Human rights health visitor

[Erlisk]

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.

Not sure how far you’ll get as it’s a public institution and this wouldn’t be in the public interest. It would be counter. But I think liberty / amnesty / human rights uk are all human rights charities from which you can get some advice or support.

unfortunately in developed countries especially with a free at the point healthcare it is in the countries interest to be aware of potential risks for babies as they can become larger burdens / dangers if not noticed quick enough.

the state has a duty of care to children I’m not sure any article within the human rights act overrides the children’s right to safety or the states role in ensuring that.

@Erlisk

I’m a lawyer. Key points as follows:

1. They did not force entry. They may have exerted pressure on you to let them visit or face an investigation but that is not the same, at all. What ChatGPT has spat out for you is irrelevant.

2. You can decline visits. Others have. But if your engagement with the MW / HV services in doing so raised safeguarding concerns then they have a right to refer to SS. That is not equivalent to a referral simply for refusing the visit.

3. Whilst not impossible, there would be an extremely high bar for any legal action against a professional for such a referral, something like a purposeful fabrication of the reason for referral. There is nothing of the sort in this case.

4. A non-mandatory service that includes home visits does not breach the Human Rights Act. In any way. Neither does social services insisting on a home visit where there are safeguarding concerns. Again, they did not force entry. You could have continued to refuse and the investigation could have continued. They are not one and the same.

5. Whilst the MW / HV services and how they engaged with you are not a human rights breach in any way, your suggestion of mandatory universal drug and alcohol testing of new mums would be an absolute slam dunk breach.

Sounds like you've created a problem from nothing. You've spiraled and caused harm to your own mental health by obsessing and fighting. You'd have long forgotten the 15 minute visit if you hadn't made such a fuss of nothing to begin with. Most people (?everyone) like their privacy.. mere minutes of your day on a handful of occasions does not mean you've lost all autonomy and privacy.

What would you do if your baby wasn't reaching mile stones or something else? And you need the help of your HV? Your GP said.. " oh the HV will help with that?.

Drugs and alcohol aren't the only risks to a child's safety, so I'm not quite sure why you keep talking about testing. Babies can be at risk for all sorts of reasons.

Personally, I think it's a good thing that the state seeks to protect children who might be vulnerable to abuse or neglect etc, and refusing entry for a short, routine wellbeing check would undoubtedly be a red flag.

You can complain all you like, and by all means, try to fight it out in court, but I really can't see how they have infringed on human rights simply by reporting you for refusing to cooperate with standard procedures. They didn't force entry to your property, they simply followed their safeguarding procedures.

Look at it from their perspective. Maybe you do just have a really weird obsession with privacy to the extent that it causes you to behave in an unusually defensive manner, but how are they supposed to know that that's it, and that you're not trying to hide something much more sinister? You chose not to cooperate with a reasonable routine request, and they flagged thiswith Social Services as they should whenever a parent's behaviour gives cause for concern.

The thing that you seem to be missing in all of this is that, while your right to privacy is important, it doesn't trump your baby's right to be safe and protected from potential harm.

This is a very good example of how to create problems out of nowhere. Way to go, OP - good luck with years and years on SS looking over your shoulder every step of the way.

I am telling you now - No solicitor in the world would take this on. Article 8 is not an absolute right, it is qualified and in this case balanced against the interests of your child, who also has human rights.
social services have likely been engaged not because you have refused a visit but because you probably sound completely unhinged.

^ this

Hmm… from the OP’s posts I think it’s actually good for the baby that they are insisting on a visit…

This is great; standing up for your rights and advocating for your infant.
Yes, it has been done before. Coercive behaviour is incredibly damaging.
You should contact aims. They are a great organisation.
You should not contact the nhs. Health visitors do not work for them.

You sound unwell.

What a drama OP. The NHS has bigger things to worry about.

Stop talking shite.

I’ve commented on this thread already but truly, I am baffled by your animosity towards home visits. No doubt the professionals involved were too.

I’ve recently had a baby. I’m by no means a sociable person and don’t particularly like visitors in my home. Even family.

Each visit with the midwives and HV’s has been perfectly pleasant and unproblematic. They’re doing a job, I let them because the job exists for good reason. They were happy that the home looked safe, baby was well and so was I. Absolutely no drama whatsoever.

If you are of the mindset to decline the service, which is a choice as it’s optional, there is a better way to go about it than bleating on about non existent human rights violations. That merely serves to make you sound combative and paranoid, leading to additional referrals as you have discovered. This is a problem of your own making.

Your behaviour is a safeguarding red flag, not surprised they’re not wanting to check on DC. FWIW I had HV for both DC and they never inspected my house. They came in, checked DC, had a cup of tea, and left. Has something happened to you previously that has caused you to feel this way OP?

I'm pregnant with our 4th and I dislike health visors and find them so unhelpful, nosy and intruding.

However, I always let them in and I'm always polite and friendly, because I want them to bugger off quickly.

You either see the health visitor in your home or social services according to them,

if it helps we had to go to a centre for 1yr check. Never saw Hv again as final check was at another centre with a HV assistant!

The checks are in place in line with safeguarding policies.

Are you planning to challenge a system that’s in place to try and protect children from harm?

You sound unhinged. No wonder they want to see you and the baby.

Mountain - Mole Hill.
Google it.
Then get a grip and let them in.
In a few years when they are are teenagers you'll be begging for help.

You actually sound risky because you don’t seem to understand the safeguarding need for these services. Anyone who doesn’t have anything to hide will happily let a HV pop round for a quick chat.

I don’t like people in my house - especially after having my first as the place was messy with baby clothes etc. But I also knew they wouldn’t care about that, they just want to see that baby is safe and cared for. My house wasn’t dirty or unsafe, just untidy. There are so many awful cases of children being abused because nobody knew what was happening at home. Better to just let them in and let them do their job

I’m guessing they have more than this simple refusal to be concerned about.

You'll get short shrift. In this country you're public property when you become a parent, because people are happy for parental rights to be reduced in order to reduce the risk of those awful cases of abuse and neglect that nonetheless seem to keep happening.

Paranoid, aggressive and irrational - wow. The woman doesn't want strangers in her house and you've patholgised her as mentally ill and criminal. Absolutely terrifying. This is how bad things happen while people stand by and do nothing.

What on earth are you on about?