Child protection social worker- ask me anything!

[NynaeveSedai]

With the recent rash of social worker related posts recently which have been FULL of frankly bollocks I thought I would offer to answer any questions.

Disclaimer - different local authorities do things slightly differently though national standards should be followed, and I'm in England so can't talk about the rest of the uk

It's just that without context, if the LADO informs a victim of domestic violence's employers that their kids are on a CPP, it puts the employer in a difficult situation.

At what point would ss be interested in a family living in poverty, overcrowded housing and the parents choosing to have more children in that situation?

Having children into poverty and overcrowded housing is not a child protection concern unless they are also being neglect which is by no means necessarily the case.

would the LADO make recommendations about whether there is a risk to pupils?

I don't know whether the LADO makes recommendations or just hands the info over for the employer to decide.

that is interesting - I wonder how much info they hand over - whether it's just that the kids are on a CPP or whether they are on a CPP because of x,y,z. If it's the former then victims of domestic violence could be suspended from work making it even harder to leave the relationship? Would a social worker help the victim with negotiating with their employer, or is it down to the victim to sort it themselves?

They would share some information about the reason for the CPP. Social workers wouldn't get involved in decisions made by employers, that would be completely inappropriate and beyond their remit.

She speaks at many many CP conferences about FII
Part of her ‘training’ involves talking about case studies where these conditions are present and citing them as red flags plus showing some American CP/FII literature to back up this theory I’ll see if I can find it to post a picture
It’s very very interesting and highly worrying she still attends many training conferences

This is one

Do you find it frustrating when people stay with an abusive partner despite all the empowering courses etc? How do you stay detached?

Do you find it frustrating when people stay with an abusive partner despite all the empowering courses etc? How do you stay detached?

Honestly, yes. It's incredibly heartbreaking and frustrating and much as I know why it happens I can't help feeling angry sometimes. I'd say that women and children living with abusive men are the hardest for me to detach from for some reason.

can an individual access their own records from the 80s? would anything exist still. I have a lot of unanswered questions really that I can ask anyone about. I want to understand why some of us ended up in care and some of us didn't

yes it is heartbreaking - am on the sidelines of a situation like this (not in a professional capacity but my DS's (10) best friend lives in a violent household and I yo yo between feeling desperately sorry for the mum and infuriated that she won't do anything despite being hospitalised from injuries.

Now I know about the CPP i won't let my DS have lifts or visit his friend at home without me. I think there is very little risk to him but would hate him to see anything. Don't know if o am being over the top and feel mean saying no to him going on a sleepover and camping with them but still... also I work as a HCP and if he were exposed and I knew about the CPP I'd be worried about social services getting involved in my family. Is that a realistic concern?

" No! Only courts or police can remove children, that would be a very irresponsible and unprofessional thing to say."

I did wonder at the time. But when a SW is in your house, they can pretty much say anything and you are so scared you don't respond appropriately.
I live in area with an incredible amount of children in foster care.

Just one example from FII guidelines about how accused parents complain or threaten complaint.
It’s a perfectly normal reaction to want to defend yourself if wrongly accused but that itself is seen as a red flag

can an individual access their own records from the 80s? would anything exist still

Yes it should do! They have to keep records for something like 70 years

if he were exposed and I knew about the CPP I'd be worried about social services getting involved in my family. Is that a realistic concern?

If your ds was at the home and the police were called they would certainly want to speak to you. It would probably just be a conversation to check you wouldn't let him go again but honestly you're doing the right thing. Perhaps that stark example of how the world sees her relationship and how it affects her ds might shift her a little, who knows

when a SW is in your house, they can pretty much say anything and you are so scared you don't respond appropriately

Some social workers are unprofessional. Most are not, but we are human, some will always be less than they should be.

I know that, but when they are basically threatening to break up your family, I don't find unprofessionality to be an excuse. they are not fucking cleaners are they?
Sorry.

I know. There isn't anything helpful I can say to that. It shouldn't happen. I'm sorry

thanks...:)

I know. I feel I'm punishing DS's friend by limiting what DS does with him. I try and compensate by having him to us as much as possible. So sad. He says he wishes he could live with us :-(

As far as I recall, you do have the right to see historic information going back decades, but, if our LA is anything to go by, it may be held in an inaccessible format (apparently a shitstorm about to erupt on that front).

Do you think breaching court orders and parental alienation should be investigated as abuse?

Why is consent an issue when making a referral to children services 'ie concern about a child but social worker insists consent from parents is sought first ?

No question, but just wanted to say that all the SWs we have come across during approval, placement and subsequent 10 years have all seemed professional, child centred and caring. Thank you.

Consent Because the aim of social services it to work in partnership with families, as you can see from some of the earlier responses in this thread it doesn't build a good relationship if parents think social workers have gone behind their backs. That said if it is a serious CP issue and it is thought that informing parents would increase risk then DC are spoken to first without gaining consent, this is exception though.