Child Protection Planning what to expect

[sadx]

My partner was removed from the home for assaulting me and now we have to go to a meeting about child protection on Monday.

Can someone help me prepare and know what to expect.

Is it a child protection conference?

Yes it is

I think it will allow everyone to speak, every professional involved in your case will say what they are worried about, what the current risks are, whether there are any mitigating circumstances, and if your child needs to be placed on a child protection plan.. You'll be given a chance to speak, I would prepare how you plan to safeguard your child and what steps you're taking to not allow your ex partner back in the house. Listen to them and take on board what they're saying, these people are trying to help you.

I’ve been to CP planning meetings as a Senco. They can be quite emotional for the parents as they can discuss in detail what happened, the impact on the children, the parents’ capacity to provide a safe environment for their child. There could be quite a few professionals there depending on the ages are the children - health visitors, school nurse, social worker, police, support workers, school representatives etc.
If you go with the mindset that these people are there to support you in raising your children safely, and are willing to work with them to ensure this, then you will most likely feel much more positive about the experience.

It's important that you can accept how domestic violence impacts children. Evidence suggests that even in utero babies brains get damaged by hearing/extra cortisol etc due to domestic abuse. Even if they never see physical assaults they will hear it and witness other types of abuse. Ie they will have been impacted by this before you were assaulted. So sorry op.

You will be talked through it by the reviewing officer before it begins.....they will chair the meeting....also present will be parents, a representative from the police, your social worker ( sometimes the SW manager attends), health visitor and or school nurse depending on age of children, sometimes someone from a DV service, a family worker or support worker if you have already been allocated and someone from school and or nursery.
Everyone will provide a report and you should have been given these reports to read at least 48 hours before the meeting.
Everyone will speak at the meeting, including parents who are given opportunity to speak.
The professionals will then make a decision about what happens next...eg children go onto CP plan, CIN ( child in need plan) or early help....the fact that you are having a CP plan indicates that a CP plan will be recommended. If this happens...l. A core group meeting will occur within 10 days....fewer people will be involved in thsi....eg SW, someone from health and someone from education. Then there will be core groups every 4 weeks. A plan will be put in place to support the family and each core group will look at how the plan is progressing.
I wish you all the best OP

Just to add, Child protection conferences are also a really good, safe place to accept any help offered. It doesn't go against you to accept support if you need it and doesn't necessarily mean the children will end up on a child protection plan.

This is all so useful thank you.

It's just really scary and I feel so guilty.

Don't feel guilty abuse happens gradually and increases over time. Be the best mum you can be from here and make sure you are seen to cut all ties and protect your children. Learn about abusive relationships - go on the freedom programme etc so you can make sure you don't get into this situation again. Good luck!

I can't cut all ties though as he still has to see the child

You can cut all ties. He can see the child through children's services instructions or court order.

You can cut all ties in terms of your relationship and he can access the children via a court order. Do not engage with him from now on. Do you need to go to a refuge?

@nomorefrogs

You can cut all ties in terms of your relationship and he can access the children via a court order. Do not engage with him from now on. Do you need to go to a refuge?

I see from this post that you know absolutely nothing about child protection 🙄

@sadx

I can't cut all ties though as he still has to see the child

Of course you can’t....people are talking through their arses on here....speak to your SW OP

@Kitkat151 actually I know rather a lot about child protection as I'm a social worker.

[quote nomorefrogs]@Kitkat151 actually I know rather a lot about child protection as I'm a social worker. [/quote]
Yes I was confused by what Kitkat was saying too!

Of course you can stop your child from seeing him, you’d be acting protectively. He can apply to the court if he wants to challenge this.

Of course you can stop contact, he’s been violent, my ex attacked me and social work came because I called the
Police, there was no child protection conference in fact the case was closed that day because I told her I wasn’t having any contact with him!

It is fairly standard social work advice that the non abusing parent ( nearly always mum) can cut contact and wait for courts to mandate it if exP applies for it.
The domestic abuse victim certainly doesn't need to stay in contact privately to organize contact if they don't want to.

Usually SWs like to hear that all contact has stopped unless court ordered.
( I'm also a social worker)

I fled domestic abuse last year and was advised had I not been prepared to flee there would've been a child protection conference.. I haven't had any direct contact with my ex since the day I left him. I couldn't even imagine seeing his face again. We are 18 months into a furious court battle over our daughter, but I won't give in.. She needs protecting from him and I will make sure I do that as best as I can.
Please don't contact or make contact with him. As pp said, children's services will almost always want you to cut contact and await a court application..

Just because he was violent with me that's doesn't mean he would be violent with the child. Could it be in their best interest to see the Father and nurture a relationship?

It's all just so so difficult. I'm still unravelling the trauma bind.

Anyone who is violent shouldn’t be around children, can see why the social worker is staying involved, he is not a good dad if he attacks the children’s mum 😒

It’s Child Protection - which means they think your child needs protecting from him.

I bet at one point you didn’t think he would be violent to you, the reason why ss is staying involved is because they don’t think you are safe guarding your children, my case was closed the very same day she visited because I wasn’t having any contact with my ex again and wasn’t letting him see our daughter