Was the family support worker spying on us??

[TheGirlWithTheGreyBunny]

So been having some issues with the school my children attend. My son isn’t settling there and he’s recently been given a place at a specialist school for children with dis abilities. He doesn’t start until September. I had quite a disagreement with the family support worker over it all and I didn’t like the way she came across about my child and we got into an argument as they wouldn’t let him stay full days even though he is of school age and needs a full time education. So she called social services on me and said I shout at my children. Social services came and closed the case down immediately. She called them again two weeks later. They closed the case down again and I pulled her about it Infront of everyone in the school yard at home time. Turns out she’s upset a lot of people with similar things!!!

this morning I dropped off the kids and came home. 2 hours later my partner left for work and said a car he doesn’t recognise is at the end of our street and she was looking at our house and she hid her face quickly when he drove past. I didn’t quite believe this so I drove along in my car and same again! She hid her face. I parked up around the corner and walked along where the cut was so I’d pop out just Infront of the car and it was the family support worker!! She again hid her face but I’d seen her at this point and then she quickly drove off and left before I had a chance to reach her car!!

now my partner is all ahhh she’s spying on us, wants me to ring the school ask why she was parked in our street watching our house then hid her face from us!! But I feel a bit silly ringing up asking all of that.

so could she have been spying or am I just over thinking things?? Could she have got my address from school somehow? I have this all on dash cam so plan to maybe taking it into school but then I feel bad if she was for some odd reason just sat there but it’s a quiet side street dead end. No reason for her to be here really. Should I go into school with the dash cam footage and say she’s sat watching my house or is that very unreasonable??

This doesn’t seem right. Nobody would make a social care referral based on the size of someone’s house. That’s just bonkers.

I'm so sorry OP.. years ago something similar happened to me
It feels like victimisation I know
I contacted SS and requested another support worker " as I didn't feel a rapport" understatement.. but my request was granted
Unfortunately, she sounds like the sort of person who would keep spying on you even if she's not your official support.

I agree about asking for a change in family support worker and making a formal complaint - how can they be doing their job properly if they are unaware of very old scars and can’t tell that an old surgical scar from a new one. This sounds like a support worker who is harassing you, not one whose primary concern is safeguarding or supporting your DS.

I’d also make a subject access request to get any correspondence of any form.

The excuse that she was trying to see how big your house was is utterly ridiculous. How on earth is she going to see that sat in a car outside it? And why would she be sitting there for any length of time if that’s what she was doing. Her behaviour sounds incredibly unprofessional and should be looked at.

She sounds a right cow. So much for being a family support worker. Doesn’t sound very supportive to me.

Sounds totally bonkers to me that she would have anything to gain by watching you? Why would SS care how big your house is? There isn't a legal requirement to have a house of a certain size.
Why would you shout at her infront of other parents? Why would you want them knowing your private business?
Why would she be so keen for SS involvement other than having significant concerns about your children?

A family worker is supposed to make your life easier not harass you. Ask for a change of FW and explain why.

This is harassment. She doesn’t sound like she is doing her job properly. Is it possible to make a formal complaint?

Does this family support worker work based at the school then? I thought they were a sort of social worker anyway.

Maybe your Dc is saying something and she's on a mission to help. Sounds a bit OTT and very stressful for you. All you can do is keep it polite and once your Dc is the new school hopefully you won't be involved with her.

I've worked in local government and the employee's carrying out surveillance work had to be signed off by our chief executive. Only they had the power to do surveillance and the approvals would have formally approved and noted through a meeting.
I'm guessing there may also be gdpr breaches and you should put your concerns in writing to the education authority.

I'd ring the police this is clearly harassment !!!!
Hope your okay op, you don't need someone doing this to you all the time on top of stress with trying to sort your children's schooling out- I know it's so stressful xx

I would make a formal complaint, perhaps even involve the police OP. What on Earth is her problem?

Keep the footage and request another worker urgently, one you can work with
sit on your hands to see if it’s a one off

I would complain about her unwarranted ‘stalking’ of you - do you think she’s trying to get back at you for facing her down?
I’m not sure if this actually a legitimate or legal part of her job unless she had obtained permission from a very senior manager.
Don’t let her get away with it and follow this incident up with her manager.