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AIBU?

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Original poster

The Sara Sharif case: what is the point of taxpayers funding these failing organisations?

232 replies

softstone · 13/11/2025 18:15

This appalling case has highlighted catastrophic failures of many organisations. If I failed in my job to this extent I would be sacked and possibly jailed. Yet the upshot of this report seems to be oh dear yes it’s a terrible shame, never mind.

Why is my tax funding these useless departments? This is not part of the social contract. We’re supposed to live in a civilised society. It’s awful.

OP posts:
PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 14/11/2025 18:41

SurreySENMum · 14/11/2025 18:34

Which is exactly how I manged to ignore my socail worker for a year. Because I'm very well educated and wealthy. Someone has decided I'm a nice person and people like me do / do not. . .

The law says my child in need needs to be observed every x months "but we don't do that in Surrey" ie we don't follow the law

Child in need is voluntary. If you don't consent to them seeing your child then they can't see the child

Driftingawaynow · 14/11/2025 18:58

Alexandra2001 · 14/11/2025 14:54

Do you think she did this deliberately, deciding oh i'll let a child go back home and see what happens?

She made an error, a very costly one but did rely on the evidence of a inexperienced SW who said that she had no concerns Sara would be harmed & went on her recommendations.
She also went on a report that ".... concluded that the children were being given stability and appropriate guidance by the father and stepmother and recommended that a child arrangements order should be made in the father’s favour"

Not a fan of scape goating people, who have no right of reply.

Perhaps would be better to ask why an inexperienced SW was given this case and why SCC issued this report?

Show quote history

Judges ignore or follow social worker’s advice as they wish, they are not compelled to do so. They are senior, powerful and have experience and training in these matters, but clearly make insane decisions. DV is routinely minimised and dismissed in the family court system. If you don’t believe me read the Ministry of Justice 2020 harm report. The judge is not a voiceless victim in this, Sara was because of her serious error which had consequences which could easily have been predicted. She should loose her job, but first she should resign in shame. Neither has happened.

TryingAgainAgainAgain · 14/11/2025 19:00

PumpkinTwistyWindToots · 14/11/2025 17:09

Do you think social workers decline to intervene with some families because they are lazy and can't be arsed? It's because in the hierarchy of risk the families you're discussing do not represent the priority. Social services do have to decline some referrals even if professionals would like them to intervene. There aren't enough resources to work with every family who would benefit.

Show quote history

Not declined referrals. Inaction after referrals accepted. And not laziness exactly, more an ingrained cultural complacency, and an indefensible focus on the parents’ perspective. You know, that misdirection that was so criticised in Lord Laming's Report? In the worst case, another county’s SS asked for my notes a few years later as they were building evidence to remove a baby at birth from the father. But sure dismiss it.

Anakan · 14/11/2025 20:35

Arran2024 · 14/11/2025 16:50

Part of the problem is that professionals like social workers start off working with a family to support them with their parenting. It's all about building trust with the parents and having a good relationship with them. That makes it hard for them to suddenly recommend that the children are removed.

I adopted two children who were seriously neglected. They had huge files - just about everyone day another neighbour, teacher, medic, family member even contacted social services with yet another concern, and it was simply just added to the growing pile.

The birth parents were actively avoiding the social workers too. They were never at home for visits.

But the social workers kept ploughing on with a "be nice" strategy to get the birth parents on side.

I said before, it's only when there is a catastrophic incident that anything is done.

I have the minutes of the meeting where my girls were taken into care. There were 14 professionals round the table at that meeting - social workers, teachers, nursery staff, paediatrician, GP, police, health visitor....the threshold for removal is high, often involves lots of agencies, and is seen very much as a last resort

If there is no catastrophic incident, they just keep giving another chance.

Thisis so true. People think that removal is easy. Reminds me of Hakim whose mother was a prostitute and crack addict. She was using his asthma inhalers for smoking. He died of an asthma attack in the garden freezing cold knocking on the garden door of the neighbour who was too scared to let him in whilst his mother had passed out. Social workers said he would die that weekend. They didn't remove him. He died. I utterly hate this system and am disgusted and traumatised by the inability to do anything. Everything is a but. Why can't de, home Ed visitors have more power. Why is home Ed allowed under these circumstances. Why is that judge Alison Raeside not accountable. Why is the system so underfunded.

suburberphobe · 24/12/2025 02:02

There definitely aren't enough staff to go checking up on home educated children just in case.

The reason "home educated" children is not allowed in my counrtry.

Thank god. Going to school helps socialise kids.

Theolittle · 24/12/2025 03:59

“what is the point of taxpayers funding these failing organisations?”

The problem is that taxpayers aren’t funding them enough. Years of austerity and cuts to Local Government and it’s not going to get better anytime soon

Philandbill · 24/12/2025 04:21

Abitofalark · 14/11/2025 12:38

Your dedication is extraordinary but it is also punishing on you and your children. I know you can't bear to turn away from what you see but really you need to look after yourself too. You can't fix the world and do it all on your own even if you work yourself into the ground. It's a trap.
Perhaps you can think about ways to reduce the burden of such long hours and being up half the night to finish reports. In the end, you may have to prioritise, however hard it is. At least start small by deciding to finish one evening at 5, then build on that, aiming to do it more often until you get up to, say every other day.

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This is so very patronising @Abitofalark. Do you honestly think that @TiredAndStressedSW doesn't already know all of that? Sometimes there is simply too much work to do as the system is failing.

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