Just that really, the child is 15, 16 in a couple of months. The stories have been pouring out. It seems as if they have never had a kind word said to them. They have been on a very restricted diet, not due to poverty but seemingly due to extreme control by the M. They are underweight and have never eaten the majority of fruit or vegetable, for instance tomatoes, oranges - the list is endless. They were only allowed out of their room to eat, and other children encouraged to tell tales about them, either real of made up. There were a series of rules which constantly changed so were impossible to obey. There is almost too much to list here, but there doesn't seem to be any aspect of their life which was ok, let alone good. There had been SS involvement but the M managed to put it all down to difficult teenage behavior. They have been with me since last weekend, I have called SS 4 times, but have not had any contact. The school have been fantastic and said the child had 'been on their radar' and have offered us a free bus pass, free school meals and money for uniform and books.
I am trying to gradually introduce new foods and have noticed that they struggle to help themselves, but eat well when food is put on their plate.
Has anyone got any advice? I have never experienced anything like this, although I have worked with vulnerable adults with MH problems and children in deprived situations.