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Original poster

Inappropriate social worker?

49 replies

pixydust94 · 15/07/2017 11:03

Firstly, hi to all those other mummies out there! I'm brand new to this, and expecting my first bundle of joy in 5 weeks time!
Ill try to keep this short and sweet, so will get to the point so hopefully you can help me!

My baby has a social worker, and it's at a child protection stage (due to many lies from previous social worker!- which is another issue I'm advocating against).

However, this new social worker (who is an older male) keeps contacting me during out of his working hours times, and now on weekends too!
I already know that this behaviour is highly inappropriate, but I'm not sure what to do!

Should I report it to his team manager (or any other relevant professional) or just keep ignoring him when he contacts me out of his working hours and only respond on weekdays between 9-5?

What would you do please?!

OP posts:
RandomMess · 15/07/2017 11:05

Report in writing both to his manager and someone even higher up..

Patriciathestripper1 · 15/07/2017 11:07

What exactly is he contacting you about?

Tottyandmarchpane1 · 15/07/2017 11:08

Social workers often work outside of working hours, on weekends and holidays so really it depends. You can't have access to his agreed hours so it may be part and parcel of what he needs to do. If he is contacting you and talking about it doing inappropriate things then report otherwise I am not sure there is an issue and you need to cooperate rather than ignore (we of course don't know why your baby is under the supervision of SS to comment anyway).

lieka · 15/07/2017 11:09

What kind of contact?

hatgirl · 15/07/2017 11:09

Is the contact he is making with you inappropriate or do you just feel the times are inappropriate?

I've contacted many clients outside of my working hours either because that's the only time I can get in touch with them or because I have so much work to do I've not noticed that it's 6.45 pm

StaciesMom · 15/07/2017 11:11

I guess it depends on the content of the contact. Is it related to the Child Protection Case? I agree with previous poster, Csc don't always operate on a 9 - 5 basis depending on the reason for their involvement and what the concerns are but he should only be contacting you if it's in relation to the case and for no other reason. If the content is in appropriate then yes it should definitely be reported to a senior manager x

RebootYourEngine · 15/07/2017 11:14

I think social work shouldnt be a 9-5 job. Those in need need help 24/7. What kind of things is he contacting you about?

Euripidesralph · 15/07/2017 11:14

To be honest there's not enough information social workers do not work set hours and often have to deal with things at different times not to mention their workload is through the roof,

I slightly query as well....It's no mean feat to get to child protection level prior to birth....But according to you one social worker lied and the next one is innappriate?

Unless it is the contact they are probably not the issue here

Oblomov17 · 15/07/2017 11:15

Put something in writing(email), so that it's noted.

alltouchedout · 15/07/2017 11:17

What sort of contact?

Notreallyarsed · 15/07/2017 11:18

If he's contacting you for work reasons then it's completely reasonable to contact you out of hours or at weekends. It's the context of the contact which is important. If it is anything related to your case it's perfectly reasonable, if it's not to do with your case then it's not.

TheUpsideDown · 15/07/2017 11:19

As pp's have said - depends on what kind of contact he's making. If it's related to your case I don't think it's something to complain about

Admittedly I don't know much about SS but I would have thought it was the kind of job that would include some OHH work when required?

Saiman · 15/07/2017 11:19

How do you know his contact is inappropriate already?

Is it more than the times?

Child protection pre birth is a big thing. Your last social work lied and this one is inappropriate?

Why did tou have a sw in the first place? Not judging but trying to get the whole picture.

Kr1stina · 15/07/2017 11:21

I'd ask if I could be given a female social worker, as there are issues about the pregnancy, birth and afterwards that you would feel more comfortable discussing with another woman.

I'd try to avoid making a formal complaint about this man, even if you think it's justified. This is because you have already had problems with one worker. I know this isn't fair but it's best to keep on their good side and be seento be as cooperative as possible.

Please use all the support that is available to you so that everything goes well for you and baby.

JustDontGetItAtAll · 15/07/2017 11:23

I'm confused. You say your child has a social worker, however in the beginning of the thread you say you're not expecting your first child for 5 weeks? Why would your child have a SW before they're even born?? No disrespect intended I just don't understand as I've never had any SS involvement personally

TheUpsideDown · 15/07/2017 11:23

*Sorry OOH (out of hours)

TheUpsideDown · 15/07/2017 11:25

justdontgetitatall SS can get involved as early as pregnancy. The child doesn't need to be born first

hatgirl · 15/07/2017 11:25

Kr1stina that would usually be the role of the health visitor rather than the social worker.

It's absolutely fine for a male social worker to be the one responsible for the child protection planning.

troodiedoo · 15/07/2017 11:34

My dad was involved with child protection for social services. He did not work 9-5 hours. I think content and context are more relevant that the times, for people to be able to comment on whether it's reasonable.

Original poster
pixydust94 · 15/07/2017 11:35

Due to being a LAC myself, and now what's classed as a former relevant care leaver, it's apparently procedure (words from a social worker) that I must have a pre birth assessment done. My worker has and had no concerns to the extent these new workers have. However, he's worked with me for over 5 years so knows the situation well.

I also advocate on behalf of the county's other young people and LAC who have been or are in the care system, and I can say that for the last 6 years whilst doing the (voluntary) work I have done, I have always been told by the professionals that workers are not allowed to contact their young people out of hours.

What he is saying isn't inappropate, however, it's only me that he's contacting out of hours and on weekends. He's tried contacting my partner multiple times this week already, and ALL have been with his working hours. I'm just a little confused I guess!
I've done all this work around advocating, interviewing new social workers for job roles, foster carers, been on the Corporate Parentin Executive Boards with managers and directors, and always been told it is highly inappropriate for a worker to communicate (in any way) their young people out of hours. But the new workers doing it, so I'm not sure if it's acceptable or not!

OP posts:
RebootYourEngine · 15/07/2017 11:35

Justdont the child is given a sw so that when it is born its needs can be met quickly. So if ss think the baby is not going to be looked after and needs to be taken away at birth then that can happen at birth rather than wait until the baby is born, allocate a sw, go to court/get an order etc. That is not a quick process and in the meantime the child could be in harms way.

UsedToBeAPaxmanFan · 15/07/2017 11:36

*Justdontgetit" the OP says there hsve been child protection concerns raised already so the unborn baby is allocated its own social worker to consider what is in the baby's best interests.

I am a social worker (adults not children) and when I did front line work we would work one weekend in four and have two days off during the week to compensate. That way there is always a social worker on duty. If there we no emergencies to deep with then I got on with answering emails, catching up on administration etc.

I'm. No longer front line and done currently work weekends but wil probably spend a few hours on Sunday evening catching up on admin Including emails, because my workload is too high.

Unless the content of the emails/texts is inappropriate, the fact that they are sent at weekends shouldn't necessarily be a concern. If the content is inappropriate then you should absolutely report it to the team manager. If you feel uncomfortable with this social worker you could ask if you could change. That might not be possible though. And it's the baby's social worker, so this person might have been allocated ypur babys case because he is the best/most experienced person for your baby's circumstances.

Original poster
pixydust94 · 15/07/2017 11:37

The worker my baby was allocated before this was female (who has lied through her teeth). But not once did she ever contact me after her working hours, or at the weekend.
Not that I'm summarising it and overthinking it all just because he's a male worker. The point is- a worker is contacting me at times I have been told by higher up professionals of the same organisation, that it is inappropriate. But he's contacting me at these times thinking it's ok? I'm so confused! Is it acceptable or not!!😱
Not to mention that he only saw me yesterday!

OP posts:
JustDontGetItAtAll · 15/07/2017 11:47

Oh right I see. I think that's awful though OP that you have to be 'assessed' just because you were in the care system. How horribly stereotypical & assuming of them? Or have I missed something? Being pregnant is scary & anxiety causing as it is without having your capabilities brought into question. I have no advice regarding inappropriate SW, however I hope one they've done what they need to do, that they leave you & your baby well alone!!! X

SealSong · 15/07/2017 11:49

I would ask the social worker directly why he is contacting you out of hours. If you are finding it intrusive tell him that you only want contacting in office hours. If it doesn't stop and you still have concerns speak to his manager.
What you were told before re contact outside of hours being inappropriate may have been correct at that time, however this social worker may have a different working pattern maybe.
However if you don't like it do say something.

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