Child Protection Issue...

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

Apologies if this is in the wrong section but does anyone have experience of this very sad situation? I can't provide too many specifics for fear of identification. Teenage girl (under 16) reported missing after school to the police by parents, but quickly located safe and sound at the nearby home of a relative. Very upset, she tells the police officer that she has been subjected to violent behaviour by her parents . The police officer takes her seriously but escorts the girl back home.

What happens next? Will Social Services be automatically involved?

Thanks everyone. I have a plan now. I don't fear for the child's immediate physical safety and I think the police involvement will have pulled the parents up a little short-term, but I will be reporting it myself. There are siblings.

The police may also be considering the impact of removal into care might have on her. She would probably go into short term fostering while decisions are being made and that could be very disruptive at her age. Not that physical violence isn't of course. It makes sense for them to think of the long view and get it right.

There's much to what Dontlaugh said about the possibility of the youngster 'underplaying' the situation when faced with the reality of reporting to strange people and being questioned by them.

Also - and sadly - there is sometimes a tendency to downplay something like alleged violence, even against an older child - a 15 year old for argument's sake - as compared to obvious sexual abuse of eg a 6 or 7 year old. The former is seen somehow as a 'clean' issue and almost matter of course. It's the way of things and not helpful.

I do hope it works out for her, cogito.

hope you can get the poor girl the help she needs - and her siblings

cog - I deal with child protection training and I would advise you to contact the Duty Assessment Team, don't wait until Monday - you can find the number on your local authority's website. I would never assume that the police or other organisations would pass the information on, sadly, previous serious case reviews have proved this.

I truly hope she is okay and well done for caring for her.

Thanks. I did report it directly and, as I feared, the police officer had not taken the girl seriously. I'm not sure what the outcome has been as the family has now closed ranks. I'm a FB 'friend' and, if you were to believe their recent posts, you'd think the household ran like The Waltons.... I'll keep an eye on them, however.

That's what I feared, also.

Good (that you'll keep an eye on them) although I hope something further and tangible is done shortly or the lass leaves home for a better place as soon as she's able/old enough. Living in that family must be like treading on egg shells all the time - that sort of environment would be no place to grow up.

Cog, I am sorry to hear that.
It is not good news. Police do their best but sometimes best is not good enough.
There will be other incidents, sooner rather than later. However, if they've closed ranks it may not be reported/confided, and child will suffer on, in silence. Not much you can do, unless you are confided in or have facts and dates and confirmed incidences.
I hate how families lie, to themselves and to society, and children pay the price and carry the burden.
I often ask myself 2 questions; why do people have children if they just end up hurting them?
And why do they exert such ENORMOUS energy to keep them when the shit hits the fan? Surely giving them to others would be better for all?
I will never know.

Luckily my friend (the relative) is still in contact with the girl and all is OK at the moment. There has been one important change which makes me think social services have been in touch with the family although the girl wasn't aware of a visit.

What is encouraging is that the girl is acting more assertively and seems happier. I think it has benefited her knowing that others took her seriously and would do so again.

I've known the girl's mother since she was about 10yo and I'm really disappointed in her. Her DCs were everything to her and then she married a nasty, arrogant man, had some more DCs and suddenly the older ones are treated like Cinderella. And she's as bad as he is.

I did a safeguarding course the weekend. The point of reporting will collect all the reports and decide if there is reason to investigate further. It sounds like there will be. Everyone who reports can help to compile a picture.

Your friend needs to report it too.

Is she really as bad as he is, though, or is she cowed and 'trying to please him and fit in' ? Obviously you know her and I don't but sometimes......

He's definitely a bully... verbal mostly... but she's the one that resorts to the physical stuff. There's certainly an element of trying to please him but that's her whole life story... she'll do anything to fit in with others and both of them are obsessed with image and outward appearances. I genuinely think they egg each other on rather than this being purely a case of an abuse victim acting under duress.

Achh. Sooner the lass can leave the better then - although Gawd knows what damage it's done to her for the future.

The police sometimes appear not to take things seriously but may have flagged things up elsewhere. They have to be discreet. I wouldn't be surprised as you say cog to find that SS have been involved now.