keep there children? When they are the worst drug ever!
Yes there is substitutes they can take such as; subbys (street name I think?)
And methadone but it still opeates (really Sorry can't spell it ) ?

Was there a social work assessment/ did a social worker visit you? You would need to check with your local Children’s Services about the records.

Subutex and I don’t know the answer unless it is that they manage to be truly functioning addicts maybe with lots of help.

A social worker visited and she was lovely, didn’t even check the whole house she was that satisfied. She laughed when reading out the crazy report and agreed it was very malicious. They’re not meant to tell you who it is but when I mentioned the issues with my neighbour she kind of gave me that look so I knew. I honestly can’t remember if she said it would go on a record but she said everything was fine and they just need to follow up every complaint. Sorry for rambling and thank you for your help!

Have you noticed a spike in allegations of domestic abuse in the context of divorce proceedings, since family law went out of scope for legal aid except for domestic violence victims?

(obviously it's a good thing that DV victims get legal aid - I am wondering whether the absence of legal aid for all but DV victims may have motivated any malicious allegations)

Thanks for answering..👍...Thanks for really name of the substitutes..🙈..Out of curiosity again!...What would you see as a unkept house? Unliveable?

Not really - but I don’t usually work with divorce proceedings tbh.

Minniebow, you are welcome and I don’t think you need to worry!

I have seen horrific houses - the worst had buckets of human waste, windows taped shut, rats, maggots, no light, made me choke and throw up. Moved the family to a b&b while Housing cleaned the place and mother got help for her mental health. That was extreme - we are not much fussed about home conditions if they are safe enough. We know that looking after children and a house is really hard esp with no money and problems. More freaked by crazy tidy and clean houses with children sometimes.

Can I ask you about adoption, OP?

Have you ever come across a case where all BM’s children have been removed and adopted due to CP issues (last three removed at birth). Latest baby has a placement order and has been happily living with adopted full sibling (who’s 15 months older) for 8 months. Now BM has made a last minute appeal for leave to contest this adoption (she turned up unexpectedly at the hearing for the adoption order) after splitting from BF and appears to be making changes to her lifestyle. Would a judge really split full siblings in this type of case? It seems that after re : BS we (adoptive parents) are in a vulnerable position. We are beside ourselves with worry. Just wondered if there have been similar cases involving siblings you know of? I’ve tried googling but can’t find any cases where the siblings have already been living together .

Appreciate this isn’t your exact area but thought it was worth a try!

Rufus, I think it’s very unlikely the Judge would overturn the placement order but adoption law is v complex. I think Judge would say it’s good BM made changes but they weren’t in child’s timescales and moving him again and splitting siblings would be harmful. Plus judges do tend to have seen parents making last-minute changes just before Court - they aren’t that naive! Would be different if baby was still in foster care.

Can I ask a quick question? Would a child with very complex SN, the parents are addicts, already be getting input from SS due to the child's situation (the child is a teenager but with the mental age of a young child). Could he fall off the radar? If they gave the impression they were caring for him? He's extremely vulnerable & trusting. I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense but hopefully you get the jist. I mean I presume due to his needs there are outside agencies/influences that allow him to live the way he does. Am I right in thinking this?

what do you REALLY think of the legal team that represent you and are there any "challenges" in the relationship

Sorry posted too soon. I mean if everyone thinks/presumes as I do then he will never get help. Should I be doing something or be satisfied that due to his needs they will already be aware & maybe the parents aren't as horrific as I think they are.