Children’s Social Services - HELP

[louise1makeup2]

Please read this without judging. And if you can’t help or no nice comments, please refrain from commenting because I am Autistic and extremely vulnerable right now.

I was in hospital February. My son’s dad wouldn’t bring my son to see me. So my friend insured my car and with dad’s permission (who put him in the car), brought my son. Later on that evening after my son was dropped off. My friend was arrested, unrelated to car or my son and it was a no further action. Police illegally searched through our messages and reported to social services my friend had been caring for my son. She hasn’t but I blocked friend as any police involvement I don’t want to know.

Social services called off no caller id but I missed the call as I was still in hospital. They called my sons dad and said to keep my son away from me and started the time frame for the child and family assessment. I picked my son up from his childcare as sons dad wouldn’t give son back. He then said it was fine to have him. Ironic son’s dad has no involvement normally then decides if I can have my son or not. I called social services daily for 2 weeks and no one from triage or duty would give me any information. No advice or support nothing.

Eventually 2 weeks later a student social worker got in contact. Didn’t ask for consent. Said they were going to speak to my son and come to visit. I asked the appropriate questions why is this happening I don’t get why it’s went to assessment stage. They said if I didn’t want to do it, it would go to a strategy and down child protection route. I didn’t want to go through the assessment as I was on child protection as a child, children services in my area are so bad and it’s so triggering for me. If I need help then fine, but based off the referral, a whole child and family assessment wasn’t warranted.

the student social worker never spoken to my sons dad. She also left. So the manager put it as a no further action and 7 days after the completion I got it was a no further action because they understood I blocked my friend now and had no contact. They knew that before the assessment. They found nothing from the assessment. I stated so many times I don’t want my sons dad getting a copy as his girlfriend will take pictures and send to her family to read over and send to her friends with all my personal information on it. They’re saying he has to have a copy. The social worker lied and said she didn’t say strategy meeting when I’ve got on texts they did threaten and bully me.

i was bullied into consenting to the assessment. Ideally I want it removed off the system full stop as it shouldn’t have happened in the first place.

if that can’t happen then it needs to be checked over as the student hasn’t done it properly by lying. Does my sons dad have to have a copy even though we won’t be safe it he does?

no one is helping me from children’s services. I don’t want him being sent a copy then getting a sorry after

No thank you, if people have not correctly did their jobs or have forced me into something and then put my data at risk. Needs to be addressed.

Thank you I didn’t know which one to put it under I should’ve put it under parenting

It sounds like you didn't want to consent to the assessment but the social worker said if you refused then they would hold a strategy meeting and it could go to child protection? Is that right? If so, that is the correct process. The strategy meeting may have concluded as not progressing to CP, but it could have done if the professionals had serious concerns about your ability to safeguard your child. The lack of contact you had is definitely not acceptable and you have every right to complain about that, but there are many cases that go through the assessment process and then close as no further action - that doesn't mean social services have done something wrong, they have to investigate and assess any allegations/concerns thoroughly.

What happened was after I made a complaint, they said to me you didn’t have to consent to this, and I said but I was told it would go to a strategy if not. They noted it and asked the assessment teams manager and she said she did not say this.

The reason they are going back on this, is because they wouldn’t have went to a strategy meeting had I have not consented, but because it was mainly completed they wanted it over and done with and they wanted on the system it was a no further action. But actually they didn’t have enough to warrant to take it to a strategy meeting, hence why now they are saying they did not say this, but I’ve got texts to prove they did. Hence why I’m upset as I would’ve withdrawn my consent if I hadn’t have been forced into it. They didn’t stop until I agreed and then lying makes me feel worse and to not trust them.

yes of course they can investigate, and that’s why the triage team should’ve called first and had of they spoken to me they would’ve known I blocked her and did safe guard my child. As at first point of cont at they knew that and ZERO part of the assessment involved my friend or my friend taking my son to the hospital. None of it. They were aware from the start I blocked her and they didn’t have concerns hence why now they’re worried I’ve got it on text they were forcing me into it.

What did they say the assessment was for if there was no mention of your friend/her arrest?

Because my son’s dad consented to it. They mentioned that was the reason for the referral but I said then I blocked my friend and then no further contact. They continued with the assessment and there was zero mention of her. My student social worker left so another member of staff called to say no further action and that it would be sent to both of us in the post and to forget about it. I asked them not to send either in post and it’s been about a month now of going round in circles. Complaint has been open about 6 weeks now. Had the first stage complaint now moving to the second

my main worry is he’s going to get a copy at the moment . I think everything else is left for complaint

I hope it works out for you . I know social workers are there to help and lots of them are amazing and support properly but I also know some of them can be a nightmare and I've had experience with other family how they can lie and power play , making matters worse.