Meetings most of the day so I'm not going to be able to keep checking this thread or my email if she wants to get in touch... ..here's the advice from my wife having only read this thread to lunchtime yesterday..
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Right - here goes.
She definitely needs to see a solicitor ASAP on her own with any notes on this matter. She needs to document everything (record all events by date, time, who she spoke with and what was discussed, what's happened etc. as she will need to refer to her notes later if matters are taken further, which I suspect they will).
If there's no court proceeding (which it sounds as if that's the case, at the moment) she may get legal aid subject to her financial position but I'm happy to see her on a free interview. She'll get legal aid regardless of her financial position if there's court proceeding underway.
The injury to the child's head is classified as non-accidental head injury, and bearing in mind the other injuries to the child, SS have a duty to protect the child and her unborn child, and investigate matters. For there to be internal head bleeding, the child would have to be shaken, known as "baby shaking syndrome" and all it takes could be a moments loss of control i.e. one shake.
SS have asked her to give her consent to put her child in "voluntary care" and if she refuse, SS can, and I suspect, will make an application to the court for an Emergency Protection Order (without giving her notice of their application) and at the same time they may also apply for an Interim Care Order. Once that is underway, both she and any of the child's carers will be investigated. She and her partner will have to undergo various risk assessments and possibly other assessments dependant upon nature of case and what else is brought up.
SS should convene An Initial Child Protection Conference, if they haven't already done so, and she will be invited to attend. She can take a friend along or her Solicitor but they generally do not get paid for attending. In any event, whoever attends with her can not speak for her; they are simply there to give moral support and take notes!
The purpose of the conference is for SS to set out, in brief, their case and decide whether the child should be placed on The At Risk Register and what actions need to be taken.
The conference will have all relevant professionals there i.e SS; medical professionals; police; child's school teacher etc.
There's too little info. to be able to advise properly, except that once SS are involved, they won't let go easily and sadly, I suspect her child may be taken away, at the very least on a short term basis until all avenues have been looked at.
If she wants, I can see her and she should contact me. She needs to act QUICK and get LEGAL ADVICE!