Social services help.

[Amz1986]

Hi,
I'm currently going through family court (private law). The judge ordered for a section 37 to happen. My ex asked for a child and family assessment to be done at the same time. Can anyone tell me why both of these reports/assessments will be being done together at the same time? Social worker asked me if I'd be willing to work with social services and when I asked in what way she said she was thinking about my child going on a child in need plan. This was mentioned around 5 weeks ago and I've not heard anything about going on 1 since.
Will my child get put on a child in need plan from the time the social worker asks if I'll work with them or will the plan start from when they file their report to the court?
Thanks for any advice

So, a S37 is a step up from the standard S7 where the courts/a parent has safeguarding concerns that need to be explored by the Local Authority. Your ex cannot ask for an assessment to be done. Because a S37 has been ordered, an assessment is done as standard (also for S7's) as the child is allocated a SW for the duration of the report writing which usually happens over a period of some weeks.

Has the SW explained why she feels you would benefit from a child in need plan? Has an assessment been shared with you yet? You must consent to child in need planning and a plan cannot start until the assessment has been written and shared with you..

No the social worker hasn't said why she feels we would benefit from a child in need plan. Just asked me if I'd work with them and I said yes I would but how are they wanting me to work with them. She replied she's thinking of a child in need plan which is voluntary and I don't need to agree to it but I said I would.
Cafcass suggested the s37 and my ex requested a child and family assessment to run along side the s37 which I can't understand why 2 reports/assessments will be being done?

The child in need plan is voluntary in the sense that you can say no but you absolutely shouldn't. You said you're willing to work with them and that's brilliant but a word of warning: never refuse any help they offer.

Two reports /assessments won't be done.. The single assessment is standard and would be done with any S37, whether requested by your ex or not (although he cannot request one.. That's not his decision!) An assessment is done for any child open to Social Care for any reason, including private law proceedings under S7/S37. I do these assessments as part of my job and a Single Assessment is always done as well as the private law report.

@Kindlynow sorry I'm confused. (I'm dyslexic sorry) so a family and child assessment has been done and a s37 has been done. My ex requested the family and child assessment cafcass recommended the s37.

My child has been put on a CIN off the back of s37. Can the social worker turn up at my house without warning on a CIN? I know on a CP they can but wasn't sure if the same for CIN?

There's a lot of stuff in the report that I don't agree with. A lot my ex has said which isn't true. I thought the social worker would of spoke to me about what my ex is claiming to get my version of events before completing the s37 and she never. My child is now going to have a social worker for the CIN (which I've agreed to) can I bring up the stuff in the report my ex has said to the social worker which isn't true but has not asked me my side of events? I sent her proof of messages etc which I don't feel she's gone through properly as if she had she'd of seen that what my ex has said isn't true. I want to prove that I'm the innocent party and that what my ex is saying isn't true.

I wouldn’t get too caught up in proving and defending that your ex is wrong as it could be seen that you don’t have insight into the actual issues at hand (your child’s needs potentially not being met) and instead are more interested in playing tit for tat with their dad. Your focus needs to be on demonstrating to them that your child is not in need, as all of their needs are being met consistently and reliably. Achieving that will naturally refute your ex’s allegations.

@ZealAndArdour I get what your saying but my ex has made countless allegations against me and so far everything has gone in his favour even though his allegations have been lies. I feel that I now need to prove what he's saying isn't the truth to stop him getting everything else he wants.

You must know why the social worker feels that your child would benefit from a CIN plan. You say that assessments have been completed, have you not read them and their conclusion? What are their expectations of what you need to do to improve things? Why are you worried about unannounced visits?

In terms of providing your own account, you will be able to write a statement to court.

@rawhidebone I'm not worried about unannounced visits but if my child has after school clubs which she does how will the social worker know when to turn up to see my daughter?

I've read the report yes, so know why a plan has been suggested but wasn't sure if they could turn up unannounced.

You said 'No the social worker hasn't said why she feels we would benefit from a child in need plan.' Which is why I said surely you are aware of their concerns given that you have seen the contents of the reports?

If the visit is unannounced and you aren't in, no worries, they'll do it another time.

@rawhidebone ah yes sorry, when I first made this post I had not yet received the social workers report/assessment so was unsure on why 1 had been suggested.
I knew 1 was being suggested as the social worker asked me if I'd work with children's services and I asked in what sense/way was she suggesting and what plan is she thinking. She said she was thinking a CIN plan but didn't say for what reasons. I've now received the report on Tuesday so know why 1 has been suggested sorry for the confusion.

@rawhidebone ok that's good to know I was a bit worried/concerned I'd be told off / looked at like I was trying to avoid the social worker if she turned up and I wasn't in so wasn't sure if I have to make her aware of after school clubs my child attends to make her aware of not be in on certain days / times but then I was wondering how I'd do that with things like shopping weather I'd have to message the social worker and let her know if I was planning on going shopping or anything each day x