home alone

[aquariel]

Hi all,

Looking for some advice at the moment (esp. as I'm livid atm!) and apologies in advance if this post is in the wrong place

Got home from work today to a letter from our local authority which reads:

"Childrens's Social Care has recently received some information which suggests that your son is being left home alone at weekends. Although no further action is being taken, we would be bery grateful if you could contactus on the number provided and ask to speak to the duty social worker about this matter."

My son is 13 years old and has NEVER been left home alone for more than a few hours but "someone" (and yes I know the local authority aren't allowed to say who!) has said that I am basically neglecting him by leaving him alone at weekend. For what it's worth, there is NO mention of my youngest son being left alone (who is almost 10 years old)

Both children have been away at one set of grandparents or the other for most of the summer holidays and only came back on 1st September, so there has literally been ONE weekend that this letter (dated 9/9/14) could have been issued from. I did work overtime last weekend on both Saturday and Sunday of this weekend but my other half was at home the with both boys.

I'm ranting a bit now but seriously livid that there seems to be someone who has nothing better to do with their time than report things to council instead of speaking (sorry we also received a letter last year that our dog (now gone to heaven) that based on a complaint from "an anonymous source" was being allowed to foul on the paths - trust me that NEVER happened)) .... although I wonder if I've somehow offended a neighbour, despite barely speaking to anyone on our street from moving in two years ago!

Just need to try be calm when I call tomorrow but any advice would be appreciated!

Just call them be polite do not rant and explain why the situation has not happened.

Think of it from their (SS) point of view - someone has reported it. They have to follow it up. Just explain calmly the sequence of events and be polite.

Try to remove the fact that there is a pain in the arse (being polite) someone doing the reporting whilst talking to SS.

May also be worth before you call just jotting down the last few weekends, what you did etc so you have the info to hand.

From what I understand SS are under no illusion that some reports are malicious/unfounded and will listen with an open mind.

Few years back a friend of mien came to the attention to SS due to a silly occurrence/unwarranted reporting from school. SS swiftly came to the clear understanding that is was all a mistake - but did have to follow it through just to follow procedure/cover their backs.

The SW will most likely be looking for a conversation with you that can let them close the case as a teenager home alone is not worth a whole assessment over (I am one and that's what id be thinking). If what you say here is true then just say that and it will be fine

Am I the only one thinking a NT 13 year old is able to stay at home anyway. What a waste of resources.

Thanks all for your messages (calmed down a bit now), I know that social services have to follow these things up (my own job deals with an aspect of safeguarding but we'll leave it therre) I think the thing that does make me really perplexed more than anything is that there was no mention of my younger son (10) and that my son who was mentioned in the letter was referred to using my surname (he has used my partners surname since entering reception at about 3years old!)

I will be calling tomorrow as soon as I can as I want this matter cleared up and closed asap, but thanks again .... it's nice to know that other mums have a similar outlook to me ... and yes the 13year is a very typical 13year old (sips juice - diluting only as we don't buy pop!) and plays PC games with his friends - now bath and bed I think

Use a speakerphone if you have one and have a recorder going. You need a full and permanent record of this call. And keep it until DS2 is adult.

Good luck and do not worry more than you can help.

That is just ridiculous! The culture of reporting is just so disgusting. I wish people would get a life. I am so sorry for you that you have been reported for something that is in a way a good thing, I mean, how are our children ever going to develop any kind of independence if they can't be left alone because some b*tch (sorry, but a man would never do that) has nothing better to do?