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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think some posters are naive about SS?

999 replies

fudgeraisinbiscuit · 21/08/2018 10:29

I see many posts where people seem to believe either that SS will offer support and that parents who are loving and coping but struggling can contact them for a hand-hold, or posts where people believe a not ideal yet normal situation can and should be reported.

AIBU to think posters are naive about what SS actually do?

OP posts:
HectorlovesKiki · 26/08/2018 13:25

It depends on where you live. Lanarkshire SS are very good. Perth & Kinross SS are not interested in doing the right thing, they want an easy life so make decisions accordingly, great shame.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 14:07

Agreed Hector, we had a very good level of support in one area of the country but when we moved to a different area, received the complete opposite! Also, it would help immensely if complaints were answered properly and problems solved.

user1457017537 · 26/08/2018 14:14

Maybe one of the problems with children being removed is that family members are no longer willing to step up and take young children and bring them up. Someone I know said she couldn’t take her 3 yond gandchildren because she has to work, despite a comfortable lifestyle. Do you still get assisted adoptions, or money for fostering family members, because obviously this would help financially.

user1457017537 · 26/08/2018 14:15

I don’t know if it’s generally known, but you can employ your own private social worker to do reports on your family

auntethel · 26/08/2018 14:48

thehog you posted Pm abuse to me after this thread ends if you want......... I certainly won't be doing that, it's not my style. I do sympathise with you that parents threaten you outside and on the phone. Definitely couldn't do your job, if it entails that sort of response.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 14:50

user didn't know that. How long has that service been available, is it quite new?

user1457017537 · 26/08/2018 16:48

I think it has always been available I think you use social workers from an agency. A lot of the children’s homes are private now and are small, independant homes in residential areas. You can get your own medical reports via private doctors as well.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 17:04

user how does that work re a private social worker, do you know? Can you have a private sw instead of LA sw or do you have both?

DeriArms · 26/08/2018 17:40

User I’m an LA social worker with looked after children and am not too sure what you mean re private SWs. Do you mean independent social workers? Have seen these be commissioned/instructed within care proceedings to complete parenting assessments etc (eg if parents argued that they would not receive a fair assessment from the LA) and the costs either split between parents and LA or parents only, but unsure and sceptical about how within usual process a family would go straight to requesting ISW. For one thing it would cost families a fortune, for another the LA (to the best of my understanding) would still retain its obligations under the Children Act 1989 (eg to investigate suspected harm under s47, or to provide support under s17). Happy to be corrected/updated.
I have had cases within proceedings where parents and LA were agreeing to the use of an ISW but ultimately it was decided that the LA social worker (ie me) would complete the assessment - parents saying they were satisfied that this would be done fairly and court LA pleased not to have to fork out and pay someone else.

Thehogfather · 26/08/2018 17:59

aunt you know full well I was referring to your anger/ agenda. Better me than you taking it out on someone vulnerable who can't take it.

However there you go again, demonstrating your complete inability to comprehend experiences other than your own. You've now come to the conclusion that as I'm not in full agreement with you I must be one of the evil child stealing sws. I don't even work for children's services or in child protection.

But hey, if it makes you feel better to think I'm drunk, unfeeling, contemptuous, a child social worker or whatever else you crack right on.

Stillme1 · 26/08/2018 19:45

@Thehogfather - It is very destructive when there has been a very unfortunate connection with Social Work. My situation was many years ago and there can be no doubt about the original suspicion is and was completely unfounded. It is very difficult to get over such a bad contact especially when social workers can not or will not see what they did wrong.

Queenofthedrivensnow · 26/08/2018 20:02

@DeriArms this is my experience too. You can't just snap your fingers for an ISW you have to file an application to the court and there is a hearing for it. The applicant usually has to provide a gap in the evidence to justify an ISW. Following this the ISW has to give evidence in the final
Hearing.

I'm not aware of ISW outside the court system.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 20:12

Queen what does "gap in the evidence" mean please?

ChristmasCarrot · 26/08/2018 20:18

I have personal experience of them not being truthful or supportive, even when cooperating with them.

ChristmasCarrot · 26/08/2018 20:20

If you're already involved with the local authority, an independent social worker's views are irrelevant to them.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 20:35

Christmas same here as your first post. What was your situation? Hope you don't mind me asking and obviously don't answer if you don't wish to.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 21:44

The Midwives Association Report Adverse effects of Child Protection on Public Health was in 2007. Many people think that due to Baby P there has been much more vigilance and scrutiny which is causing the problems we experience with the service today. This is not true. The report was made before Baby P. My point is as follows: the service must have changed at some point for the Midwives Association to have written this report. It's a warning to the Chief of Public Health about the services. Say the report took one to two years to collate, then something happened in 2005/6 to change the services/ system.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 21:49

PP said it wasn't working so here it is again. www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/child-protection

auntethel · 26/08/2018 21:59

Has anyone any idea what caused the services to change enough, for the Midwives Association to alert Public Health Office?

Tessliketrees · 26/08/2018 22:06

"The Midwives Association" did not write that report.

It seems the last time AIMS (the actual group) released anything to do with child protection/social work was nearly 10 years ago.

auntethel · 26/08/2018 22:11

??? It's 11 years ago, the report.

Tessliketrees · 26/08/2018 22:15

They did something else about it in 2009. Then they seemed to drop it.

goodgirls · 26/08/2018 22:20

Maybe one of the problems with children being removed is that family members are no longer willing to step up and take young children and bring them up

Thats simply not true, their are more kinship carers than ever before. Why would you tell such lies? Your agenda and bias is showing....

auntethel · 26/08/2018 22:35

tess why do you think the services changed so much to cause AIMS to alert the Chief Officer of Public Health?

ChristmasCarrot · 26/08/2018 22:40

Auntethel. My situation is that I was reported, after I put in a complaint in about a racist health visitor. I proved that quite a lot of her report was lies, to the ss. They totally ignored that and now my daughter is involved with them. They've never offered any support, they've never tried getting to know about our family, they just agree with new health visitor. Whenever I've discussed my concerns with the way that they're working and ask them whether they've ever actually seen the alleged issues themselves, they say that I'm being negative.

Funnily enough, a couple of months before their involvement, I asked for their support on a housing issue and they didn't want to know. When they did the section 47, I showed them the complaint I put in, which was clearly dated before the report and again, they said that I was being 'dismissive', even though I last saw her before I made the complaint.

Whenever I ask whether they can help with something, they just say that I'm isolated, or claim that it's not their responsibility. They've never actually tried to be supportive.