To think a lot of posters have a really naive idea about what children’s social workers are for?

[Summermeadowflowers]

This is not aimed at any one thread, but I have noticed a trend (particularly when someone is struggling parenting a child with additional needs) that posters are urged to contact SS for ‘support.’ I do think a lot of posters think that a mere phone call away is a lovely, understanding social worker who will act as a personal friend and source of support and provide you and your family with respite care and ongoing support.

I have also noticed SS as a ‘threat’ to posters struggling with their children, that if the school notice or the nursery notice any struggles then SS will get ‘involved.’ Both these views are just impossibly naive.

It isn’t just that services are so stretched that even families where removal is a distinct possibility don’t get support, it’s also that SS involvement isn’t a good thing. It would have to be disclosed when applying for places eg at educational settings, or have them informed for a trip to A and E for instance.

And we do have free autonomy on how we parent. Someone may do something you might personally think is wrong or unwise but that doesn’t mean SS can or should be involved on that basis.

As much as serious concerns should be passed onto them, I really think some posters believe they offer support which they generally don’t, and swoop in threatening to take children on the basis of quite non serious things like PND, shouting at children, etc.

That's interesting. Here schools and other professionals can refer to the family worker and a SW is rarely involved.

It is a social care service or a service commissioned ot funded by social care. Likely called something else to avoid people talking about workers "swooping in " and taking children and reducing stigma.

I had a family support worker after we experienced domestic abuse. She was brilliant, really supported my kids and helped me emotionally and physically detach from my ex so that I could pursue a court case against him.

So my experience differs from yours

Ok op 🙄 we will just take a random persons word for that and even if I’m on my last legs coping with a disabled child, I still won’t contact them.
I think maybe you have personal experience with SS that didn’t go well?

That maybe the case in your area but my son has complex disabilities and had a,children with disabilities social worker ,to access respite etc.

Which is exactly why I said in my area.

I think it's right to understand that social care is there to fulfil its duties and what you think you need to not always the same as the outcome of their assessment.

There is a view by many posters in MN that parents of difficult teens can call SS "and put them in care" . You can't just get rid of your children (unless there are serious safeguarding issues) but you could get some support with parenting.

In our area there is an early help team. School refer with the parent's permission. It's not instant but yes, the support worker (not social worker) that came out has been fantastic. She has been a listening ear and mortal support to me, she has been into both kids schools and instigated some changes in one that have really helped. She arranged counselling for me etc. Honestly that woman has really helped change my life.
So to anyone struggling I think I am entitled to say ask for help

From healthcareersNHS
'Social workers make a difference to individual and families by helping them live their lives more successfully.
As a social worker, you'll work with people to find solutions to their problems. This may be helping to protect vulnerable people from harm or abuse or supporting people to live independently.
You'll work with clients, their families and others around them and with different client groups including:
• the elderly
• children with disabilities
• teenagers with mental health problems
• young offenders
• adults with learning disabilities, mental health problems or physical disabilities
• people with alcohol, drug or other substance misuse problems
• refugees and asylum seekers
• families at risk of breaking down
• children who need to live apart from their families
• foster carers and adopters
• children who are at risk of abuse or neglect
• carers'

The fact the service is stretched doesn't mean the role has changed. I used to be a support worker and all the children I worked with had social workers who we could liaise with and go were present at review meetings.

Family Workers are part of the social work department - they are social work support

Op what is your professional expertise in this area?

it’s also that SS involvement isn’t a good thing. It would have to be disclosed when applying for places eg at educational settings, or have them informed for a trip to A and E for instance.

Not true. Children have a right to social worker involvement for a number of reasons, including disability, when social workers have a duty to carry out a care assessment and, when necessary, produce a care plan. If that was "not a good thing" and something to be ashamed of, there would be an awful lot of disabled children going without help they really need.

For the same reason, it's not true to imply that social workers only get involved in child protection issues. There are plenty of situations where social workers can and do offer very useful support. Yes, it's not guaranteed because there are not enough SWs and it's hard to recruit respite care workers, but it does happen.

Same mine believe in ebsa (emotional based school avoidance) refer for counselling etc and help with the school and avoid fines etc

I dont trust SS. Im sure they do good, but I don’t like someone with the power to take my child away, I guess it’s fear? Although there’s too many incidences of them not intervening and kids dying so maybe it’s entirely unfounded

Yep I was just about to say this

Social work sets are not the parenting police. They are there to help families who are not coping and to keep children safe.

They can and do provide support and shouldn't be viewed as a bad thing. For example many families with children who have disabilities get support from social work.

The support they provide isn't for minor things. It's when people are really struggling and not coping and that is causing harm or risk and where intervention is needed.

They are over stretched, certainly and this means they can't do all the things they should.

They certainly don't swoop in to give people a telling off because of doing things others might disapprove of.

And we do have free autonomy on how we parent. Someone may do something you might personally think is wrong or unwise but that doesn’t mean SS can or should be involved on that basis.
Well to some extent. As pp have said they have a legal duty to get involved at times.
And children aren't property. You don't have free autonomy to do whatever you wish.
Have posted before re your distrust and dislike of social services?

Not always. In our authority they're a different section. And sometimes they are charity based.

Thank you

No safeguarding worries so yes maybe that's why. They have disabilities but no one has mentioned that. Everything is dealt with by CAMHS and their EHCPs.

@HareMug

social workers do not have the power to remove children.

Children can only be removed if a court order is in place, for which there has to be a lot of evidence.

YABU because you're post deters people from contacting social services when they hear or witness something they are unsure of, like a neighbour shouting a lot at their child. Lots of concerned reports of small things can build up a picture of neglect or abuse that would otherwise be missed.

People should report. People should look for and accept help if they are struggling.
People mustn't wait until thing get 'serious enough' to consider calling SPOA. People should not worry that the school will be contacted to tell them your child has a social worker.

These are all things that may help a child.

I think your post is damaging and potentially putting children at risk.

Do you have any actual experience of social workers? Your view also seems quite naive and unaware of the different types of social workers and different reasons they may be signposted to a family.

There are situations where social workers can offer support, for example a disability social worker, and not all children’s social workers are allocated due child protection issues. Social workers absolutely can help support a family, they can help signpost families to other professionals and support services and access respite. I’m a special education teacher and a large number of my students have allocated social workers due to their disabilities whose role is to help the child and family despite there not being any child protection issues.

I didn’t know this. I think that’s part of the problem, lack of understanding, and as I said earlier, fear. I know my opinion is highly unreasonable, I appreciate that. And I have no reason for anyone to take my DC away from me, but there’s a stigma I think. It’s my issue and I need to change it.

I have realised that I don’t actually know the name of the organisation she works for! It is based in East Anglia but I am sure there are similar things in most places.