to be annoyed with Mner's suggesting ringing SS for the tiniest things.

[Fluffanstuff]

I don't know how many posts I have been on today but Its like an epidemic .
Am I being unreasonable to get annoyed about people suggesting or asking if they
should ring SS about ridiculous things.

No wonder some parents are getting so het up about social services turning up on
their door. I work in the sector and just want to say if you spot or hear something
in the play ground take it to the school / head not directly to SS yourself !

They are honestly way too busy to get involved unless there is decent evidence , its not your job to ring them !!

Am I the only one to feel like this ? Schools / groups etc have their own systems ,It bugs me as much as people ringing ambulances for things that can be dealt with at doctors or walk in centres . Its such a waste of resources.

I agree. They are not a frontline emergency service. If they spent less time answering these stupid calls then they may have more time to investigate proper concerns.
Although if helplines are set up in which any old Tom dick or Harry can ring then they have to accept they are going to get all this crap and get someone who's time is less precious to vet the calls.
Every school has a SENCO perhaps parents need more information about their role it may stop these inappropriate referrals.

If the system is stretched then it is up to management to try to ensure that all calls are handled, including the stupid ones. The last thing anyone wants to see happen is for some child to fall through the cracks because a witness thought the better of calling, right?

'It's five minutes of a SW assistant's time.
It's part of the service to inform and signpost.
It is within their remit.

Yabu'

I agree with MrsDeVere

It's the job of the duty and assessment team to make the decision about whether a referral has substance or not! In some cases there may be information on social cares records which are not on schools records! Yabvu to suggest that people do not refer in school grounds to social care! There seems to be a trend of people who seem to want to implement their own system. So op what you are suggesting is a school takes time out to refer and relates second hand information to social care, thus taking up more professional time?

And I should add that I am a cp social worker, so I'd like to think I know what I'm talking about ;)

Why don't you launch a call centre type hot line for all the nosy neighbours, sorry concerned to have a sort of triage service ?

inlawsareasses I'm suggesting it depends on the situation , and what it is thats happened and whats making you want to call. There are situations I put previously about the playground situation where a parent swore in a conversation with a child. They were litterally discussing what they wanted for tea. But because the parent swore another parent suggested they ring SS. There was no indication of abuse , the child didnt get upset...dont you think thats something to pass on to the school if you were worried rather than ring SS ?? Lets face it if the family arnt known to ss then they would turn around and say they wouldnt act , but the school may well turn around and put a reminder about language in the playground out ? or discuss with the parent perhaps having more impact than a call to ss would have ??

I think it very much depends on the situation if you have an feeling or a reason to think a child is being abused then ring ss by all means .But I think people need to think about what it is thats making them want to ring ? How is swearing infront ...not at ... a child abusive ..in some family's thats the norm.