When I was a child circa 1994 or so, my parents had enormous difficulties with mental health and what I know think was domestic abuse . Social work were quite heavily involved over a very long time - ie I was taken into emergency foster care a few times and knew the social work team very well .
I remember we had e.g. carers come in to the house, various support workers, befriending type stuff but one of the things that sticks most is that we went to a sort of specialist nursery .
For at least some time we went to a nursery that was ran by social services . Think it was just a room that they used at the back of DHSS building . I remember it being a bit ‘hidden’ - ie you wouldn’t know it existed if not referred, you had to be accompanied by a social services employee and signed in . They gave out second hand clothing for free - literally just black bags of clothing that they took in sometimes . I can’t remember age limits on attendance - in the same building they also took children from the primaries and secondary school that had been excluded/expelled so probably quite a mix of stuff going on .
I’m trying to think if there would be an equivalent today, what it would be - something like Surestart maybe? I can’t remember what purpose it fulfilled or why anyone was sent there but suspect it maybe had an element of observing parenting/parenting classes or something . I suppose perhaps families are ‘monitored’ more closely so maybe there isn’t the same requirement .
I’ve never found the courage to ask for my social records as worried what I might find, but just find myself wondering sometimes - the building that the nursery was in is up for demolition soon and brought back a few memories .