Letter from social services; help!

[Seb101]

Today I have received a letter from social services referral and assessment department. It says my child has been referred to them! I can't speak to anyone until tomorrow, and I'm going out of my mind with worry! We are a normal, two parent, loving family. We adore our little girl. I can't think what it could be about. I phoned a general help desk and they couldn't help. The person I need to speak to isn't around today! But they said someone has referred our child, and this would be because of a concern over her safety and well being. It could be a doctor/ health visitor or a member of the public. We've had no accidents, doctors or health visitor contact; so unlikely to be them. I'm so scared of what might happen....
Can anyone offer any advice? Could this be something routine? Has this happened to anyone? My dd is well cared for, bright, healthy. I've never smacked her, or screamed and shouted at her. I'm a good mum, and she's my whole world. If anyone has experienced this type of situation; please help! I will ring them tomorrow, but in the mean time, I'm very worried!

[FishWithABicycle]

this is a zombie thread - the OP said in her last post that she was worried that posting about the situation here might be used against her by social services so she was going to disappear and not come back - she may no longer be a MNer.

[socialservicesrscum]

Hi I have only just joined mums net op are you ok? I've just read nearly all the bits here I was wondering if you are gonna come back with an update pls.I have interest in all social services cases as I have first hand experience of what it's like to be harassed by social services it happened to me when my little one was just approaching their first birthday it was a child in need case and it only happened due to a housing issue nothing to do with my parenting and I feel disturbed that people seem to think child in need only last for a few months mine went on for 4 and a half years and numerous changes in social workers.Then nearly two years ago again they became involved because I fought eviction and went legal,because I fought against eviction I was sited as having neglected my child and because I told my child we may have to leave the hostel they sited me as having emotionally abused my child which as we all know kids notice everything did they think my child wasn't going to notice? Now I always had legal representation for dealing with social services and I would like everyone who gets a letter or a knock on the door to please get legal representation for your child it's so very important.I took my case this time around to a whole new level and I went public and created a Google plus page and wrote a piece called the filth ridden truth about social services i recommend anyone suffering the institutional abuse that is social services to look at my google plus and the social services don't like it especially when you expose their chronic mistakes and failings also parents beware as there is an unholy relationship between your housing sector and the ss.My Google plus page can be found by typing into google plus the following name SOLLY SHERIDAN.

[ReputableBiscuit]

What happened, OP?

[puddymuddles]

Was reading this thread with interest. Hope everything went OK with SS.

[Koothrapanties]

Hope you are ok op.

[Lj8893]

Hope all has gone well today OP and your ok

[Andro]

orangeunderground - I wish all social workers were like you then, you sound nice.

[Spero]

Good luck, still scarey but good it isn't a concern about you, so you can rest easy on that score at least.

[BelleateSebastian]

ps- it was a relative who had just pleaded guilty (totally unbeknown to me) possessing indecent images of children, ss wanted to know what contact my dc's had with him, which was very little and never unsupervised.

[BelleateSebastian]

I have had something similar op, I still go cold when I think about it. All was well in the end but having a cp social worker round is terrifying, pm me if you want to chat.

[verytellytubby]

Good luck.

[orangeunderground]

miaow Your brother sounds like a sanctimonious prat (either that or he enjoys winding you up), I'm a social work manager and definitely would not employ someone who goes on like they've swallowed a 1970s textbook, or who feels it appropriate to make jokes about 'child snatching' to someone who has had an unpleasant experience with SS. I'm all for gallows humour but there's a time and a place.

In respect of showing emotion, its totally scaremongering to suggest parents shouldn't show emotion. I carry tissues with me for this very reason and where appropriate have offered a hand to hold. I often tell clients that I'd be more concerned if they didn't show any emotion (be it anger, worry, sadness) as after all we are discussing the most important people in their lives.

Best of luck with getting this sorted OP.

[MeMySonAndI]

Just seen the update. I understand how worried you must be but trying to see a positive in it, it is great they have managed to contact you as a preventive measure than being contacted because something has already happened.

Hope things go well on Monday, try not to overanalyse things and worry about "potential" risky people (difficult I know but you are getting your answers on Monday)

[MeMySonAndI]

Has anybody mentioned school attendance yet? I know someone who got a visit from SS for that reason, apparently the school secretary forgot to record the absences properly.

[CatWithKittens]

Perhaps full marks should go to Social Services for warning about what could be a potential threat - the proof of that pudding will be in the eating. However I have to say that writing a letter, incorrectly addressed, several days before anybody is able actually to meet with OP and deal with the issue, to say nothing of reassure her and her family, seems ot me to be both clumsy and unthinkingly unkind. Good luck OP - we all hope the fears that remain will be banished on Monday.

[hickorychicken]

Im glad its nothing reflecting on you OP and i have to credit SS with warning you.
Please dont worry yourself sick over the weekend

[smupcakes]

I work for SS in investigations and assessments - anyone can report and if they report things that meet a criteria there will be a follow up. In your case that is likely to be a 20
minute home visit and chat with your Dd. That will be it if there are no issues.

[munchkinmaster]

I have to say after all the scaremongering it sounds like social services are attempting to be helpful and empower the op to take steps to protect her child.

I still think this could be hard going op, you may have to rock the boat re family relations but at Least you will have the info to protect your daughter.

[saintlyjimjams]

Good luck OP. Your dd will not be taken from you, but you might be expected to ensure she does not have any access to the person concerned. They will tell you.

[rockybalboa]

Based on your update I would agree with the others that it is likely to be the new partner of a family member, neighbour or friend. I hope the meeting on Mon is productive. Shame SS couldn't be less cloak and dagger from the outset in order to avoid your sleepless nights.

[wherethewildthingis]

Hi OP so sorry that this has happened. Please be reassured that this os normal procedure if someone is identified as a risk to children, any child who has contact with them would be identified and seen. They will want to make sure you know the risks and are able to protect. It's very likely you will be asked to agree that this person has no further contact with your child. And they will need to speak to your child alone in order to check their wellbeing, please be assured that this is regulation and no reflection on I you. They will need to do an assessment, speak to child's school, health, etc. If your child is assessed to be safe and protected by you, there is a good chance the case will close very soon. I do hope it works out ok for you OP.