Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Child protection social worker- ask me anything!

484 replies

NynaeveSedai · 01/09/2018 16:19

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

OP posts:
movinonup · 04/09/2018 23:14

I've sent you a private message OP.

Rachie1973 · 04/09/2018 23:18

Jeez, I'd kill to ask questions, looking at taking in a Mum and her baby at the moment. Checks are being done at present.

Daren't though due to confidentiality :(

paintedwingsandgiantrings · 05/09/2018 00:23

Is the social work profession generally aware and concerned about the political trans agenda to remove safeguarding for women and children - or are most social workers still on board with the "all trans women are women if they say so" line?

Is this an issue the profession is talking about, behind closed doors?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

NipInTheAir · 05/09/2018 01:10

My 17 year old dd took 11 anti-histamine 24+ hours before going to A&E to ask to be checked over because she wanted reassurance she hadn't harmed herself such was her sense of self preservation. CAMHS had shut her case 8 months previously refusing help. She had depression and anxiety and was cutting and taking small od's when CAMHS refused help. Therefore we got her a private consultant psychiatrist and she had not harmed for six months.

A&E did not call me for four hours and when they did had got her to agree to an acute admission with a 1:1 MH nurse to facilitate a CAMHS referral the following day. The paed told me it was a protocol and I had given my permission for the referral. I had not I was also told the CAMHS referral was essential and only accessible via a MASH referral. Further questioning revealed as dd was 17 she could be assessed in A&E by the MH liaison nurse on site. This happened and we went home. It took hours and when I told the sister we would be leaving if it wasn't sorted out quickly I was yelled at across the department that I was obstructing my child's care and causing a safeguarding issue. I had ensured my dd had excelkent care because CAMHS had been unwilling to provide anything when she was far worse. Later I discovered SS had been called at 4.15, an hour and three quarters earlier than I was contacted so my permission was not sought and also CAMHS could have been called without an SS referral.

We went home that night and CAMHS assessed the folliwing Tuesday, were poor and did not provide what they said they would provide.

I was called that week by someone from SS who introduced himself as Mr Something Foreign, who used my first name and when I asked him not to addressed me with my surname and no title. He could barely speak English abd asked if I wanted support. I asked what support was and he couldn't provide details. I was informed in writing the case was closed.

I was later informed the hospital also notified SS we left against medical advice - we didn't a full assessment was undertaken and that CAMHS had repirted I was over protective (this was after a formal complaint because they did not provide what they said they would).

I spoke to a senior manager at SS and I was told nothing met their thresholds but I was not informed of two referrals and the hosoital lied about the nature of the referral.

Does this nonsense happen often and what could be the impact if these referrals on my dd later on when/if she has children of her own.

We are functional parents who have provided a loving home and everything fir our DC. We are also professional people and were made to feel utterly marginalised. What hapoens to those who are misrepresented in this way and who can't advocate for themselves. Can I see the records in full?

P.S. dd is fully recovered because we coukd engage private care when CAMHS didn't want to know. She had a neuro developmental disability ADD which CAMHS would never have diagnosed.

Do you think the system is sometimes a parent blaming disgrace?

earthwindfirewater · 05/09/2018 03:32

Hi there,

I have a quick couple of questions. My ex partner (we're separated) wants a divorce and full custody of the children. His family want him to move back to New Zealand and I'm not happy at all. He's very controlling. He has the children in the week because he said the school felt it was better for them to be with one parent in the week. I was unhappy to settle for weekend contact but I did and now he's saying that because he has them in the week when we get divorced he wants full custody. I have a mental disorder which is under control but he says that because of this he wants the children 100% and if he dies that they should go to his family who are in New Zealand. I feel he is being unreasonable here. The children see the family in new zealand once in a blue moon. And they'd be over the other side of the world. How would I get to see them. I don't know what my rights are. Please can someone help. I want to put a prohibitive steps order in place but I don't know if I'll get it. I also want 50% shared custody with parental rights but he's saying I don't have a hope in hell. I feel helpless. What should I do. There was a child protection order because I was trying to take my son away from his father after he hit him and I pulled him from him, but they said I was a threat to my son because I pulled him with force. Everyone who knows me knows I wouldnt hurt my son. Now this will all come up in court and go against me. In fact when they sectioned me, my other son had an unexplained black eye (which clearly was not me because I was in hopsital) and everyone turned a blind eye except my family who were horrified that no one was taking me seriously. I was sectioned for pulling my son away from his dad who had hit him, and they didnt believe me, hence the section because they said I was deluded. But we all witnessed it.

NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 04:01

Do you think that children removed from their birth families due to neglect etc that are then in care for a significant amount of time and then adopted are supported enough to break the cycle of generations?

Bit of a how long is a piece of string question. They should be, but people are all different and sometimes the cycle isn't broken.

Do you get many calls to households that have adopted children placed?

Not a lot, but it does happen

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 04:03

Thank you so much for your response. In yoir opinion if a person has a child in long term foster care/put up for adoption are they more likely to be a risk for children of people they enter into relationships with?

That's really impossible to answer as children can be removed for so many reasons. I think anyone who has children should be very cautious about starting a relationship with someone who has had children removed from their care.

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 04:05

Is the social work profession generally aware and concerned about the political trans agenda to remove safeguarding for women and children - or are most social workers still on board with the "all trans women are women if they say so" line?

Hard to comment on without laying myself open to professional criticism really, especially if anyone figures out which authority I work for, which is always possible!

Is this an issue the profession is talking about, behind closed doors?

I can only answer for myself and close friends who are colleagues or social workers in different areas; yes, it is very much an issue we talk about and think critically about.

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 04:06

Does this nonsense happen often and what could be the impact if these referrals on my dd later on when/if she has children of her own.

I'm sorry, that's a really specific situation, and it sounds like it's a question about hospital safeguarding procedures so not for me to comment on.

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 04:09

@earthwindfirewater I'm really sorry but I'm not able to give you advice on your situation, not least because it seems to be legal advice you need not social work advice. I suggest you make an appointment with a solicitor if you can afford it, or with a local women's charity or domestic abuse service to try and get some proper advice.

OP posts:
earthwindfirewater · 05/09/2018 04:22

ok - thank you.

auntethel · 05/09/2018 06:36

glintandglide, don't be so ridiculous! Nynaeve is a professional, a Child Protection Social Worker. She's perfectly capable of reading a report for 5 mins or so, then giving a brief overall view. It's titled "Adverse Effects of Child Protection on Public Health" Nynaeve says she's not interested enough to read that which is quite concerning, but obviously that's her choice. I was perfectly entitled to ask, as this is "Ask me anything" board. Nothing "bonkers" about it.

NipInTheAir · 05/09/2018 06:37

Nynaeve the question is can three referrals on my dd's SS record have a negative impact on her or my family later on? Three referrals that didn't meet the SS threshold.

Let me ask another. What do I need to do to get full details and find out this information please?

Also do you think it's right that a social worker expects to be called Mr but refuses to afford the parent the same level of courtesy? The man who phoned me up called me Smith when I asked him not to use my first name. Why should he when he told ne his name was "Mr Amorbiga" or similar

Nonky · 05/09/2018 06:43

Hello
Im 40 and was a teacher until 2 years ago. I now work in education in primary schools. I have always regretted not choosing social work as my degree. In your honest opinion, do you think I am too old to retrain now? Thank you!

glintandglide · 05/09/2018 06:44

You haven’t asked her. You’ve repeatedly asked her, and hinted that you find her professionalism lacking because she won’t. That’s rude and weird

NipInTheAir · 05/09/2018 06:47

Actually, I think AuntEthel makes a good point. You said AMA and you have declined to read abd comment on a short repirt saying you do not have time because you are at work. Yet you also tell the thread you are on Mumsnet at work, so let me ask another question please.

If you have time to Mumsnet at work, how can social workers realistically expect the public to believe they are under huge pressure due to overwhelming caseloads?

Rory786 · 05/09/2018 06:49

This a great thread, thank you Op.

My question is regarding special guardianship, the lady doing it has no contact with social workers AT ALL for about 10 years now but still gets paid like a foster carer, I’m worried children like this can fall off the radar....
These particular girls are 19 and 18 now, will social services provide them with a flat or in a hostel....

glintandglide · 05/09/2018 07:03

Maybe she mumsnets whilst she’s making a drink, or walking between meetings. Like the rest of us

hmmwhatatodo · 05/09/2018 07:29

Maybe she’s at her 2nd job, does it matter? She doesn’t have to read reports in her free time if she doesn’t want to! I think she has been very generous with her time here.

serbska · 05/09/2018 08:41

Reading. Report, thinking about it critically and coming back to give a measured professional view is WAY more time consuming than answering questions which are just her opinion/experience.

And you kinda seem like you wouldn’t just let the issue drop, and maybe she doesn’t want to be drawn into a lengthy debate about one report.

NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 09:29

Nynaeve the question is can three referrals on my dd's SS record have a negative impact on her or my family later on? Three referrals that didn't meet the SS threshold.

If they form part of a pattern of low level neglect/abuse and there are any more serious incidents reported in future then the previous incidents would be considered significant.

Let me ask another. What do I need to do to get full details and find out this information please?

You can request access to records through the local authority website

Also do you think it's right that a social worker expects to be called Mr but refuses to afford the parent the same level of courtesy?

No, I don't think that's ok

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 09:35

Im 40 and was a teacher until 2 years ago. I now work in education in primary schools. I have always regretted not choosing social work as my degree. In your honest opinion, do you think I am too old to retrain now? Thank you!

No! Definitely not. Go for it! Loads of students are 40 + and even 50+

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 09:37

If you have time to Mumsnet at work, how can social workers realistically expect the public to believe they are under huge pressure due to overwhelming caseloads?

Yesterday I was eating my lunch, right now I am waiting for the server to go back online. Due to budgetary pressures our IT systems are very outdated and regularly freeze.

Personally I don't expect you to believe anything. I am answering these questions honestly and to the best of my knowledge. What you choose to believe is your responsibility

OP posts:
NynaeveSedai · 05/09/2018 09:42

My question is regarding special guardianship, the lady doing it has no contact with social workers AT ALL for about 10 years now but still gets paid like a foster carer, I’m worried children like this can fall off the radar....

That's normal. Special guardians get a financial allowance to support them and they can access duty social work support but they won't have an allocated social worker. The whole idea of special guardianship is that the guardians act as parents and have PR.

These particular girls are 19 and 18 now, will social services provide them with a flat or in a hostel....

Social services almost definitely won't provide a flat for over 18s but they may have preferential circumstances when applying for council housing as former LAC. Equally they may not; it depends on the area

OP posts:
Flexoset · 05/09/2018 13:37

Just wanted to say thank you to the OP - for doing an essential and incredibly demanding job, and also for a very interesting thread (including balanced and patient responses to some rather irritating/derailing posts!).