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Original poster

Social services, what happens next?

26 replies

ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 17:00

I have NC and will try not to be too specific about this so not to 'out' the person in question.

An acquaintance has had their children removed from them after concerns were raised by a GP. The youngest child of 4 has been found to have a current broken bone along with injuries that have healed but were still visible on an xray. The mother admitted she could not account for the injuries. All the children have been taken by social services. Father walked out 6 months ago and mother has no contact with his family. What happens next? This has happened this morning and I have only just been informed by a family member. Will she be arrested? I presume the children have gone to temporary foster care? I have helped her financially in the past and given moral support. She moved into the next county around the time the father walked out so I haven't seen them for a while. I'm quite suprised and upset for the children. Sorry if I have missed any important information.

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 17/02/2023 17:07

The police will interview her and gather as much information as possible. The father will be located and spoken to as well. All the children will be spoken to by police/social work if they are old enough and all will have medical and possible scans depend on what comes out of this. She will be treated as a suspect unless they can rule her out. The onus is on the police to find the evidence to work out who inflicted the injuries and if they were done with malice (rather than as a result of rough play or anything else). If she knows that her partner was hitting the children she needs to speak up. Was there domestic violence in the relationship? Is she vulnerable?

Jellycatspyjamas · 17/02/2023 17:18

In terms of social work they will work with police to try and establish what has happened and the level of risk to the children, they’ll look to secure the short term removal of the children while the investigation takes place and will put in place contact arrangements for mum - most likely to be supervised contact pending the outcome of the investigation. Part of the investigation will include medical examination to try and establish whether the injuries were non-accidental.

The police may decide there’s no grounds for a criminal justice response, or that there’s not enough evidence for one. Social work may however decide that there’s enough evidence of harm to keep the children in care pending further work with mum. Unless there’s reason to think mum poses an ongoing risk, the aim will be to return the children to her, but that may take quite some time.

Its best that your friend is open and honest with social work even if she’s scared about the outcome, there’s very little that can’t be fixed if parents will work with services to protect their kids.

Zippidydoda · 17/02/2023 17:44

Why @Jellycatspyjamas said.
Do the children not have extended family who can have them. Usually social care priories keeping children with family members father than in foster care , where appropriate, eg with grandparents or aunts etc.

m sounds very sad. Hopefully an explanation is found and/or the right choices are made for the children concerned.

3WildOnes · 17/02/2023 17:50

It will also depend on how young the youngest is. An immobile baby would be much more concerning.
The threshold of evidence is much higher for police than it is for children's services.

Oblomov23 · 17/02/2023 17:51

What are they accusing her of? If she can't account for the injuries. How old is the youngest? Father hasn't seen them for 6 months? are they implying she ignored him hurting the baby?

newjobnewstartihope · 17/02/2023 17:58

The police will probably arrest her and investigate. More often than not the case doesn't proceed due to lack oh evidence. In which case the children may be returned to her

Zippidydoda · 17/02/2023 17:59

Oblomov23 · 17/02/2023 17:51

What are they accusing her of? If she can't account for the injuries. How old is the youngest? Father hasn't seen them for 6 months? are they implying she ignored him hurting the baby?

I assume they’ve suspicion that the child has non accidental injuries, maybe from the type or amount of injuries.

Springintoabetterlife · 17/02/2023 18:04

It will have been the police who removed the children, they are the only people with power to do so immediately. It’s not done lightly. Within 48 hours SS need to speak to a family judge who will decide if the children will immediately return home (unlikely) or if they will remain in the care of SS while more investigations take place. SS will always look to place children with family members rather than foster care but they will need time to do appropriate checks on them first.

Springintoabetterlife · 17/02/2023 18:06

newjobnewstartihope · 17/02/2023 17:58

The police will probably arrest her and investigate. More often than not the case doesn't proceed due to lack oh evidence. In which case the children may be returned to her

The police and social service need different levels of proof so just because police/CPS says there is no case to answer it doesn’t mean SS believe the children are safe.

Original poster
ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 18:18

Thanks all, sorry I'm trying to sort my kids out so haven't been quicker to reply. Few points to make, I am receiving this information from her sister who social services won't engage with as she has been informed she has had recent contact with the kids so cannot make contact with them. The kids age ranges from 6 months- 12 years old. It's the 6 month old with the injuries. The 2 other kids are younger and quite boisterous. Sister isn't sure whether they have been rough with the baby even if this is the case obviously the mother is still too blame. Baby is currently in hospital. Mother has been arrested and bailed to a hostel. Not sure if they have been in contact with the father. Why has she not been allowed to return to her temporary accommodation? I have tried to get in contact but her phone is off. I presume being held by the police? Such a sad situation.

OP posts:
3WildOnes · 17/02/2023 18:22

A six month old baby with broken bones would be a massive red flag. Poor baby.
What is your experience of her parenting ?

Original poster
ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 18:22

The oldest will be old enough to engage with social services/ be interviewed. One of the middle 2 definitely isn't old enough and I'm unsure on the other one.

OP posts:
OurChristmasMiracle · 17/02/2023 18:23

The children will get a full medical and they will determine how long the children have had these injuries. If longer than 6 months both parents will be interviewed. If the child has a current broken leg then it will be deemed to have been either mum or someone that mum allowed to have access to them

with severe substantial injuries they are highly unlikely to ever return home and will be placed either within the family on a special guardianship order, with the dad if appropriate or placed for adoption.

mum is likely to only be allowed supervised visits and most likely in a contact centre and she will need a solicitor. She will also be at court in the next few days for an interim care order.

Original poster
ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 18:27

She's not a friend as in someone I seen that often, especially in the last year. I don't really want to explain the relationship as it might be outing. Her parenting of the older ones was fine in my experience like I say I didn't see her regularly. Kids seemed happy enough. She had a few financial problems though. I haven't seen her with the baby as like I say she was rehomed around the time of the birth and I hadn't seen her much at all during her pregnancy.

OP posts:
Original poster
ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 18:29

Thanks again everyone, it is obviously very concerning. I just hope the poor kids will be ok.

OP posts:
TragicMuse · 17/02/2023 18:35

Personally, I don't think it's your place to share such extensive information about someone else and their circumstances.

Worried or not, it's not your business to share with all and sundry.

Springintoabetterlife · 17/02/2023 18:36

ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 18:18

Thanks all, sorry I'm trying to sort my kids out so haven't been quicker to reply. Few points to make, I am receiving this information from her sister who social services won't engage with as she has been informed she has had recent contact with the kids so cannot make contact with them. The kids age ranges from 6 months- 12 years old. It's the 6 month old with the injuries. The 2 other kids are younger and quite boisterous. Sister isn't sure whether they have been rough with the baby even if this is the case obviously the mother is still too blame. Baby is currently in hospital. Mother has been arrested and bailed to a hostel. Not sure if they have been in contact with the father. Why has she not been allowed to return to her temporary accommodation? I have tried to get in contact but her phone is off. I presume being held by the police? Such a sad situation.

It depends on what the accommodation
is? If she has access to other children at the accommodation this will be why she can’t return to it.

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 17/02/2023 18:36

Probably no police involved.....which I personally think is ridiculous. Someone in my family had 3 dc removed after the eldest was found to have 30 bruises around his face and ears along with other bruising on his upper torso. His.younger brother had bruising to his face and.pinch marks around.his.ears. The baby was newborn and fine, he saved them from further harm because it was the health visitor who raised the alarm. This was during the summer hols.

She won't get the dc back, the baby was adopted, the elder boys are extremely damaged from their early childhood and will be in long term Foster care. She's allowed to see them twice a year.

No police involvement, no charges. The mother now works with vulnerable, disabled adults, alone on a 1 to 1 basis. Which to me is terrifying. Why incidents like aren't flagged on dbs checks is beyond me, it makes the system useless for keeping vulnerable people safe from people who are found to be real abusers at worst and unable to protect vulnerable people from harm at best.

Original poster
ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 18:41

TragicMuse · 17/02/2023 18:35

Personally, I don't think it's your place to share such extensive information about someone else and their circumstances.

Worried or not, it's not your business to share with all and sundry.

If that's your opinion then fair enough, I do understand. It came from a place of concern and I couldn't find an exact answer elsewhere.

OP posts:
Original poster
ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 18:44

PutinSmellsPassItOn · 17/02/2023 18:36

Probably no police involved.....which I personally think is ridiculous. Someone in my family had 3 dc removed after the eldest was found to have 30 bruises around his face and ears along with other bruising on his upper torso. His.younger brother had bruising to his face and.pinch marks around.his.ears. The baby was newborn and fine, he saved them from further harm because it was the health visitor who raised the alarm. This was during the summer hols.

She won't get the dc back, the baby was adopted, the elder boys are extremely damaged from their early childhood and will be in long term Foster care. She's allowed to see them twice a year.

No police involvement, no charges. The mother now works with vulnerable, disabled adults, alone on a 1 to 1 basis. Which to me is terrifying. Why incidents like aren't flagged on dbs checks is beyond me, it makes the system useless for keeping vulnerable people safe from people who are found to be real abusers at worst and unable to protect vulnerable people from harm at best.

What a sad situation, and like you say very surprising no police involvement. Thank god for that health visitor.

OP posts:
SchoolTripDrama · 17/02/2023 19:09

I expect you will be arrested, OP but only charged if they can find sufficient evidence that you harmed your children. They will locate your ex and do the same with him.

Original poster
ByAssociation · 17/02/2023 19:40

SchoolTripDrama · 17/02/2023 19:09

I expect you will be arrested, OP but only charged if they can find sufficient evidence that you harmed your children. They will locate your ex and do the same with him.

Crikey this has taken a turn 😒. I can assure it's not me, I'm grossly offended by this comment. Why on earth would someone in this situation post on mumsnet?? I'm going to leave this thread now but thanks for all the helpful comments.

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 17/02/2023 19:50

SchoolTripDrama · 17/02/2023 19:09

I expect you will be arrested, OP but only charged if they can find sufficient evidence that you harmed your children. They will locate your ex and do the same with him.

Don't be such a dick.

newjobnewstartihope · 18/02/2023 09:32

@ApolloandDaphne why's that being a dick?

ApolloandDaphne · 18/02/2023 09:36

newjobnewstartihope · 18/02/2023 09:32

@ApolloandDaphne why's that being a dick?

Because that poster is suggesting this is happening to to the OP and she is pretending that she wants advice for her friend. If it was happening to her she would know exactly what the process was. I'm a retired SW and have spend many hours explaining to families what is happening in this exact situation.