Social services

[gottogetoutmore]

Hi,

I have posted another thread under MH re this issue a while ago but was wondering if any one can give me some advice as to what i can do legally regarding this.

I was referred to ss when pregnant without my knowledge due to history of MH issues. Was seen a couple of times sfter the birth (which was truly horrific due to ss alert) then told i would be discharged. I was also told by the ss manager that I was referred as people with mental health problems are unpredictable

I
found out a during my pregnancy that there was a child protection alert added to the hospital computer that is not exclusive to just the local hospital, it covers the police, GP, all hospitals in the London borough, childrens centres etc etc. My husband and I where never told anything about this, it was never discussed with us. I only found out when i tried to cancel an unnecessary outpatients appointment when pregnant. After hearing a muffled conversation between the receptionists after i gave my name, i was told i was not allowed to cancel. I have since been in touch with the hospital who says that the alert should not have been added as our dd was never under any child protection procedures. However the alert remains and is having/ has had devastating consequences for us. I feel so overwhelmed by all of this. I have had a horrific experience that is far to much to mention in one post. It is also ongoing and really don't know what to do. Unfortunately we are not entitled to legal aid and we cannot afford to pay.

SS have been so antagonistic I am terrified of speaking to them. DD is now 6 months old.

Who made the original referral to SS?

It may have been your doctor, I wonder if you could complain to the BMA and make a complaint against your Doctor.

Thanks for reply.
It was a midwife at my booking visit a year ago ss informed me recently. I may have a claim for disability discrimination against her but it was a year ago and i have heard you have to complain within 6 months? And we can?t get legal aid.

The six months commences when you learn of the fact that you have grounds for a complaint. So make a complaint against the midwife on the grounds that she had no evidence to support her concerns.

Thankyou, i am going to do that tonight. I have been around the houses with this whole saga as well being a new mum and all that comes with that. What a relief im within the timescale!!

What about the alert? i am desperate to get it removed seen as that it is not supposed to be there. I am aware once the referral goes to ss then they are acting for my dd and as she is not disabled she won?t be covered by the dda. But surly there are procedures to follow by ss if they are raising a child protection alert? Don?t they have to discuss with the parents? Just to highlight, we have no criminal record, history of violence, drugs, alcohol, domestic violence etc. Not in serious debt, homeless. The only perceived risk factor is my history of MH and i have never been under section. And our dd would most certainly not been at risk if they had have discussed the alert with us.

What authority and what consultation did the midwife have with anyone else before she made the referral. Were did the midwife pick up her worries from, I wonder.

If I were you (and I have had some experience in these areas) I would ask your GP for help with this. Usually SS ignore Nurses.

One more question for gottogetout, Is this your first child?

She asked if i was on medication for mh problems. I told her i was not as i wasn?t prescribed any. She has based her referral on the fact i was not on medication, but failed to mention in her referral that i wasn?t actually prescribed any. Her words on the referral form are ?has history of mental health problems and is not taking medication". (i have managed to source a copy of the referral form)

How can i take medication if i am not prescribed any!!

I am unsure if she consulted with anyone, but looking back she did leave the room for about 3 mins so she may have done so then? But at no point did she discuss it with me .

The only thing i can conclude from why she referred me is that she heard the word ?mental health problems" and filled her head with the usual stereotypes

Did she need some kind Authorisation before she sent the referral then i wonder.

I had just finished work before going to appointment. i worked in a residential unit with teenagers. Also funnily enough i had just finished a course to become a social work practice assessor for social work students on placement at my place of work.

Yep first time mum

In my experience, SS do not pay much attention to referrals from Health. In my experience Social Workers do not attach much weight to referrals from nurses, they often just ignore them.

Thanks LC. I am going to revert back to op, social services referral. apologies for confusion [embarrassed]

But just to add. I think you are right. They didnt really seem that botherd and i only saw a social worker twice. She came to our home after dd was born and left saying there was no problem and "oh you have nappies". ( often wounder what would have happened if we didnt!).