High school referring to ss

[QueenOfCats]

I have just had a call from dd's school telling me they have referred us to social services due to dd's low attendance.

Can they do this?

Just to give a bit more info, dd has had lots of time off due to anxiety, panic attacks, depression and self harm.

I'm so worried

Yes they can but they're more likely to involve the education welfare officer first. Have you had any contact from them?

No, nothing from them at all.

My dd has been discharged from CAMHS so the lady from school said that ss can arrange counselling as well as deal with the low attendance.

There was also a rumour started by a girl who has taken a dislike to my dd and has been making her life difficult for the last few months, that dd has had sex with an 18 year old boy.

Dd's distraught over this and I'm sure it's contributed to the latest incident if depression, self harm and absence from school.

This must be another reason they have referred her. They think I'm an unfit mother.

Is it school policy to refer in cases of low attendance?
(Your poor DD. was the comment made in school? Have you told school?)

Round here it would probably be the EWO for low attendance. But try not to worry, SS are there to help and it sounds like your DD needs extra support.

Have they asked for a CAF?

they are probably acting on the self-harm as well as the attendance issues - sounds like your dd needs some extra help - embrace it and see what they can provide.

ss are not just there to judge and grab kids you know - but to help provide a safety net for children who need help for whatever reason. Good luck...

How stressful for you. Try not to worry too much - it sounds like school are looking for support for dd rather Than reporting concerns about your parenting.

Poor dd- have you informed the school about the rumours?

Thanks for your replies. No CAF has been mentioned - not heard from ss yet, the school welfare lady said she wanted to let me know that they had referred dd to ss today so that I didn't think she'd gone behind my backand I wouldn't get a shock when I heard from them.

I'm not happy with ss being involved to be honest - perhaps it's just the stigma attached to being involved with ss, I don't know.

I just feel like I've failed somehow.

I'm sure you are understandably anxious. Self harming is not a reason on its own to refer a child to SS but if the school have heard somehow that she's had sex with an 18 yr old I'm assuming she's under 16 then this is definitely a child protection issue and they have a legal duty to report it. No one wants to be reffered to SS especially if they're innocent but to protect children who actually are being abused in some way and to prevent another Victoria Klimbe the innocent will also sometimes have to come under scrutiny. My friend was investigated a pleasant social worker came to see her asked her loads of probing questions and then said there was no case to answer end of story. She was having lots of difficulties with her DS and once she'd got over her anger at being reported to SS she admitted the SW was actually very supportive offered some very helpful advise and helped her and her DP address their own issues in a more constructive way. Finally amd contrary to popular views SW dont rush in and take children away from their parents at the drop of a hat they work hard with families to address problems.