m hoping to hear from social workers, particularly those who have experience with child protection/CPS investigations.
I was reported to CPS, and during the investigation a social worker was assigned to my case.
At one point, I had an important interview/meeting scheduled. I attended on my own. When I returned, the social worker was extremely angry with me. He went on quite a long rant and asked why I hadn’t taken him with me.
What confused me was that he already knew the date and time of the interview, but he had never told me that he expected or wanted to attend with me. I therefore assumed I was supposed to attend myself.
He said things along the lines of me not respecting his position, and that I apparently didn't understand the importance/value of his role. I was honestly taken aback because I had no idea he expected to come with me.
He then told me that for the next meeting I should go with him.
I didn't do that. I told him beforehand that I would be going with a friend instead because I needed emotional support. Fortunately, the investigation was eventually closed, and I have had very little contact with him since.
It's been about a year, and I still don't really understand what happened.
From a social worker's perspective, why might he have been so upset that I attended the interview without him?
If he knew the meeting was scheduled but hadn't told me that he intended to attend, was I reasonably expected to know that I should take him?
I'm genuinely trying to understand his perspective rather than simply complain about him. Was there something about his role in a CPS investigation that I may have misunderstood?
I'd especially appreciate responses from social workers who have worked in child protection. Please don't speculate about the identities or details of the case — I'm just interested in understanding the professional perspective.