Should I report this, and to whom?

[prettycandles]

At ds's nursery there are a couple of children who do not live with their mother, and I believe she is only allowed access to see them under the supervision of a social worker. I know this because she often picks them up from nursery, together with the sw, and all four of them go to the park for half and hour before they return to the nursery. The mum then leaves with the sw.

She (the mum) had a baby in the summer, so he's about 3m old. Today I saw her leaving the nursery with the sw, the baby in a sling on the mum's chest, and getting into the back seat of the sw's car. There was no carseat for the baby. I'm pretty sure they drove off in the car, but I didn't actually see that.

Isn't it the law that babies under a certain age must travel in car seats?

Only if one is available sadly. If she were in an accident the poor baby would be crushed by her body weight and the seat belt.

I see what you mean by the sw. Bloody ignorant.

BUT the sw should have known better! Surely ss provide sw's with things like car seats a this situation cannot be a one off. what happens if ss have to take a baby into emergency care? how do they carry the baby in a car then???

It is the law.

I guess if you want to do something about it, ring Social Services, ask them what there rules are with regard to SW's taking "clients" in their cars, and babies.

Obviously the answer will be babies must be in carseat, but at least you can then take action armed with correct info.

A letter to director of SS i guess would be the way to report it.

All children under 14 should wear some form of car seat. If not then it is the driver who is responsible if caught without

It is only law if there is one available. I would have though ss's policy was to have to take a car seat though.

Sorry my post crossed with Hercules and Pixiefish.

Ofsted say you must call for an ambulance, never take child in car - i know they don't govern SW's but would imagine they have similar rules.

Hercules, when you say only if one is available, d'you mean that is ss rules? or the law? Either way its crazy!

I don't know what the background is, but I also don't want to jeopardise the mum's chance of seeing her children (and the children their mum, obviously).

Law. Yes it is crazy.

no prettycandles- no one would want that but if there was an accident the consequences could be much worse. ss should have a car seat for transporting babies- something should be doen about it

wow i did not realise that was the case in this country!

Does that include taxi journey's then? i have always wondered about that.

'Listening' to you all reminds me that there is an alternative - I'll talk to the nursery Principle tomorrow. She's a very sensible woman, and very experienced with ss.

Black cabs I believe have to have a car seat or I think in a pushchair for some.

I spoke to the Principal of ds's nursery. Apparently the mum and the sw always come and leave separately, they only meet at the nursery. So they almost certainly just sat in the car to talk privately.

But the Principal is going to keep an eye out next week just in case, and if they do drive off in the car she will talk to ss herself.