What have I just signed?

[snowpear]

As briefly as I can, dc has just turned 1 and still isn't properly on solids yet. Both nursery and I have tried everything we can but he still won't eat much except fruit purée, porridge and fruit custard.

At pick up today they asked me to sign a form because they said they wanted to see if the health visitor had any strategies. It's a form consenting to sharing information with children's services. On my way out they handed me a leaflet about how children's services use your data. Only then did it occur to me that that means social services. Doesn't it? Have I just consented to a social services referral?

Does anyone have experience of this? Because thinking about it surely they wouldn't need my consent just to get advice from a health visitor.

@snowpear Hey! Sorry to hear you're worried about this. I'm sure when I signed my daughter up to nursery, we signed one of these too. Just so information could be shared with Drs and HVs etc. Hopefully somebody will come on soon with advice but try not to worry :)

They would need consent to discuss your child with anyone else- many nurseries ask parents to sign to agree to this when they start using the service.

Personally I'd ask the nursery to explain exactly what you signed, and if you're not comfortable tell them you no longer give consent.

Honestly though if it's for issues with food I can't see why social services would be necessary- health visitor would make much more sense. Try not to panic.

Thanks, yes I did sign that original form also when we first started, which is why I'm wondering why they would need extra permissions now

We signed one as standard when we signed up for nursey , a blanket we can share what we want to share with HV / GP and early help hub.

I think you’ve got to be rationale, will CSWS get involved if that is the only issue? No of course they won’t. The HV will help nursey with ideas to help your DC.

@snowpear It might just be a referral to more specific help, if that makes sense? Please try not to worry. If the nursery had any negative concerns, I'm sure they would have flagged it with you

I work in a nursery and we have to get permission from parents to talk to the health visitor on their behalf, so it will be that

They don't need your permission to refer to social services. It wouldn't be that as there's no cause for concern there.

All agencies looking after children are meant to share information as part of the safeguarding procedures. It doesn't mean that the nursery are sneakily referring to SS but rather that if a concern was raised the referral could be made. I would go over it with the nursery but don't read this as anything other than procedure.Clearly your child will benefit from some expertise and it sounds as if you are happy about this.

Thank you. Think I will need to clarify this with them in the morning. If there is any deception there it would cause damage to the good working relationship I thought we had, which would be a real shame. The manager left abruptly the other week and now his keyworker is leaving. It all just seems a little unstable so I'm not sure what's going on.

This has nothing to do with social services. Children's services is the HV/GP/other support.

At that age our ds was only eating yogurt for every meal. We were under the care of specialists - social services were not involved!

If they felt the need to involve social services, they wouldn't be stopping to ask your consent.

There's nothing sinister in this...it's just so they can talk to HV about child if needed.
(I'm a childminder I have these forms too)

Information sharing can only be over ridden if there are safeguarding concerns.

I did this for specific advise on a child as a childminder for a child who had an extremely restricted eating and i suspected sensory issues involved.

I have to get specifically consent every time I ask for support for a child it doesn't mean ss are contacted it could be HVs, speech , portage or many other services.