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Original poster

Human rights health visitor

788 replies

Erlisk · 09/05/2025 20:08

I have seen it here before but the posts are old. Before my baby was born i told my midwife (UK) that i did not want any visits at home. I just like my privacy and want to be able to decide who enters my home. They offer visits as a service so i just decided to not let them in. I was happy to go for appointments.

Then in the hospital when the baby was born, they told me "someone was going to come into my house even if i do not want that". I kept saying no. They kept saying they just wanted to see where the baby would sleep etc. i said no. Then the midwifes came to the door and i told them i did not want them in my house. So they reported me to social services. Social services called me and threatened with official investigation if i do not let the midwifes and later health visitor in my house. Also for the one year visit.

I texted them many times i did not want. I also told them in person. So i have a lot of proof. Ok long story short i let them in.because they threatened with social services investigation = trying to take your baby. I had to let them in, they said everything was fine, and closed the case. But instead of bonding with my baby i was stressed that they were trying to take her away.

So. It is ten months ago so the one year visit is coming and I DO NOT WANT THEM IN MY HOUSE. So i decided to go after them. And yes, it is human rights violation. It is not normal in civilised countries that someone comes to your house without your consent and without a warrant. If you do not let them in they basically threaten to take your baby.

I am not looking for the comments that they are just helping etc. I am not interested in that 😉. What i am looking for here is other moms who went after them. I am researching where to complain. I am also making a list of solicitors who would help me. And maybe some group court case? I will make complaint to NHS. I believe we only have one year for this kind of thing so only people who experienced this last year. Or if you went through going to court and have a good no win no fee lawyer (London or Kent). They are violating human rights you everyone so no, i will not let it go.

OP posts:
Psychologymam · 09/05/2025 21:49

Erlisk · 09/05/2025 20:30

The social services said they would reopen the case and make formal investigation if i do mot let the health visitor in for one year visit. They also said they would do it if i do not vaccinate my baby but like i always wanted to vaccinate her. Who do they think they are?

They probably think they are a professional where one of their key designated roles is to identify kids at risk. If you politely engage with them, give a reasonable explanation as to why you don’t want them in your house and offer to meet elsewhere they’ll probably be okay with this - pretty sure I did my check via phone and no issue. Making unhinged accusations and giving the impression you’re unstable leads one to wonder what’s in your house? My guess from here is drugs or hoarding to extend it’s a concern so I can see why HV also wonder.

AngelinaFibres · 09/05/2025 21:49

justinhawkinsnavalfluff · 09/05/2025 20:30

Unfortunately you are making yourself a huge red flag of concern. Your baby has rights too. Those rights are to ensure they have a safe home environment.

This. I taught in deprived areas for a large part of my teaching career. Children live in fear and misery and deprivation with parents who behave just like you. Health professionals are there to safeguard your innocent child. You aren't as interesting/ edgy/ fighting the system as you think you are. You are ridiculous

BeachRide · 09/05/2025 21:49

Will you be proud of yourself if you make it harder for the authorities to safeguard children? Shrug your shoulders at the children being abused and killed?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Families
Original poster
Erlisk · 09/05/2025 21:51

RedToothBrush · 09/05/2025 21:12

Article 8 of the Human Rights Act 1998 guarantees the right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence, but it's not absolute. Public authorities can interfere with this right, but only if it is in accordance with the law, necessary in a democratic society, and pursues a legitimate aim, such as national security, public safety, or the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Look it up. You are falling under the legal exemption clauses within the human rights legislation which are designed to protect others

You haven't got a leg to stand on.

Show quote history

I do not think you are a solicitor because they can force entry only in limited circumstances. Ask Citizens Advice, i did. Chat gpt has similar reply:
Examples when public authorities can enter without consent:

  • Police with a warrant – For example, to search for evidence during a criminal investigation.
  • Police without a warrant – In emergencies, such as:
  • To arrest someone seen committing a serious crime
  • To stop a crime in progress
  • To protect life or prevent serious injury (e.g. hearing screams inside)
  • Environmental health officers – To investigate serious risks to public health (e.g. unsafe conditions).
  • Social services – In very limited cases, such as removing a child at immediate risk of harm (with legal authority).
  • Immigration enforcement – With a valid warrant or legal power.
  • Bailiffs or debt enforcement – Only with proper legal process (usually a court order).
OP posts:
BlueTitShark · 09/05/2025 21:52

I think the issue is the fact you refused the visit.
Had you saud something like ‘where are the HV appointments usually held? I can I go there?’ It would have gone much better. But dint underestimate the ‘But that’s how we do things here’ feeling.

I also think that saying No to the HV is one thing but saying No to the MW visit is another.

Re the 1 year visit, I’d ask if you can go to their clinic.
Ive never had the HV coming apart from the very first. So I’d go down that route.
Assuming you’ve gone to see them in between, I’m not sure they would take an issue.

ilovepixie · 09/05/2025 21:53

By your English you are obviously foreign so you maybe don’t understand how things work in this country. I would just let them in and then that will be it over.

Original poster
Erlisk · 09/05/2025 21:56

CalmFawn · 09/05/2025 21:29

I’ve opted out of the health visitor service. I did it when my 2nd child was 2 months old and haven’t seen her at all for my third. I just didn’t see it beneficial.

I did see the midwife though and attended clinic for them go be weighed/ vaccinated.

I just wrote an email saying the service wasn’t for me after a bad experience. I did tell them my child is in a setting (nursery) and is up to date with vaccinations so if they have concerns they could contact them. It was a very nice email and they followed up with a call. I explained my reasons, they were happy and give me the contact details if I change my mind! All very positive really. Is it the way you’ve declined visits that has set of red flags??

Oh no I was also positive. But my friends told me they would force me after the baby was born. And they did. Maybe it depends on your area or on the individual HV.

OP posts:
Rogerpoger · 09/05/2025 21:57

Erlisk · 09/05/2025 21:51

I do not think you are a solicitor because they can force entry only in limited circumstances. Ask Citizens Advice, i did. Chat gpt has similar reply:
Examples when public authorities can enter without consent:

  • Police with a warrant – For example, to search for evidence during a criminal investigation.
  • Police without a warrant – In emergencies, such as:
  • To arrest someone seen committing a serious crime
  • To stop a crime in progress
  • To protect life or prevent serious injury (e.g. hearing screams inside)
  • Environmental health officers – To investigate serious risks to public health (e.g. unsafe conditions).
  • Social services – In very limited cases, such as removing a child at immediate risk of harm (with legal authority).
  • Immigration enforcement – With a valid warrant or legal power.
  • Bailiffs or debt enforcement – Only with proper legal process (usually a court order).
Show quote history

Did they force entry though?

JulietBravo999 · 09/05/2025 21:57

Well, you’re probably on some sort of list now so you can expect raised eyebrows from the health and education authorities for the foreseeable. How silly to mark your cards, for the sake of a few minutes of your life.

wordywitch · 09/05/2025 21:58

How was your antenatal care and birth, OP? Do you have any history of mental health issues or DV? Is the baby’s father at home? What does he think of all this?

Original poster
Erlisk · 09/05/2025 22:00

Babyboomtastic · 09/05/2025 21:28

How do you manage with other visitors to your home? In a few years school will often want to do a home visit before you start. Then there's a child wanting playdates, parents either staying or dropping them off. It's not feasible to keep your house entirely private and will be stifling on your child as they grow.

I tuck your recurring to this is OTT, and given that you think mandatory drug testing should be used, rehab is fast more invasive, your reluctance for a home visit raises even more red flags.

I sometimes invite people to visit. I like some visitors. So baby's friends and their parents are not an issue for me. But i like to know them (and invite them) before they come visiting.

OP posts:
TaggieO · 09/05/2025 22:01

Please do seek some support for your mental health. This really isn’t normal.

Original poster
Erlisk · 09/05/2025 22:02

Dreichweather · 09/05/2025 21:30

Did you not refuse a visit?
Or do you think they made a referal for a different reason?

I’m a bit confused by this post.

Show quote history

They cannot make a referral to social services only because you refuse an optional service.

OP posts:
Original poster
Erlisk · 09/05/2025 22:04

Hedonism · 09/05/2025 21:38

Right, so you'd be ok with them testing you for drugs and alcohol, but not popping into your house to check that your baby has a safe place to sleep?

Show quote history

Yes, exactly.

OP posts:
TaggieO · 09/05/2025 22:05

Marcusparkus · 09/05/2025 21:11

Few people on here seem to understand the basis of law. If there is any suspicion that the OP's baby is in danger, the authorities are duty bound to investigate. There appears to be no grounds for them to do so and the OP is perfectly within her rights to refuse access to her home. She has agreed to attend appointments although again, unless there is a health need, she is not obliged to do so.

The length of the visit or whether the health visitor is nice or not is neither here nor there. I don't want the state in my home uninvited either, OP. They have no place in my bedroom. As for keeping children safe...the state's record on this suggests it's not a strong point regardless of how many homes they pry into.

Sorry but this is simply not true. Paranoid, irrational and aggressive behaviour from the mother and a refusal to engage with services absolutely are grounds for concern, and rightly must be reported. Midwives have a duty of care to both the mother and the baby to take the appropriate safeguarding measures. In this case, a social services referral absolutely would be indicated.

RedToothBrush · 09/05/2025 22:06

Erlisk · 09/05/2025 21:42

Exactly. There are many people who say HV told them it would be a red flag. They told me too. I still refused. Then they threatened with SS. Then they actually referred me when i refused. I think people are afraid to say no when they say it would be a "red flag". So it is mandatory, not optional.

Show quote history

You have a back story or were aggressive when you said it.

You won't win a legal case because they have to be able to access any homework they have a concern about because if they couldn't another child could die.

If you won a case it'd enable others who were harming their children to block social services.

honestly everything you've said here makes me think they made the right call tbh and if that's how you are coming across here that's how it will come across to others. Your lack of safeguarding awareness doesn't help your claim .

TaggieO · 09/05/2025 22:06

Erlisk · 09/05/2025 22:02

They cannot make a referral to social services only because you refuse an optional service.

Show quote history

And they didn’t. They have made the referral because you displayed paranoid and irrational behaviour, and they had concerns for your baby as a result.

cryinginthechapel · 09/05/2025 22:08

i wonder what the full story is? There must be a reason for feeling so strongly about not wanting someone to come in to your home ( even for a short important welfare check)
OP do you allow plumbers, electricians, telephone/television engineers, meter readers, decorators, family, friends, furniture deliveries, cleaners, delivery drivers etc into your home?
it’s just all seems a bit off, so I can see why this has raised flags.

Original poster
Erlisk · 09/05/2025 22:09

MmeChoufleur · 09/05/2025 21:40

So theoretically you take them to court and “change it”. How many babies will suffer because they’ve gone under the radar? Do you think your ‘right’ to privacy is worth the deaths of children?

You sound very selfish. You say you’ve nothing against drug/alcohol testing and parents and children can been seen at clinic. What happens if they don’t show up? How will they know if a parent has drug/alcohol problems?

Show quote history

Then it can be enforced. Even the home visits can be enforced if there is a legitimate concern for baby's safety. I would be much happier going to a clinic and getting tested for drugs/alcohol. Maybe it would even protect more children. I hear some sad stories about abused children so often. This visiting without consent did not actually protect them.

OP posts:
Nursemumma92 · 09/05/2025 22:11

Erlisk · 09/05/2025 21:51

I do not think you are a solicitor because they can force entry only in limited circumstances. Ask Citizens Advice, i did. Chat gpt has similar reply:
Examples when public authorities can enter without consent:

  • Police with a warrant – For example, to search for evidence during a criminal investigation.
  • Police without a warrant – In emergencies, such as:
  • To arrest someone seen committing a serious crime
  • To stop a crime in progress
  • To protect life or prevent serious injury (e.g. hearing screams inside)
  • Environmental health officers – To investigate serious risks to public health (e.g. unsafe conditions).
  • Social services – In very limited cases, such as removing a child at immediate risk of harm (with legal authority).
  • Immigration enforcement – With a valid warrant or legal power.
  • Bailiffs or debt enforcement – Only with proper legal process (usually a court order).
Show quote history

But it doesn't sound like they forced entry? You turning away midwives at your door when you were likely in the initial 10 days post birth will give them enough red flags to refer to social services as often people that refuse to allow entry to health/social care professionals have something to hide. You have displayed paranoid behaviour to health professionals who are duty bound to protect your baby. It is very unusual behaviour to not want a professional in your home for what is a very short time to see your baby is safe and well cared for. When you become a parent you are not the be all and end all. Your child is the priority.

Fruhstuck · 09/05/2025 22:12

You are being ridiculous. Can you not see that you are behaving in exactly the way that a parent would behave if they were trying to hide something?

Nanny0gg · 09/05/2025 22:13

Erlisk · 09/05/2025 21:10

Exactly, i think it is not acceptable. They can see the baby at their clinic. Why do they push so hard to invade the privacy of your home? This feels more like Russia or China because they do not respect human rights. I think people would win at The European Court of Human Rights with this.
And yes, i want to change it. There are other ways to make sure that children are safe. For example i would be for drug/alcohol testing. Those are the parents who are an actual danger to their children.

Show quote history

Do you know the conditions some children 'live' in?

I don't understand why your 'need' for privacy is more important than children's welfare

Original poster
Erlisk · 09/05/2025 22:14

Rogerpoger · 09/05/2025 21:57

Did they force entry though?

Show quote history

No. But they cannot threaten you.

OP posts:
KilkennyCats · 09/05/2025 22:15

user593 · 09/05/2025 20:32

@Erlisk They think they are the people entrusted with ensuring your baby is safe and well, which is exactly what they’re trying to do. Frankly, given how you’re carrying on, a SW referral sounds appropriate.

Couldn’t agree more.

mummytoonetryingfortwo · 09/05/2025 22:17

I’m sure I’ve read this exact thread multiple times before, and you’re always told the same thing. This is a service to help mothers, help children and promote the safety and wellbeing of a family.