reported to social services - any experiences/ advice?

[angrywoman]

This is for a friend who isn't on here but I am trying to give her good advice.
She is a LP. English is not her first language. She moved to the UK to marry her (now ex) husband. They have 2 children aged 3 and 6.
She has been back and forth to court with ex h trying to sort finances so under lots of stress. She has been told she must find work, sell the former home etc etc.
Hubby went off with another woman and the split was not amicable. He has the children over 1/14 nights and some tea times.
Another friend of hers who I havent met has helped her more. This friend called round to her house to drop something off to find her out at the shop and kids home alone (10 mins max?). She has now reported my friend to social services.
So, I have told my friend that they will probably want to visit and talk to her but not to worry too much and just assure them that it won't happen again.
BUT do you think her (delightful..) ex husband will be notified? What can she do?

nailak
I have not said her visa is automatically invalid, I said she may be illegal. If she is illegal and SS become involved her visa status may mean she is deported and everything else may be irrelevant.

I can see both sides of the argument here.
I agree that this lady certainly needs more help and support but she was totally wrong to leave such young children whilst she went to tho shops, if they were asleep then I could maybe be a little more understanding, there's been plenty of occasions where I have felt like leaving DS at home but never in a million years would I ever do it. I think it definitely shows that she is struggling, I'm sure she doesn't want to be a parent who leaves her children at home and I really hope that SS will be understanding and try to offer some support.

I would reccomend she contacts her local HomeStart and SureStart centres and also speak to her HV. All of whom will be able to offer advice and support. If social services see that she is seeking help and support then I'm sure they will look at this favourably.

Thanks all.
SW rang my friend who assured them she wouldn't do it again. The SW told her about the local children's centre. That's it. No visit and maybe no follow up.
I thought of home start too, I will tell her about it.
Sure there's no excuse for it but it happened anyway.
Having a hubby who's away for months on end is perhaps a little different to having one who persuaded you to have another baby only to then run off with some bimbo who 'dresses sexy'..... BUT we can't know all the details on here can we?

I'm glad the SS stuff is sorted. Please do get her to check out the visa issue though.