To Think Whoever Reported Me To Social Services Is A Bit Daft At Best?

[midori1999]

I had a call from a social worker this afternoon asking to see me today, saying a referal had been made. I asked what it was about and she said she couldn't tell me until she got here.

It turns out my DS2 (10) had been overheard by an adult telling some other children that he 'lives in a cardboard box, but it's OK, it's getting upgraded to a wooden one soon'. That adult had then made an anonymous referal to SS, who obviously had to investigate. The social worker just wants to check records etc with the DC's schools and GP, but said she suspects the case will be closed.

I'm not sure how she kept a straight face whilst visiting tbh. I realise it's better to investigate something that doesn't need it than miss something that does, but surely children say silly things like that all the time and why on earth would anyone think it was serious if all seemed otherwise well?

I've just completed my CP training today - in our local authority, it'd have been referred and the social worker would have begun to investigate. When found that it was a joke / misunderstanding, nothing further would have happened.

The trainer told us of a story that a young boy had marks on the back of his neck/shoulders which was spotted at nursery and said "Dave did it." - investigation proceedings began and as the SW, the trainer was the one interviewing the boy, asking what Dave looked like. The boy said "big...... hairy....... has four legs" SW was more and more confused at this point. Turned out Dave was the family dog!!

xstitch sorry you've had such a frustrating time with CPS. I HATE malicious calls - it such a drain on resources for one thing. Sometimes CPS knows that there is a history of malicious calls but still feels compelled to go out because they are in a legal bind if something does happen and it turns out they got x number of calls on the family and didn't look into them. Not the prettiest reason but its true - that and they don't know you personally so its hard to judge from a desk IYKWIM.

Thingumy does that really matter though if there are no concerns?

xstitch, appalling that anyone would think something beyond you rcontrol like that, and in fact a medical emergency could in any way be considered 'abandonment'. Your ex must be bonkers! Did SS really investigate that?!

It is wearing especially as I know I will have to put up with it for at least 10 more years. Longer probably as I sincerely suspect that he will make reports about my new baby (not his) just out of spite. I can't really enjoy motherhood as I have to constantly look over my shoulder and feel sick at every minor imperfection with the house, life etc.

More like evil minded and malicious midori. He knows something like that is outwith an individuals control he just likes to punish. They have to investigate every complaint and his mum works there so I have no chance.

I guess it doesn't matter but I hate having file against my name when I did nothing wrong.

My dearest daughter told her school teacher that I made her bruises on her legs and arms at the age of 5 (complete fabrication) and when we needed SS's help when she hit the horrible teens,SS felt the need to bring up this report 10 years on, which the at the time they agreed was a total fabrication and no interaction was needed.

What if they had reported that a child said they had to sleep in the bath
Victoria Climbie

It sounds daft - like one of those silly things kids say - except it was the tip of the iceberg of the neglect and abuse she was facing.

I think SS can't take the chance that one of those daft kids comments turns out to be the truth. People don't always want to raise it with the parents before they report because if there is a problem the parents will either cover it up (Baby P - chocolate over the bruises on his face) or just move.

I know it must have been a shock for you but they really do need to listen to the children more than they have done in the past.

daft as a brush mid. i'd be busting to know who it was!!

On a serious note, the recent MUNRO Report gets straight to the heart of this. Munro criticises SS for insisting on "Doing things right" (ie following procedures to the letter) rather than "Doing the right thing" (ie Using a bit of common sense and not wasting time on rubbish like this)

Munro rox!

Victoria Climbe was already known to several agencies including her local church. She could have said her 'aunt' was jumping up and down on her head and calling her a devil child and no one would have done anything.

She was thin, scabby and cowed. She was seen at a childminders, massive church that collects money and calls itself a charity, SS were aware, the police were aware.

She still died.

There is a woman round here whose modus operandi (sp) when someone pisses her off is to call ss.
She is a childminder so knows exactly what to write/say. She is very specific. She will put 'the children are frequently innappropriately dressed', the children are 'often kept off school' etc.

She has done it three times to my knowledge. All to people who have crossed her. Its incredible she gets away with it.

Of course it is OTT. Either someone has been malicious, or is being daft and over zealous. I know youth workers in training will have been told not to investigate disclosures of abuse themselves, but just to report it. It sounds like someone zealously applying that good principle.

Many SS Depts wouldn't have investigated this as they would be too busy to deal with rubbish like this. The fact that they did must mean that your local SS is well resourced and maybe that there are lower levels of child abuse in your area.

But the SS would know it was rubbish and is just going through the motions. Speaking to school, etc is standard if investigating a complaint.

Yes it will remain on your record, but really don't worry about this. It is totally standard - the idea being that if there are future allegations an earlierunproven allegation may contribute to a better understanding of what is going on. What it will mean in your case is if someone again reports you for a sleeping in a box remark, the SS will look at the file and say ignore it we alraedy checked this out.

MrsDeVere - Even if everyone knows this woman is maliciously reporting things to SS it would ve very difficult to do anything about it. The only thing that could be done is a police prosecution, but it would be very difficult to prove that she was lying and not just being over zealous or misinterpreting what she saw.

If she has done this 3 times SS should be aware of this and it will affect how they view an allegation from her. But if her allegations are specific, they really have no choice but to investigate even if they know it is rubbish.

Of course, thats the problem. She knows exactly what to write so they HAVE to follow it up. They would be mad not to. They have no choice even if they suspect she is lying.

I am suprised that none of her victims have kicked up a bigger stink. There is a real culture of 'no grassing' round here. Ridiculous in these circumstances. There she is 'grassing' them maliciously but they wouldnt dare 'grass' her.

I know SS would have to investigate, would not be able to comment on who did it etc. But I would make bloody sure they knew I knew who had done it and that she had done it before.

People are so scared. The women round here tend to be really gobby and lairy. Will fight in the street etc. But faced with authority they lose all that front. Thats why she gets away with it.