Section 47

[FarmerNana]

One very stressed out Nana here.
My daughter is a single Mum of a 14 month boy. She co-parents with a difficult ex, an older man, who's house is a messy jumble and fall of hazards. On his day to look after babe, my daughter got several missed calls. When she spoke to ex he said he didn't know how it happened but babe had a burn on the back of his hand. Distraught she said asked to see babe and was horrified. Said he needed medical attention and had ex run under water for 20mins. No, he has put on face cream, wtf! After going to Minor injuries, them another 4 hours in a larger hospital A & E the ex constantly telling staff he had no idea what babe has burnt had on, Social Services were brought in and ex told he could not have contact until they investigated. My daughter has had to drive all the way to Bristol today and take babe to the Burns Unit.
This is the shocker. Suddenly she has been informed that ex cannot be certain the burn was not already there when he collected babe. He took full responsibility yesterday. Now daughter has been served with a Section 47. They have interviewed ex today but not daughter yet.
Has anyone else experienced this? Can he shift blame and get away with it? She did record the initial conversation where he is taking responsibility. He can be abusive so she does this. Can the recording be given to the social services as evidence.
So so sorry for the rant, but my daughter has been through he'll with this guy. He's got the cash behind him to get could solicitors.

A section 47 is an assessment being done under the child protection part of the children act 1989. It is on the child rather than one parent or another. It does not mean the outcome will be child protection but it could be. Child protection isn't court proceedings. I can really see why that decision has been made. Her poor little one has an injury that didn't get appropriate medical attention and which a bunch of explanations have been given for that keep changing. I would recommend you look at the family rights group website and think about talking to their helpline. But the best advice is to keep working protectively and communicating and ensuring she understands everything that is happening.

Thank you pieandchips999
Communication is very challenging with the ex. He will never admit when he is wrong, or if he is struggling. They have a day diary that travels with babe, but half the time he writes very little info. He is very frustrating, and it's confusing talking to him. He has no concept of the dangers a house can pose to children. He took 6 months for him to make a baby gate as he wouldn't go and buy one.
I will research the family rights website thank you.

She realy should not be co parenting with a moron

Unfortunately the moron is on the birth certificate and has father's rights. He is also from a rich family, so can afford solicitors

Ah @FarmerNana that sounds stressful. He sounds totally useless. Communication wise it sounds like your daughter has been communicating well with children's services. I meant keep that up. I'd probably distance myself front he dad if I was her. Noone actually knows how little one for a burn apart from him. Its either really neglectful or worst case scenario not an accident although hopefully not.

Hi @Pieandchips999 . My daughter is staying with me, and we had social services here yesterday. They were lovely, and very supportive. My daughter played a recording she had of when babe was returned to her, Dad/ex verbally says he's got no idea of how babe got burnt. They have said Dad/ex is not to have any contact whatsoever, and not to have daycare anymore. Even supervised contact not allowed at the moment. She has received a text from him, but no face to face contact. He seems clueless to how serious this all is, or how much distress he has caused his son.

I'd suggest that the burn is either the baby was sat on something hot (I was left on a cooker when I was a baby, was an accident).
She's doing the right thing, the best outcome is that someone owns the mistake & makes clear that it won't happen again & how.
If they consider it was deliberate (& I don't think you're saying this,) or neglect they'll want whoever is responsible to do something about it. They'll be looking at both parents to make sure it can't occur again.
This is a young baby & can't possibly protect themselves.

Update. So Social Services have closed the case. The Ex/Dad spruced up his house and sat their crying and talking about communication with my daughter, and how he wants to continue his daycare with babe. He said it was all a dreadful accident. They think he is fine to to continue having babe, but say my daughter has the right to restrict this. There words, do what you are happy to, it is your choice as a mother.
Now my daughter is left in the difficult decision of not knowing what to do. Everyone knows ex does not do communication, and more importantly will never listen about child safety. The whole family are arrogant and 'their way is the right way.' Like putting cream on a burn 😡. As he did not action any medical help for babe, my daughter has lost all trust. She knows if she restricts access, ex/dad will take her to court. They are a loaded family and extremely clever. She feels they would win.
I really don't know how to help, feel let down by the system and thoroughly helpless as a mum and grandma 😔

This is standard. What I'd say is that going to any sort of cpurt will be really traumatic & stressful, I'd absolutely avoid this. You can find a workable solution with the dad this is what the SS will expect, & the court would be the very last choice.

I suggest either

1, A Contact Centre or
2 No contact unless he goes to Court over it

I hope she gets maintenance