Will social services be involved?

[lezard0]

I'm new here so I hope this is in the right place

I'm 17 and I'm pregnant, I'm due in may. My mum has been supportive so far.

Yesterday she told me that because of my boyfriends childhood (he was abused by his stepdad and his mums a drug addict but he doesn't seem either of them anymore) social services will be involved. I'm not sure if this is true though as he hasn't seen either of them for years.

Is this true and could social services be involved when the baby is born?

If he has no contact with them then they won't automatically be involved.

Not unless your family comes to their attention and they have reason to be concerned. Otherwise, how would they know his family situation?

Is your boyfriend on a Child Protection plan? Has he still got involvement with Social Services?If so this will be asked by your midwife and they'll do checks.There's nothing to worry about they just want to ensure that everyone has the support they need. They may offer mentors, parenting classes, events grants and funding. You should take up any support on offer.

How will they know??

As PP have said, there’s no obvious reason SS should be involved unless they’re still involved with your BF.

But even if SS are involved, don’t panic. It doesn’t mean they’re going to whisk your baby away.

There may be some risk assessments they have to do because of your BF’s past, but as long as they can see everything’s okay and your baby is well cared for, it should be fine.

You’d be surprised how many families have an encounter with SS because some chance thing has put the family on SS’s radar. It has happened to us and other families I know. Often there’s nothing in it. SS has a meeting or a visit, sees everything’s fine and then closes the file.

Even if they were, they would work with you as a family to ensure that your baby is safe. It sounds unlikely they would be unless your boyfriend is under 18 and still known to SS but really they would want to help you if they were involved.

It really depends on whether they were involved in his family. In Scotland some responsibilities go on to age 25 so they might keep a watching eye if they were involved but it isn't anything to worry about and they may be able to provide practical help and support.

Social services were involved but now he's 18 so they aren't and haven't been for a while.

My mum told me they would be so I was abit confused as our baby won't be anywhere unsafe

So again how will ss know? If they are no longer involved and he is 18 then how will ss know? Sounds like your mum is trying to worry you

Hi @lezard0
I worked with social services as parting my role in children's centres and have seen many young couples benefit hugely from having early help support so please don't worry if as do make contact. But as previous people have said, it is more likely they don't get in touch of your it's case has been closed. Has your midwife spoken to you about additional support for you as young parents? The Family Nurse Partnership midwives can provide immense support. Is there season your Mum is telling you this? Is she worried about something?

As some others have said - even if they were involved - it would be to support, so nothing to fear. I can't see how they possibly would be, but as a Step parent and have had dealings with SS because of DDs 'real' mum and they have been nothing short of brilliant in the support/advice they've offered.