Not sure if I should raise a safeguarding concern with school

[G172125]

My daughter’s friends mum has a history of serious mental health issues. She has been sectioned 3 times in the past 3 years with psychosis.The most recent being January this year. The school are aware of this and as far as I know social services are involved. For the last few weeks I have noticed that she is not herself again especially this past week. I recognise the signs from the other times she’s been unwell. To make matters worse she is also 6 months pregnant. Should I raise my concerns with the school? I don’t know what to do for the best she’s a good mum when she’s not ill. I don’t want to be the reason she has her daughter taken away but also don’t want her to be put in any danger. There is also no way I could do this anonymously she will no it’s me if I say something.

It’s very unlikely that she will have her DD taken away, make your concerns known.

Yes, please do. Explain your concerns- they will be discrete and it is very unlikely to ever come back to you. You possibly have an important jigsaw piece for them/social services to know how to provide help - it won’t be a case of removing her kids, just providing the support she and they need for their own health and happiness.

Yes! Speak to the Head at school. Let them decide what (if anything) needs to be done / logged.

I was in a similar situation and reported to school. It was really obvious it was me so the mother came to my house to confront me and say there was never any support. She was banned from seeing her kids ever again which made her attempt suicide and then ignored the ban and she was put in prison. Deeply regret reporting it, wish had just said to her family and maybe GP. There wasn't any support from SS.

I mean this with kindness but there will be more to this that you’re likely unaware of.

It is INCREDIBLY rare to be banned from any contact with children and only happens in instances of serious abuse. If that has been discovered, you have absolutely done the right thing. If there wasn’t serious abuse, you may have heard a very twisted report of the outcome- perhaps from the disgruntled parents.

Regardless, children’s welfare must always come first and it is always the right thing to report concerns.

It is also worth bearing in mind that no drastic action (like removing children ) will be taken purely on hearsay- it will allow them to build a picture and monitor the support needed, but they’re not going to march in and snatch the children away purely because someone mentioned something without any other evidence.

That mentioning something could be a really important key piece of information, but it’s never going to falsely incriminate someone.