Social services

[NotSoThinLizzy]

So I've made two threads before this one about my DS bruise we've had blood tests done and we got back and there was a policeman at my door wanting a chat. Gp has referred us to social so police had to come check the kids. He said he's happy. What happens next? Was the gp just covering her ass? I'm scared.

not sure what to say hope someone will be along soon x please dont be scared youve done nothing wrong

I think ss will do a thorough investigation now, which will take a few weeks.

Is there any chance you have an inherited connective tissue disorder in your family? This is important to get ruled out, by an actual specialist, not just by a GP.

Also any other health conditions such as clotting disorders.

Sending the police to your door isn’t a usual step of a routine social service investigation. It suggests a level of urgency or panic on behalf of the services which needs alleviating, so I think you need legal advice, quickly, and take it from there.

Be open to all assessments etc, but also be informed and aware of what is going on.

Well - OP’s DS has been seen by haematology today icw the bruising, but as the results were not available same day (the basic blood count is a pretty quick test to run) then I suspect they’re not too worried.

NotSo - I’ve only really noticed the bruise thread. Has DS seen GP fir anything else recently?

What?
Is this the same GP who sent you for blood tests today as he wasn't confident in taking them himself?

An a police officer came for a chat because he reported you to SS?

Yes same gp

And nope hasn't been to gp in ages

Sorry this is happening to your family.

Why do ss have so much power? Over a bruise? That's terrifying. My DD has had bruises. Can anyone just report like that?

Been looking on internet and they get the police to ask permission to gather information so that's what I think that was. He said he's more than happy with the kids not even a hint of being worried

Sorry my post is no help OP. Hope they get off your back.

Well exactly I noticed a wierd bruise went to get it checked out and now all this carry on? If gp thought I was abusing him why put him through blood tests

Anyone can report but if it's in an unusual place e.g. where grabbing marks could be made then professionals have a duty to refer. Nothing to worry about if no concerns there. But remember for some children a bruise can indicate something else going on at home so they do need to investigate.

Police report will go back to social services system. They may just close it if police happy or may do a telephone call assessment or a home visit. Just answer all questions honestly. Kids have accidents and professionals know this too. You've also gone to gp when you saw bruise rightly so.

Hope this all settled quickly for your family.

Why tell me they are testing for fucking leukaemia it just feels so sneaky

Sorry I'm reaching the end of my emotional tether. Going to sit down and have a coffee then get DS to bed. He fell asleep in car on the way back and I didn't have the heart to wake him after his ordeal

Petite it all depends on the bruise and the child. A toddler with bruising on the shins wouldn't be a concern as they occur so easily when walking playing etc. However a bruise on a non mobile baby would raise huge red flags as it couldn't inflict it on itself. It also depends on the story behind the bruise, bringing a child to a&e with a "blue egg" on their forehead saying he hit his head against X, is a reasonable explanation and not as much concern as an unexplainable bruise on the inner arm for example.

So depending on the age of child and location of bruise, a referral to social services is made. Many people respond to sad stories such as Baby P with "why didn't someone do something?". This is the Gp doing something so that if a family of a child with a bruise needs professional input, they can receive it.

Op this is in no way commenting on your child/family/parenting. Just know that the professionals involved are doing what they're supposed to do, because sometimes the child needs a non family member to step in. Unfortunately, child abusers don't wear badges so every child with unexplainable bruising has to be checked out despite the worry that the process brings. It's not ideal but essential to protect some children.

I wish you and your family all the best as you go through all of this medical and social minefield. I hope your worry is resolved quickly and without long term impact.

Op I've commented on your other thread, I'm sorry I don't know the age of the child but if there's an unexplained bruise on a non mobile child then medics would automatically refer to both police and social services. The three sectors have a duty enshrined in law to talk to each other and agree on any next steps, until any of their roles can be ruled out. It is unusual that police would be waiting for you, by the sounds of what you've described I wonder if it's just come down to there was no one available or it wasn't suitable for people to talk to you earlier and there has been an officer available to do a 'safe and well' check.
It cannot be the medical professionals responsibility solely to determine whether something is entirely a medical issue or whether there's any more to it, and sadly in the past this approach has led to abuse being missed. The three agencies being involved initially is standard protocol and please don't take it as any comment on your parenting. Trust me, as a social worker with experience of this part of the job, you would absolutely know if SS or police had any further concerns at this point, we're very used to having blunt conversations with parents when neccesary.

I'm so sorry you're going through this but please try not to worry and allow yourself some rest and focus on your child.

I'm calmed down a fair bit now as I've realised after a good talking to by my mum that even if it does go further then they will find nothing to worry about at all. I've never missed an appoiment with my DD peaditration who she sees for adhd and possible autism. She's never had any concerns. I've always taken DS to baby wiegh in at clinic every 3-4 weeks where he gets naked and there's been nothing.

They just need to check and tick the boxes. If there's nothing of concern they will just close the case

I don't understand if I'm honest.

Having had a lots of experience with AML and childhood leukaemia, I don't understand why you are waiting for results? It's a blood test that comes back incredibly quickly when ordered by oncology.

Just seen in your other thread that the child is mobile, but even so an underarm bruise is unlikely to be from play (as you said, it's s 'weird bruise' , presumably he's at that age where knees, shins and even forehead bruises are fairy common and this one stood out to you)
From what you've described it's being assessed as a medical issue but the other agencies have to be included until medical causes are confirmed. The things you've talked about (taking him to the GP, getting him checked out) will all have been noted.

I can appreciate if you've never seen the other side of it it can make you worry that there's something secretive going on. I've literally sat with parents before who have avoided taking a child to a doctor for days and claimed never to have seen multiple bruises ir grazes on a child (despite apparently bathing them every day). And sadly we see injuries due to rough handling. It's not always immediately obvious and it's right that it's a group decision on how things are handled rather than left to the medic at a&e.

They’re covering all the possibilities, that’s all. A social worker will see you and the children, talk to any other professionals involved and if they don’t find any concerns will close the case. From the GP’s perspective, both Leukaemia and physical abuse are possible explanations for the bruise so they’re right to get tests/assessments for both. Is very tough for you, though, and you have my sympathy. Your Mum’s advice sounds good!

I'm glad you're mum has talked you round, she sounds like a good support.

There's a standard misconception that a referral to social services means it's been decided that parents have done something wrong. The vast majority of referrals to social services result in signposting or advice or no action at all. Only those where a concern is substantiated and meets threshold for intervention actually result in a service. (NB that isn't limited to a child protection concern but where there is evidenced need, including children with disabilities etc)

Are you in the UK? I literally have no idea why the Police have visited. A referral to Children’s Services would mean a social worker visits and would involve the Police if they thought necessary. Not the other way round. It’s very odd that one Policeman visited alone without a social worker, or even a colleague.

@ursulaunderstudy in the daytime yes, but if it was out of hours that the request was made it's quite possible that police in the vicinity would have been asked to do a 'safe and well'. There's often only one social worker to cover a metropolitan county out of hours, theyre often not set up to do visits to peoples homes. In our area the the our of hours social workers realistically only do phone or attend a&e and arrange emergency placements.

Yes uk Scotland 😊 I'm feeling much better about it now. Think it was the shock and the worrying that sent me a bit panicky

@Threadastaire clearly varies across the Country. If I rang the Police and asked them to do a welfare check on someone who’d presented at a GP surgery a few hours earlier for a one off bruise, I’d be laughed off the phone.