I am a child protection social worker AMA

[Dipsandcrisps]

Ask away

@Jenasaurus I agree with @Alwaysinpain report this to the children services and call the police, if you can make a note of the time’s you have noticed this happening that would be helpful. I’m surprised schools are allowing an 11 year old to collect the younger children as at my child’s school you have to be collected by someone aged 16 and older.

Thanks. At the moment, we feel we are just reporting into a black hole as we don't really get any feedback or advice as to what to do or if any action will be taken.
I'm not even sure if we are supposed to?
Is just a weekly visit normal?
We hear the shouting and swearing every day and I know we obviously can't see through walls but we can hear noises which sound like hitting, slapping, dragging and the children being sort of thrown into another room with force. It sort of marries up with what is being shouted. Then it goes quiet.
How do child protection know they are not going to be seriously hurt while being left in this situation?

@gottastopeatingchocolate hello I am really sorry after I read this comment I went back and looked over the comments.. I genuinely did overlook your question I am sorry. How well do you know this child and in which capacity? Children can say they are scared of parents for many reasons.. including genuine and non genuine reason (the non genuine reason is also a cause for concern as if the child is saying this to seek attention why are they not getting this attention from parents). I would say trust your instinct and if you are teacher raise this with your safeguarding lead to see what they would advise?

Secondly it is never ok to put a child on a cin plan and never hold any review meetings that is very dangerous practice indeed and should be raised with management.

@abstractzebra in all honestly children services don’t know that the children won’t be seriously hurt, if they are getting weekly visits I would say they are on more than a child in need plan as they require less frequent visits, they are most likely ok a child protection plans. I am sorry I know it will feel like a futile exercise to report I think you will likely get a basic update of “we are dealing with it” and that is purely for confidentiality purposes which I’m sure you understand. It sounds like an awful situation to witness regularly and must make you feel so helpless, but honestly you reporting these incidents already sets you apart from many neighbours that don’t report. These children need the adults around them to continue safeguarding them, if you know which school they attend giving the the safeguarding lead a call will also be helpful.

Thanks for your reply.

I am the other parent.WeI separated due to DA. Child has alleged fear which has been documented since pre school (pre break up). Last year school and MARU suggested I "exercise my parental rights" and return to court, but in court the CIN manager said there was no cause for concern and I should never have tried to affect contact.

Child been on CIN since that time almost a year ago. Not one TAC meeting. SS seem to be favouring the other parent and I am being accused of alienation.

We have a hearing very soon, so I might take it up with a manager after that as I don't want to further prejudice my position (they did the S7)

@JenniferSantoro shall we call it the reporting sandwich? Honestly sometimes I received many a call from teacher at 4.30pm, also I know it’s not much comfort but that call has often led to me not finishing until 7-8pm

[quote Dipsandcrisps]**@Jenasaurus* I agree with @Alwaysinpain* report this to the children services and call the police, if you can make a note of the time’s you have noticed this happening that would be helpful. I’m surprised schools are allowing an 11 year old to collect the younger children as at my child’s school you have to be collected by someone aged 16 and older.[/quote]
Thank you, do you have the number for child services please

@gottastopeatingchocolate I am sorry your in this situation, I’m guessing you have legal representation? Could you go through the section 7 report and highlight areas that you disagree with? Could you maybe ask your legal representative to suggest a CAFCASS worker can re do the section 7 report as you feel this report is not impartial?

I would definitely raise the missing cin meetings!
Good luck

Thanks, OP!

@Jenasaurus the number for each local authority is different:

These websites will help you find the correct one.

www.actionforchildren.org.uk/how-to-help/worried-about-a-child/

www.gov.uk/report-child-abuse-to-local-council

Thankyou very much OP. I was very surprised when the kids father told me the current SW had been in touch only briefly and hadn't asked about how well their mother was maintaining the relationship with the older kids as some kind of indication of current parenting ability. Sounds like it all gets brushed under the carpet again like when the big 2 were younger so she can let things slide over an extended period again. Very much appreciate your input.

Thanks.
They are younger than school age.
I don't mean this in a moody way but my neighbour has really had some backlash from all this and gets the blame every time the police are called, even though it's not just her reporting.
This has now led to harassment but she is also vulnerable as an older person with a disability.
I tried to speak to the police and housing this morning about what can be done to protect her if we continue to report.
The police officer didn't reply and has in fact never replied to any message I've ever sent and the housing person was rude and abrupt and offered no practical support.
I am getting to the point now where I'm torn between reporting it and nothing seems to be happening and giving up to protect my poor neighbour as they are so fixated on it being her fault that they're under scrutiny.

How can you tell a malicious report? I know my ex husband has made a few he admitted it to his (now ex) fiance even accusing me of being in a relationship with a "known pedophile" (he wasn't my ex just didnt like him) now they have split up she is making malicious reports about him and his (lack of) parenting im getting pretty sick to death of the pair of them having each other arrested

I've not heard anything from children's services how likely is it that they have just spoken to the school and seen its bullshit?

If a 35 year old man has sex with a 13 year old girl - even if they are ‘dating’ - does social services get involved and the man is then put on the Child Sex Offender Register?

Or because the child borne of that pregnancy is later sent to live with the father and the father’s girlfriend (who’s his age and unable to have her own children), does that mean it wasn’t ‘statutory rape’ after all, but just a man and a child in a legitimate relationship where the 13 year old child must have given consent.

The man has several other children by different mothers , none of whom he has a relationship with, and his current girlfriend was solely instrumental in initiating custody of this child.

@abstractzebra it sounds like such a difficult situation, are any of the neighbours on good terms with this woman? Could they maybe get her the information for women’s aid? Does she seem like she would be receptive to support?

The ages of the children make them even more vulnerable as they are less visible to universal services, as if they were of school going age they would have been seen by teachers daily. Well done for being strong enough to keep reporting. As an aside I know how difficult it can be I stayed with my mum a few weeks back and I persuaded her to report a neighbour that was loudly abusing her child my mum said this is a regular occurrence and she was scared to report as she lives alone. It took some persuading but I made her understand how worried and scared this child must be.

I’m a social worker working in another country as a counsellor (in private practice), sorry this is not about your work but rather your qualification as a social worker. If I came to the UK can I do counselling (eg marriage counselling/individual counselling privately). Also when I look at the social work jobs it seems mostly child protection, adolescents and elderly. Do social workers not just do counselling one on one for couples/individuals struggling with stress, relationship issues, challenges etc? And do you know what a social worker in private practice would earn an hour? Sorry not really the point of the thread. Thank you

Do you think due to LA cuts that only the worst cases are allocated a CP social worker and that many children just don’t meet the threshold as it is so high?

Are you under pressure to close the cases or step down to early help due to capacity rather than children’s needs?

What do you think of having targets of reducing the amount of children being taken into care?

Do you think that the scenarios above are detrimental to children?

If a 35 year old man has sex with a 13 year old girl - even if they are ‘dating’ - does social services get involved and the man is then put on the Child Sex Offender Register?

Fantastic thread, thank you for starting this!

My question is: honestly, how family friendly do you find your job?

I am due to embark on a child protection aocial work graduate scheme next year (Frontline) and I am slightly concerned with the hours. I have spoen to various social workers who have all basically said that you have to be strict with your boundaries, some LA's are better than others to work for and child protection has, by far, the highest burn out rate amongst social workers.

Would you agree with this?

Sorry excuse typos, bloody phone!

The mother is not receptive of support at all and is mainly concerned about everyone being horrible to her boyfriend. She seems to have no understanding of how wrong the situation is.
I do know she has previously been in an abusive relationship and failed to protect the children and seems to put her man before the welfare of her children.
They've never approached me or harassed me in anyway. They are fixated on blaming my neighbour, so any action I take puts her evermore in danger.
I'm honestly really shocked at how little support is offered to people who report these issues and how difficult it is to communicate with various agencies and the way they speak to you when you do.
There's always an air of annoyance along with attempts to pass you onto anyone else except them.
You start to lose sight of what it is you are trying to do.

Why has my question been completely ignored?

@abstractzebra

The mother is not receptive of support at all and is mainly concerned about everyone being horrible to her boyfriend. She seems to have no understanding of how wrong the situation is. I do know she has previously been in an abusive relationship and failed to protect the children and seems to put her man before the welfare of her children. They've never approached me or harassed me in anyway. They are fixated on blaming my neighbour, so any action I take puts her evermore in danger. I'm honestly really shocked at how little support is offered to people who report these issues and how difficult it is to communicate with various agencies and the way they speak to you when you do. There's always an air of annoyance along with attempts to pass you onto anyone else except them. You start to lose sight of what it is you are trying to do.

*I'm honestly really shocked at how little support is offered to people who report these issues and how difficult it is to communicate with various agencies and the way they speak to you when you do. There's always an air of annoyance along with attempts to pass you onto anyone else except them. You start to lose sight of what it is you are trying to do*

THIS THIS THIS THIS!!!! 👍🏻👏🏻👍🏻

And mine

Do you think the care system needs a reform or do you think it works well?