Do social workers and the courts get it wrong sometimes? TW child abuse.

[Monthlymusing]

Obviously we know they get it wrong in that they tragically miss cases of abuse. This is about the other way round. Inspired by Marten and Gordon trial (please don’t discuss this specific case as it’s on going) I have fallen down an internet rabbit hole about the parents who truly believe that social services are out to snatch children from loving homes. There are thousands of them. Networks of people who help and advise people how to escape SS. There are open FB groups where parents share horror stories. I came across a ‘documentary’ on YouTube that was quite well presented, although I realise as a sane person, a good bit of anti ss propaganda. They interviewed many ‘middle class’ sorts of parents who all claimed their dc had been taken on imagined or fabricated allegations. One couples child had then tragically died in foster care, which made them feel vindicated as they had raised concerns the child wasn’t being properly cared for. The allegations against them were very extreme, almost unbelievable and involved family SA. This was quite some time ago but they have been very public about their case. They are actually in my LA, which was graded as inadequate for SS.

My thoughts are that if SS have concerns they are most likely correct and there are many parents getting away with abuse and hardly any wrongly accused to the point of losing their children. But like the police, presumably in a very small number of cases, it stands to reason that they sometimes do get it catastrophically wrong. Or are there enough ‘layers’ and enough professionals on each case that this is basically impossible?

I grew up around a very close relative that was on a CIN plan (or whatever it was called 25 years ago). This child wasn't removed, despite near starvation, fleas, headlice, etc.

Another close relative works in social care for young people. Things have to be much, much worse than most people can imagine for a child to be removed.

For a baby to be removed at birth there has to be an immediate threat to that babies wellbeing. Although my relative would never divulge details of her cases, she gives me the gist sometimes and Jesus, it's harrowing.

If your child has been placed on a CIN plan / at risk register back in the day, your parenting is nowhere near where it needs to be. "The social took my kids because I didn't take them to museums" is not a thing. The " social" take kids who would otherwise frankly die, degenerate significantly or be in significant danger all of the time.

Thank god for social workers and family courts, I say.

@Jellycatspyjamas

That certainly doesn't seem to be the case in England from my current work on a similar topic.

The issues with the family courts here (and the work of cafcass) are systematic and well documented - even the government has had recognised this to a certain degree which is why there have been changes this year including piloting changes to better protect DV victims. They have also been forced to be more transparent after much campaigning.

I believe it could well be different in Scotland.

@isthisfakefreehold child protection process is very different in Scotland, we have Children’s Hearings, which is a panel based system, for everything except emergency removal from home. It’s not perfect but it is arguably more child centred than a court system.