Section 47 inquiry of Child protection Act

[kakool]

Hi everyone,
I need your advice on above matter.

I have a 14 years old autistic daughter with very violent behaviour.

i have been going through very difficult times with her for many years.

She started to hit and hurt the people over 3 years ago.i was also hit many times in past. i have a report where her doctor witnessed her hitting me while we were there.

The previous school excluded her permanently when many of the staff members were hit by her and taken to accedent and emergency.
I requsted social services in past to give me some respite, i was offered only 9 hrs but later i was told they can't find a suitable staff to take her out.
after one and half years i asked them to close her file.
they however mentioned in her core assessment the violent behaviour and hurting me and other people.

on the basis of all these reports she was givin a boarding school with monday to friday last year in september.

she is much better in her current school but became very violent at home and started to hit her two baby brothers age 2 and 1.

she runs after the babies and creams sky high, shouts, kicks on furniture, they are very scared.my 2 yrs old son nearly lost his eye 2 weeks ago when she pushed him on a glass table.She creams baby go away, she also has made no go areas in the house where they can't entre.it has become impossible to keep them apart.the situation is very very dangerous.

i contacted the LEA to provide her a school with full time boarding ficility.

i was told that LEA will continue giving her same school and i should seek help from Social services regarding rest of problems with my daughter.

I called SS to do an assessment, give her a school with 52 weeks boarding and arrange somewhere where she could stay as it has become impossible to keep her at home due to very aggressive and dangerous behavior towards babies.
I was told by Social worker they can't take or arrage anywhere to take her, there is no such thing we do to take children from their parents home. when i told them about the risks to babies lives, social worker said" even normal children hit other children".
i was shocked as the kids are too small, she is not normal child and and hitting is not normal.
I was very emotional and said" if you do not help me and provide her accomodation, i am going to abondon her and leave the country with my 2 babies to save them from their sister.I was never serious and only wanted them to arrange somewherefor her to stay.

the social worker left and later phoned me,I have started section 47 inquiry of child protection act against you as you said you were going to leave your daughter behind and fly away from the country, she also said she will involve, professionals, her teacher and police.

I have been ttold about section 20 of the child act 1989 where if you can't cope with a child you can volentarily give them to authority.
in this case rather than providing me any help and assesstant i am being prosecuted.
i have not commited any crime but being punished only why i asked SS to help me out with my violent child.

Ok.. i need to know what should i do in this situation, what would be the outcome of this section 47 inquiry?
will appreciate your kind advice

It is normal for children of a similar age to each other to hit each other.
It is normal for a toddler to hit a baby, because the toddler lacks the emotional control needed to control themselves when they feel angry or jealous towards the baby.
It is NOT normal for a 14 year old to constantly try and hit and harm babies and toddlers. By that age the majority of 14 year olds would understand the consequences of hitting/pushing etc a much younger child and would not wish to do so. This is not to say it never would happen with a typically developing 14 year old, but it would not be constant and sustained.

You'v ehad some really good advice. Sounds to me like incompetent SW trying her best to shift focus to avoid taking responsibiity for ensuring your daughter receives the care she requires ( i.e 24/7 residential care)

Violenbce is not acceptable regardless of intent or not. Explain clearly to them when they do their investigation that you need to protect ev everyone. By having your eldest daughter removed you are protecting a) her tiny siblings, B) her from potentially seriously injuring a small child or someone else and c) Protecting yourself from harm in order to be able to care for your little kiddies.

You are not saying you don't love her, ust that he behaviour is dangerous and impossible for you to manage at home safely.

Hope it gets sorted out properly. Hugs xx

I haven't read the whole of this thread as I haven't the time right now.
I had a problem with my dss(AS) he wold go for me when I had the baby in my arms. After one really bad incident I called the police, they involved the domestic violence police who intervened with SS (they gave us no respite at all). The domestic violence policewoman told SS that my dss could not be permitted to stay at the house as there was a real danger to my then 6 month old.

I was surprised as I never thought of it as domestic violence, but in reality that is exactly what it it.
Hope everything works out for you.

Nor are they uncommon, particularly if you are making a nuisance of yourself with the Local Authority.

Not sure if I understand what that means? The local authority starts a joint investigation with the police if you are making a nuisance of yourself??? How is asking for support making a nuisance of yourself. I think I may have mis-understood your point.

No one is saying they are going to take your children? On what grounds? Even if you say I really can't cope take them the local authority is duty bound to try and do everything to keep you and your children together. Its the foundation of all child protection law.

Try not to worry (easy to say). Tell the children's social worker you are worried and confused about the process and ask her to explain everything again, have someone with you as it can be alot to take in.

Hi all,
thanks for everything.
need to ask you,
what does it mean "putting all the children on register?
can those children not go out of the country without their permission???

Putting children on the register just means that you are working with ss and other professionals as they believe your children are at risk of harm. I don't know about the leaving the UK, I would guess that it would depend on the plan that goes with the reports.
It is something that can be changed and your kids could be off it within 6-12months if you meet the plan.
It doesn't involve any legal people and I would guess a holiday wouldn't be an issue unless they feel you wouldn't return in which case they may put it in the report.
Why do you ask?

Starlight I am appalled a that any reputable charity would make a comment like that about the police and the local authority. Its not something that is started light heartedly. I would suggest if any parent felt this was going on they lodge a complaint with the police.

There is no longer a child protection register. It is known as being subject to a child protection plan under a category: neglect, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, physical abuse. Core Groups are held every 4 weeks where parents and other agencies attend to ensure all services are being put in place and the on going concerns are being addressed. The sw will also do statutory visits every 4 weeks when they will speak to the child alone, check the sleeping conditions and talk to you.

It is a method of support but there is on stigma to it and many people do not view it as supportive. There will then be a child protection review conference and a multi agency decision is made as to whether the children remain on the plan.

The local authority to not have parental responsibility you still hold that so you are perfectly entitled to take your children out of the country but you would need to tell the children's social worker because of the visits and meetings.

Has this been mentioned to you? This can be an outcome of a s47 investigation, core assessment or initial assessment.

Have you been to CAMHS to try and get some sort of medication like risperidone for your DD - maybe the school could help you with evidence that it's needed? I have heard that it has helped a lot of people with violent Autistic kids. Maybe after all this SS nonsense is sorted out though.

Hi, A section 47 is the jargon for an investigation. I would agree with your solicitor and try to work with the social workers in an honest manner.

Section 20 is voluntary accomodation, section 20 refers to the part of the Children Act in which the legislation is written.

Were the social workers that visited you from a disabled childrens team or a duty and assessment team? If it was the latter I would suggest that you ask for the case to be co-worked by a disabled children's team worker who are more likely to understand your situation and be able to access the supports that you require.

Ask for a carers assessment and a core assessment undertaken by a specialist disability team worker.

It sounds like you have a lot to contend with and I can see how untenable your situation must feel. It is very unlikely that you would be taken to court straight off, this is a last resort but I can imagine how you must be feeling and that this would feel more of a risk than it probably is.

The core assessment will be a blessing in disguise to you as they will be able to assess the family situation. A group of professionals and you will be able to meet and discuss the risks involved. I know there is a stigma to ss but they will help you as they have an obligation under the childrens act to protect all the children of the family. Take with you anyone who can vouch for the stress this situatioon puts you and your family under. health visitor teacher friends family members you will not be villified they are there to help honestly..
Hope it all goes fine for you all the very best.
TJ

These days, s47 is the best (only?) way to actually get any help from SS. They care about being in the papers if your babies end up harmed. Or if your dd comes to harm through you having to intervene to protect the little ones. 'Children with Disabilities' teams all over the country are renaming essential respite care as 'short breaks' to make it easier to take away without causing outrage. s20 might work, but they tend to turn down disabled children as they're too expensive for the LA to take on if the parents can be made to continue caring for free.

You've had good advice above, especially about involving the police domestic violence team and being very open with SS so no-one can say you're hiding anything. Should you end up attending a child protection meeting, you'll need an independent person with you as back-up, and to make sure your point of view is stated if you get too upset to deal with them effectively.

I would add that it REALLY doesn't matter much if your children did end up on the register. In fact, providing you could cope with the perceived stigma, it would most likely be a positive thing. All 3 children would be recognised to be at risk of harm due to circumstances totally outside your (or anyone else's) control. They would be subject to a child protection plan, which SS would be responsible for funding. So your eldest might get 52 week schooling.

To actually take any children away, SS would need to pay for foster care (unlikely: care for 3 kids including one with severe SN this would cost them a fortune) whilst taking you to court (also expensive). And a court would back you. So they wouldn't bother.

If social workers were basing every decision they made on being worried about tabloids they would be removing half the children they assessed just to be on the safe side!!

Hi slipper, true, but most cases didn't involve the mother, police and health visitor ringing up to say, "This terrible thing could happen, and I want your name so I can give it to the relevant people if it does". Tends to focus minds!

Hi everyone,
thanks for the good advice.it keeps me going in these difficult times.

i made some videos of my daughter's behaviour, i uploaded them on youtube, what you think if these videos can be used as an evidence if we end up in tribunal.

my SEN barrister says, if we go to tribunal we must prove that its palwasha who is going to benefit from 52 weeks placement, not the babies.

The SW worker did not want to watch these vids, they don't want to see the truth.

my daughter was reffered to cahms in past but no medicine was suggested even when i requested for it.

it really releived me to know that s47 is not removal of all children, i was most worried about it.

the social services contacted my daughter's school and said there will be a meeting soon at their office and they will discuss the respite.
they actually want to bargain, they do not really care about the risk to babies lives or emotional effect.

Ok, having watched the videos I cant see anything apart from the normal screeching some ASD children do and someone that clearly is very upset about being videoed. She didnt appear out of control and voliant and infact she appears to take herself off somewhere safe in these videos.

Yes they are right, they need to think about the impact on HER of having her in 52 weeks respite care.
Yes the babies do need protection if she is hitting them but they will ask why you arent able to do this on the 2 days she s with you? Also does she have a safe place to go away from the babies?
A child with ASD will struggle with young children because they are unpredictable and dont do as they are told.
Are you alone all weekend or is there 2 of you there at weekends?
You are very lucky to get a boarding school placement for her :)

I have looked at the videos and she didn't seem out of control, she did seem provoked by the babies crying and the filming tho...sometimes we as parents need to take a step back and look at how we have handled a situation =. To me it looked as tho she was trying to get away, it's not a criticism I have two with autism and it's difficult trying to please both of them, in fact dd had a meltdown very similar to that one last night.... we just sat in a different room and rode it out.

I also think you are very luckey to get a boarding school place, my niece has been turned down for boarding, and she is very out of control and violent along with her asd brother.

hi

i normally do not video her when she is out of control,she is worse at times. she is very violent and has injured many people in her previous school where they were taken to accedent and emergency.
according to her report she injured 4 people in 40 mints.
i have a report from dr at cahms where the dr witnessed my daughter hitting me in their clinic.

The weekly boarding was givin on the basis of her reports, i never requested for it and wanted to look after her all my life.its just the safety of the babies i am worried about.she has been throwing things on them in anger.

The SW mentioned about the emotional impact on her brother in the last report 1/2 year ago, but now when she is hitting them they are not bothered.

The only advise I can give is that glass door needs to go asap. If I and others stood watching dd have a meltdown we'd have no face left. And she's non violent !

where do you want her to go for the 52 weeks? Does the boarding school offer that?

Hi

I have been told by social worker that there is a child protection meeting on 29 march.
she said there will be lot of professionals and i will need to attend this meeting.

any idea what i should expect in this meeting and what i have to say?