getting together information and support for EVERYONE in the child protection system

[Spero]

I am posting here, mainly because I am not sure what I am doing and I don't want to do anything against the rules or contrary to the site ethos.

In a nutshell, a lot of us have been contributing to various threads since before Christmas about the child protection system in the UK and all the controversy that has arisen since the case of Alessandra Pacchieri and the issue of 'forced adoption'.

We have perspectives from every part of the child protection system - there are birth parents, adoptive parents, social workers, lawyers etc and we think it could be a good idea to try to do something to bring us all together, to help people get access to information that is balanced and useful, particularly if they are facing care proceedings or worried they might be.

At the moment, we are thinking a blog could help, with different people providing short posts about their experiences and providing links to other sources that we know are credible and reliable. This could be very valuable for all of us - I am a lawyer for e.g. but I would love to know more about what doctors working in child protection are looking out for, and I would like to get more perspectives from birth parents about what they think is good or bad about the system.

We are also wondering if there could be a separate topic in 'Parenting' - Dealing with child Protection issues or similar, which could link to the blog, once we get if off the ground.

So sorry quite a lot of info there. Trying to précis

1. We have a lot of untapped knowledge and experience and would like to pull it altogether to provide a good source of reliable and balanced advice
2. We would like to start a blog, does anyone want to contribute or can think of snappy name?
3. We would like to use the power of mumsnet to steer people towards our information and provide another platform for discussion and debate

4.What's the best way of going about this?

Any comments, thoughts welcomed.

I'm a newly qualified social worker. This resource is brilliant i'll be sharing it with my team and ex-classmates. I don't feel terribly well-qualified to do it but perhaps something on the differences between the Scottish and English systems, just in terms of helping someone in Scotland apply eng examples. I will try! But if someone who had been in practice a while could do it that would be better.

that is a great idea, cup

Nosewiper - good idea about reassuring people about what ISNT abuse i.e. we all lose our temper and snap from time to time, what matters is what you do next, are you sorry, do you apologise, do you try not to do it again?

cup - do you fancy writing something about how YOU feel as a newly qualified? Excited to be embarking on your professional life? Or trepidatious? How do you feel in light of all adverse media comment on your profession? What do you wish the media would say instead?

MrsDeVere and Garp - anything at all you can do will be warmly welcomed.

I am going to spend weekend tidying up and then WE LAUNCH MONDAY

Please do do the kinship care thing MrsDeVere - I didn't realise before when I lurked on threads like these that you were involved in that side of things - now I know why I always agreed with your posts!

Had there been better available support for us, which is more readily available now (such as carer support which was basically non-existent and unheard of back then) I'm convinced my family story would have had a more positive outcome.

I could help find some links if that would help!

Nose - I have added a bit to try to make it less bleak.

www.childprotectionresource.org.uk/what-is-emotional-abuse-and-what-should-i-do-about-it/

Do you have any idea of links for agencies/charities that could help?

I am sad to learn that SPLITZ one of the violence perpetrator programmes in Bristol is going to shut down soon.

Does anyone have any idea of a good organisation that could help people who self-refer with anger/abuse issues?

I often come across the DVIP but their 'success' rate seems very low and most don't complete the programme who are referred.

www.respect.uk.net/pages/domestic-violence-perpetrator-programmes.html

this perhaps?

Sadly not off the top of my head but I can ask around and spend some time googling.

You do know the resource section could turn out to be monumental!

When you take into consideration local and national resources - ooh, need to link to MN local!

Thanks Sausage, its up!

Just added this to myth busting re domestic violence.

Please could you have a look and tell me what you think, especially from the perspective of someone who has been in a violent relationship. Would you have found this helpful? If not why not? What do we need to add?

www.childprotectionresource.org.uk/if-i-report-domestic-violence-social-services-will-take-my-children/

Just posting another one that has come to mind, which would be really good to include somewhere.

www.matchmothers.org/

I don't know a huge amount about them, and again they are limited to what they can do, but I know some mothers who value sharing and support with others who are apart from their children, for any reason. They do lovely things like sending a card to let mothers know they are being thought of on mother's day. A tiny thing like that can make a huge difference on difficult days like that.

I think that is a fantastic link - never heard of them but i bet a lot my clients would find that a comfort and help.

Witness the power of the Internetz when used as Force for Good!

Indeed

Thanks, I have got match mothers up on links and resources page now.

That DV stuff is good spero. I can think of a few people with current threads here on MN that would benefit from that

Very good post about DV Spero!

Thinking of getting your link out to DV charities forums too? Must have a look around....

Aaaargh I've reported my own post which was meant to be a PM to Spero because I've put loads of identifying information in it. Oh noooo.

Phew. Won't do that again.
Nose that site is really helpful. Thank you so much. I think I will join it.

Oh good, zoo. I was hoping it might be.

Not sure how relevant this is to the site, or just to me... Though its kind of similar to referring yourself to aa etc. How about suggestions of where to get help before crisis point, from charities like home start?

Very relevant, I'd say.

Yes good idea, I could put that in 'Other professionals' - is there anyone involved in home start or similar who could give me a steer on what to include? Its not really my area.

Pink Tape has kindly plugged the site!

pinktape.co.uk/rants/it-is-better-to-light-a-candle-than-curse-the-darkness/

I won't be around much tomorrow but hopefully I will have some time over the weekend to do a final tidy up and add any more content.

I think we have some great stuff up and are ready to launch but I would be keen to add at some stage -

anyone with experience of child protection in a hospital?
anyone with experience of child protection in a school?
anyone with experience of dealing with SW with PND?
any child protection SW who would like to write 'a Day in the Life' or something similar?

Again, if anyone would like to cast an eye over site and give some feedback, that would be much appreciated.