Social Worker Called in - need advice

[Avi78]

My youngest 4 year, told his tutor his dad punch him in the head..!! - this is not true.
My youngest - when he goes to school is neatly dressed, not scruffy, not a mark on him, no ripped clothes, clean shoes.

I my view - the school had no reason to believe that my child was not being cared for - compared to other children that I have seem.

The school / teach has no really concerned that my child l was not being taken care of or mistreated.

I felt he school should of talked to me first..

I totally understand that the school has a duty of care - but I wonder if the school or teacher over reacted..?? - I do not know what the policy is.

can the school just call in the social worker without a good reason..? is there a procedure..? like could the school of monitored my child before calling in the social worker? - or did the school have to call in the social workers.

the issue now is that my partner wants to adopt my other child and we are half way through the process - now I feel that this will jeopardise this.

do I have the right to question the school decision..?

Did you have your training a long time ago Phoebe? I have always been told (and the procedure I/my school has always followed) is that parents are talked to and told about any referral unless doing so would put the child at more risk of harm.

That's how it is supposed to be jes.

How do you know that your DC's disclosure isn't true?

Its SS job to investigate and the schools job to report every single time - irrespective of who is involved or what has been said.

Schools do not ask parents first as it can damage the chain of evidence, should it need to be taken further. Schools do not always have the full picture either of families - members of the public will report to SS not schools, police, doctors, health professionals, nspcc, childline etc will liaise with SS not the school.

I agree a parent should be told about a referral (save for immediate danger cases) but I disagree that you should discuss the disclosure with a parent before/instead of a referral. The onus isn't on the teacher to determine the truth by speaking to the parent, considering other factors etc but to report the disclosure to someone who is trained in investigating potential abuse. Absolutely not suggesting this is the case for you op, but the teacher wouldn't have access to other agency reports so may not have the full picture.

Phoebe, it totally depends on what the disclosure is. It is often important to clarify the situation with the parent.

Discussing and informing are not the same thing. Schools should inform parents that they are making a referral - in urgent cases the social worker will come out and see the child at school before they are picked up - but parents still need to be informed that is happening. That doesn't mean the school will discuss the referral in a sense of trying to decide whether they pass it on or not.

Standard procedure. Neat clothes, no holes, tidy image is meaningless.

Yes point taken jes

In all my safeguarding training I have been told that any reports/disclosures by the child are referred to the Safeguarding Officer at school who is legally obliged to report it.

It is not unusual for the first contact with parents to be made through Social Services and the school is usually advised NOT to discuss with parents directly.

OP - if there is no basis of your child's disclosure, I'm sure this will come out in the process of speaking with the SW. Try not to worry! However, if it turns out to be true, then you will be in a good position to get support for you and your DC. Either way, it's a positive.