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Original poster

To expect a social services call/ visit

49 replies

EmbarrassedWoman · 09/07/2020 11:57

Outing for people who know me but thats okay.
I had dd 6 months at a&e last night.
I was sitting on the floor and she was standing holding my hands. One hand slipped out of mine and she fell to the floor onto a glass tumber.
The glass did not break but she cut the crease of her eye and as it was so close to the eye i wanted a doctor to double check her.
They gave her calpol and i got a head injury information sheet.
I was so lucky she was not more seriously hurt. Had the glass broke- it doesnt bear thinking about.
What should i expect now?
I know there is safe guarding in place to keep at risk children safe and i am happy to work with anyone who wants to see or check on her. (No previous social work involvment)
I sent my health visitor a message similar to this so she is aware she had a head injury too as i know this is serious with a child under 1.
I feel so bad and i love my little girl completely. I am happy to work with anyone who wants to check if she is safe.
Has anyone had experice of this?
Is there anyone else i need to inform?
Thank you for reading

OP posts:
Spied · 09/07/2020 12:00

I wouldn't be expecting a call or visit based on the info to you've given.
If so had to visit after every accident like this then they'd be wasting valuable resources.

golddustwomen · 09/07/2020 12:04

When my son was around 1 a door completely came off it's hinges and landed on his head. (Turns out the door frame was rotting inside and we had completely no idea) He was in his jumperoo in the kitchen whilst I was washing up. We were blue lighted to hospital. He was fine - thank god. A small cut and an almighty bruise but other than that completely fine. I was in hysterics expecting social services at any minute. Nothing ever happened. The doctor at hospital told me they see so many of these freak accidents, she told me they had a toddler in the the week before where a radiator had fallen off the wall and broken the little girls arm. They know accidents happen. Stop beating yourself up about it Thanks

Vanillaradio · 09/07/2020 12:06

Most likely no you won't get anything from social services at all. Ds was a bit older but he managed to effectively headbutt the corner of a brick wall- he had the cut glued back together. I got a call from the health visitor after to check on him and whether we needed anything- that was it. Honestly this sort of thing happens with children however well you are supervising. You will find most people have at least one similar story.

NothingIsWrong · 09/07/2020 12:11

I got a phone call from a HV just following it up and that was it, but that was after 3 visits in a week for one child...

cottonwoolbrain · 09/07/2020 12:12

My DD wrenched her thumb picking up a mug at an awkward angle when she was about 8. We really thought she'd broken it and so did the doctor until we got an x-ray. The weird thing was doctor didn't seem remotely surprised and said that she was always amazed at the new ways children found to injure themselves.

Like you I wondered if social services would appear - I mean how likely is it that sort of pain would be caused by picking up a mug? They never did and we still to this day don't know quite how dd managed it!!

AldiAisleofCrap · 09/07/2020 12:14

The hospital will have already told your hv. Your message will raise concerns over your anxiety levels, not over the care of your dd. There is no chance at all children’s services would be remotely interested.

Original poster
EmbarrassedWoman · 09/07/2020 12:15

Thank you so much for the fast responces and kindness. And thank you for sharing your stories.
I feel very guilty for not managing to catch her in time. It just happened so fast.
I think the heath visitor will call once she reads my text.
I have no issue with having a visit from anyone as i know they are just making sure dd is in a safe, caring family.

OP posts:
Babyfg · 09/07/2020 12:20

My son was two and got his finger caught in a door causing a chipped bone. The hv rang a week later and said the events I said matched what the doctors message said (which was what I told the doctor so not sure why they would have meant anything 🤣).

He had been to hospital previously for two head bumps quite spaced out but that was the first call

DaisyBrain · 09/07/2020 12:21

Really wouldn't worry about it, it's clearly an accident.
I had a call from social services (possibly a health visitor cant recall) when my eldest had a preventable accident as a result of my ex not doing an obvious thing (e.g lets say, leaving a tool box out open with a two year old wandering around-it wasnt that but not far off). It happened in a different county and we had a phone call within a day or two, I remember commenting that I was impressed by the efficiency.
Please don't even let this cross your mind, hope your little one feels better soon.

Themostwonderfultimeoftheyear · 09/07/2020 12:23

The HV should call after any A&E visit but I would be extremely surprised if it went further than that. DS fell down the stairs when he was one and we went to A&E. Had the call from HV and that was it.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 09/07/2020 12:24

No I wouldn't be expecting a visit from anyone, I think you are being a bit paranoid. Unless they said they would be passing it on, I really doubt anything will be taken further. I wouldn't even have thought to text my health visitor about an accident my child had.

Twizbe · 09/07/2020 12:25

I know the a&e need to inform the HVs etc that you've been to a&e but for this it's unlikely you'd get a call or check up.

If it makes you feel better, the other day my daughter was pointing to some framed pictures. The glass was broken but it never occurred to me that she could cut herself on it ... of course she did and cue panicked call to 111 because it was bleeding loads.

All fine and no follow up

Thurlow · 09/07/2020 12:26

DD got a bad iron burn when she was 4 that led to 7 hours in A&E and a serious bollocking from the nurses. I never got a call from the HV or SS, though I did half expect one - the story added up, it was a freak accident, and clearly no one at the hospital actually had any concerns about how it had happened and whether DD was safe.

RedOasis · 09/07/2020 12:27

Stop worrying. Seriously if you’re worried then you generally have nothing to worry about. It’s the shitty parents that don’t GAF that SHOULD be worried. Stop stressing accidents happen.

peachgreen · 09/07/2020 12:28

I was already on social services radar as I had severe PND. DD had 3 A&E trips in the first year of her life (dehydration when I was trying and failing to breastfeed, UTI causing febrile convulsion, dislocated elbow from falling over while holding her dad's hand) and I didn't hear anything. Accidents happen, don't worry. Glad your DD is okay.

SpinningLikeATop · 09/07/2020 12:32

They most likely won't report to SS, as long as the injury is consistent with your story. The HV might call, but that's all.
Accidents happen, please don't blame yourself x

kierenthecommunity · 09/07/2020 12:32

When my son was about 18 months he touched an Olbas Oul to his mouth. I called 111 and they were full of doom and gloom about it being highly toxic so I panicked and went to hospital.

After sitting there for ages after being triaged, which suggested it can’t have been that serious I messaged a chemist friend who said there was nothing they could actually give him, and if he was admitted it’d just be to keep an eye on him.

So we decided to discharge him, with dire warnings from the nurse about social services involvement as we were ignoring their advice

We never heard a peep from social services. And our son was a LAC at the time as we were in the process of adopting him

Even if they get involved, I bet it will be just a phone call

OverTheRainbow88 · 09/07/2020 12:32

My son hurt himself so I took to a&e and a few days later a HV called to see how we were. That was it!

EllaAlright · 09/07/2020 12:35

My ds was 19 months old, as I was unloading the dishwasher, a glass mug slipped out and smashed, he thought it was hilarious to grab a piece as quick as lightning and squeeze it. Blood everywhere, took him to the minor injuries, I was asked how it happened, then they x rayed his hand to make sure there was no shards in there, cleaned and dressed it, and that was the end of it. I didn’t hear anything more, from the hospital or HV, and he’s just over 3 now.

It will be fine. It can be hard not to overthink sometimes.

Knowhowufeel2 · 09/07/2020 12:48

I don't think they'll be too concerned, tbh.

My experience, if it helps is this:

My youngest managed to fall down the stairs at 10 months old and again at 14 months old (from the top both times).

The first time she managed to climb through/over the banister whilst I was making a tea (we only found out how when she tried it again when I was in the room, so we blocked it off)

The 2nd time a visitor left the gate open when she went to toilet (whilst I was making us both a tea) and she saw her at the top as she came out, but couldn't catch her.

I took her to A&E both times and never had a follow up (thank God, she wasn't even bruised both times!!!).

I went again at 18 months when she dislocated her elbow on a trampoline, and that time we did receive a call from the HV afterwards calling to check my version of events, which they were happy with and she told me the reason for checking up was because I'd had 3 incidents within a year and because the elbow injury was a bit of a red flag for medics.

Nousernameforme · 09/07/2020 12:54

You may get a phone call. I did when I had to take my youngest in. They just want to know what happened and that's it. Never had any follow up.

SeagoingSexpot · 09/07/2020 12:58

I doubt you will have any contact based on what you have said.

My 2yo contrived somehow to fall off a park bench and fracture his elbow in an obscure way that is practically never seen in children but is apparently a specialty of adult drunks. I fully expected we might get a call after that (which didn't worry me), but it never came.

As I understand it, non-accidental injuries often are located in particular places or have a number of "tells" (although of course this is far from a perfect science). Falls and accidental injuries in babies and toddlers are so, so common - they're learning to get mobile, stuff happens. Breathe and try not to worry.

CrackersDontMatter · 09/07/2020 12:59

My son had a very similar injury. He jumped of the sofa and landed on a glass that had been left by the edge of the sofa. He was three. He had an X-ray and some butterfly stitches. I never had any contact from social services.

They asked lots of questions at the hospital and I fully expected a call but there was no follow up. I was visibly distressed and so upset because although it was an accident it could have been avoided if I'd seen the glass and put it away and because it could have been so serious but we were lucky and his eye was fine. He just has a small scar.

I hope you are ok, it's such an awful feeling when they get hurt.

meow1989 · 09/07/2020 13:03

Oh bless you. Hv are informed of a and e admissions for under 5's but you may not even get a call - it was a clear accident (and not the kind where safety measures such as cupboard locks could have easily avoided) and you acted appropriately.

If it makes yet feel any better, ds was 2 days old and it was his first day at home when an (empty) mug fell about a foot and hit his eyebrow/temple. I was more upset than him, fully expected a black dog next to my name but never got more than a "oh yeah I saw you had to go in" from the midwife at my day 5 appt when I brought it up.

We all do things like this and we all feel huge guilt but accidents will happen Flowers

meow1989 · 09/07/2020 13:05

Black dot... probably not dog