Child In Need Plan

[mommyof3wm]

Hi all, I live in Birmingham, recently been put on a Child In Need Plan re my daughter and have a newly trained Social Worker.

Had the first CIN meeting four weeks ago. There was me, dad, daughters school, social worker and Guardian. As of today I still haven't seen any CIN plan or any minutes from the meeting. The SW also made a false claim she said was on the draft plan. I asked for her evidence at the time, again I am still waiting any clarification re this.

I have looked online and can't see anything on the Birmingham council website re CIN procedures yet other councils do. On the others it says I should have had a copy of the draft plan, should agree any amendments etc.

I also thought the CIN plan was about my daughter yet the SW bought up stuff re me and her dad which wasn't appropriate. When I met the SW after she had no knowledge of the case history and refused to discuss my concerns. When I saw the SW at mine a couple of weeks after I found her to be verbally aggressive when I asked her to verify her previous claims. It felt like she was trying to stamp her mark on the case without even knowing it. I asked her to stop shouting, she walked out and two hours later phoned me as if nothing has happened. I've since been sent a text message from the SW asking me if I had sorted what she had said she would speak to my daughters dad about !

My solicitor says I should just wait for the minutes from the CIN meeting.

I thin the whole procedure is a mess so far. Does anyone know if I am right that a) I should have received a draft copy of the plan prior to the first meeting b) I should have received the draft minutes by now c) The meeting should be about my daughters wishes and needs and not what the SW thinks I am like as a parent .

I am fretting re all this and any guidance would be much appreciated

The meeting should be about my daughters wishes and needs and not what the SW thinks I am like as a parent

The CIN assessment includes looking at whether the parents are able to respond appropriately to the child's needs, whether they have the capacity to do so and whether they are able to promote the child's health and development. So I'm afraid you are wrong in thinking that the assessment is purely about your daughter's needs and wishes.

Thank you for your clarification. maybe i would have known this if the CIN plan was mentioned on the council website ! can anyone advise please re my other concerns, the SW now apparently wants to amend the draft CIN plan after the first meeting and without me seeing that let alone the new version !

Only advice I can give you is keep your own notes of everything and any proof to disprove their allegations. Record meetings between you and your social worker and let her know you are doing so for you to listen back on and take in the information after she's gone. You can't use them for any legal case and you're not allowed to record in CIN meetings but I would advise you do this in your own home. They have a knack for making you think you've imagined conversations or just making them up entirely, especially if they're trying to use your mental health against you.

Thank you. One of my big concerns was the SW raised concerns that had already been addressed and resolved in the ongoing family court case. When I referred to this & asked her why she was mentioning it she said this isn't about contact (when the question she had asked was re contact !).

I keep reading today that I should have received a copy of the CIN plan before the first meeting. Four weeks on and I haven't received them or the minutes from the first CIN meeting !!!

They always dropped mine off 30 mins to an hour before meetings, meaning I had no time to go through it and correct things and would turn up in a panic knowing at least 75% of it was either misinformation or a complete lie. My ex would get his at least 3 days beforehand, and a phone call. What they put me and my dc through was dangerous and I'm thankful I managed to prove the lies before it was too late. They went from having 'grave concerns' about drug use (wouldn't accept drug test results) neglect and abuse (accused by ex who was absent 3+ years, never paid a penny and was extremely abusive to me and the dc) to closing the case and dropping out of our lives within days of me seeking legal advice. Just keep your own records of everything and don't sign a single bit of paper until you have looked through it properly or had it checked by a solicitor.

Does anyone know please if the CIN plan procedures change if my children are still under the court process ?

My legal advice is they "might" yet everywhere I read it makes no mention of this.

My council does not have the procedures on their website, other councils do and they say I should have a draft plan before the meeting, have a copy of the meeting minutes in 10 days, any amendments should be referred to the parents first etc. It's been five weeks now. I feel bullied about it whereas at court I was told I could have my say etc. Thank you