School referred to social services

[Spacebat]

My reception aged child has a diagnosis of ASC.

I was called by social services two days ago. They said we had been referred by the school, but there was no reason given and she was calling to check if I knew what it was about/need help. I said I had no idea what it was about and while we are in the process of applying for an ehcp, we don't really need help at home and she said we may just have been referred 'on the back of the developmental issue'.

She asked me for further details about our other children and then she said we probably won't hear back from them, and then called me again a few hours later to say that they wouldn't be taking it further.
I'm just wondering if it's usual to be referred to social services by the school for developmental issues especially when an ASC diagnosis has aready been given? Is this something I should take up with the school

No it isnt and I would make an appointment at school and ask what was the reason for the referral.

Thanks Cansu. I will contact the school about it then. It's just so out of the blue, and we seem to have a good relationship with the senco, so in a way I was hoping it was just routine.

It could be a bizarre oh we'll refer them for support, mistaken kind of thing. It would still be hugely inappropriate and really there should have been some indication of the reason for the referral and a child having asd is not a sufficient reason unless further support such as respite care is required. I have two children with asd and one has a social worker because I applied for overnight respite. Try not to worry about it, but I would definitely be asking in a polite, but very assertive way what the reason for the referral was.

This happened to me, the only reason being that the headmaster (now thankfully departed) was evil slime. At least he told me he was referring me. I think it's worse that they've done this without telling you that they were going to do it. Especially as you presumably don't know who at the school referred you? As in our case it might not have been the senco so you're not necessarily mistaken in thinking you get on well with him/her. Agree you need to speak to the school if only to find out who it was. I felt like billing the school for the new teatowels I bought, thinking that social services were going to come round.

Were they attempting to refer to the disabled children's team part of social services but the referral went to the wrong place?
In my LA to get respite or direct payments you need to go through social services.
Also all disabled children are classed as "in need" purely because they are disabled.

Technically they're correct. The local authority has a duty to do a care assessment for all children in need, and the term "children in need" is defined as including all children with disabilities. Also the local authority has a duty to get social services advice for the purposes of the EHCP.

Yes but they are obliged to get the OPs permission unless it is a safeguarding, even for a safeguarding it's good practice to get permission. Very odd

When I applied for an ehc once the caseworker wrote to me to say she had received my paper work she had copied social services and educational psychology in our borough. I asked her why this was and she said it was common practice when applying for a plan

It’s not usual, no but at the same time I have a friend who has a little boy with severe asd and she referred herself to ss because she wanted to benefit from their “child in need” process in order to access extra funding for weekly 1 to 1 occupational therapy for him. They had no concerns whatsoever about his care or mums ability to cope but having ss involved opened up pots of money for extra help. So I’m wondering if something like that has been triggered somewhere.

If you apply for an EHC plan, the LA is required by law to contact social services for advice and information, because they must include any social care issues that are relevant to education.

They also have permission automatically by virtue of the application for an EHC needs assessment.

Thanks for your input everyone. I haven't been checking mumsnet over the holidays. It looks like it could just be automatic, but probably worth talking to the senco too just to make sure.

I just thought I'd update everyone. We checked with the senco and she was as puzzled as we were. She's had an email from social services saying they won't be taking it any further as well and she has replied saying she's not made any referral (she has shown us the reply). She says it's not from the school at all.
It's all a bit odd, but we're glad it didn't come from the school. I'm hopeful this can be followed up and we can find out where things have gone awry.