posted for traffic...can I refuse a SS meeting?

[ssquestion]

The circumstances are quite sensitive and identifying so this may be a bit vague.

I've been contacted by SS who want a meeting with me about my DC (over 16 but under 18).

My view is DC are over 16, not at school, not children and therefore don't need child protection. They are suggesting a meeting with me and then me and DC.

Can I refuse? Apart from anything else, I have no annual leave left til Xmas, so if I did meet them I'd be losing a days pay, which isn't great.

Just wanted to update:

Meeting has now taken place. We are awaiting final report but the SW we saw does not expect there will need to be a further meeting or any action taken.

My DC have not been involved and will not need to be told of any of this. Interestingly the SW said that SS are not able to contact my DC without my permission ( which contradicts some of the comments on this thread). And that if I refuse to allow them to see the DC albeit they don't consider they need to, as they are over 16 there is nothing they could do to compel me.

Hopefully that's the end of it. It's not been a pleasant experience but overall I think going ahead with the meeting was for the best.

I would have advised to go to the meeting and I'm glad you have done as I'm sure it's cleared up a lot of questions for you. Some social workers are great and some are scum just like many professions really, I've had the same experience with both doctors and nurses as well.

Hopefully that should be the end of it now for you and your kids.

I hope that's the end of it for you as well

Glad it went ok.

I wonder if they were specifically talking about your situation (which we don't know), when they said they can't see dc without permission or contact them, as that's absolutely not true for all situations.

I was told with great force and clarity that if they wanted to, they could see my child without any consent and without even telling me. The sw was trying to flex her muscles though, got the feeling she was used to behaving in a certain way and took my different response to it as a challenge to her authority. The police who were there too actually interjected to remind her that I wasn't under any suspicion in this situation, and she did check her tone (I was the one doing the reporting ffs!).

I did think she was right about their ability to put aside parental 'rights' though.

Glad its all cleared up. Did you find out why they thought this person lived with you?

They can override parental rights in certain circumstances. They probably have to have reasonable grounds and they obviously didn’t in your case. I’m glad it’s over.