Declining a CAF referral

[Cafetiere]

What happens if referral is pitbin but parents don’t want the CAF and involvement from professionals

I’ve had numerous letters already from consultants and I know the sw who did the cp investigation spoke to them but apparently I’m told ‘things can change’ and sometimes new referrals are necessary

It’s the vagueness of a lot of it
‘I just have a feeling something isn’t right’
Not backed up by anything but still done

They seem almost Roy Meadows-like in their zeal, and blinkered conviction that they are correct.

I suspect you are right in that you can't win here - if you were more blasé about the blood testing, they would be putting in reports that you were neglectful. As it is, you are apparently in the wrong for being a concerned mother who wants hospital-generated care-plans to be adhered to. Which is a pretty unacceptable and insufferable l state of affairs.

I think it's time to tell them to either substantiate their claims, or stop harassing you. I agree with the pp who suggested finding a specialist solicitor. Get them to advise and, if appropriate, write a stiff letter.

not sure I should post the ss files but I don’t know what to do tbh I’m accused of things and I’ve done nothing wrong but I can’t see how all this speculation is allowed yet I have the proof to show the truth and it’s ignored

So I suppose whenever I next get a call I’ll have to go through the same process and questions again and hope that someone realises that all is fine and that this needs to stop

I’m just feeling so down and low about it all

Of course you are. But it will eventually end. Either when your kids finish at that school,or you move schools or when SS will finally say enough is enough. Tbh I'm surprised they haven't already given how overstretched and underfunded they are. All these assessments and meetings aren't free and they do take up a lot of resources and time.

I just want an end to it all and to be left alone I’m not a bad parent yet am meant to feel like one I’m even worrying should I have posted this thread

I can completely understand how this could wear you down. My advice is based on being a teacher and a short spell with social services (not a social worker). I don’t know if this will help you but what I would suggest you do is:

• continue to engage
• proactively ask who made the referral and on what grounds - specifically, do they have new evidence
• if it is the school again, say this is the x time they have done this. It feels like harassment as every single time the case is closed.
• ask social services what they do regarding malicious referrals
• contact the person at the school who makes the referral (head? Safeguarding lead?) and say that you have been the subject of x number of referrals over a x period of time. Whilst you are grateful that they keep such a close eye on students, none of the referrals have been taken further and the repeated referrals are beginning to feel like a campaign of harassment. Please do not make further referrals unless there is new concern that has not previously been addressed.
• Copy that letter to the board of governors.

What do you mean by ‘certain type of community’? Could racism be the basis for the complaints? If so, I would definitely highlight that well.