Social services visit?

[WorriedWorried007]

Hi, my 3 year old son has Autism and is non-verbal.

Yesterday he was playing in the back yard (back door open) and he somehow managed to open the garden gate and walk off.

As soon as I noticed the gate ajar we (DP and the next door neighbours) went out looking for him.

DP flagged a passing police van down and explained quickly what had happened and where we lived.

Thankfully my neighbour found him in a side street in a garden.

The police came round and took our details and were very nice.

As they were leaving the policeman said "I don't think anything IS amiss, but I need to look where he sleeps(!) and what food he eats(!).

His bed was fine (in my bedroom), and the fridge and freezer were stocked, but is there going to be a follow up visit from Social Services does anyone know?

It's making me feel sick

Probably not. But the follow-up, if it happens, shouldn’t be difficult. It’s a bit like the follow-up after you take your kids to A&E too often in a short time. I just got a call from SS to check that everything was ok and that I had no concerns about my DCs.

Wow. Sometimes I think my mother is paranoid when she talks about 'living in a police state' but clearly she has a point. I shouldn't think they'll take it any further but I don't blame you for being worried.

Hi Op, i wouldn't be to concerned. Ds 8 has asd (non verbal) and very occasionally has violent meltdowns. He had a particularly bad one while out with his father who intervened to stop him from smacking himself in the head over and over. Someone decided to report to social services obviously not understanding what was happening. I did get a visit from a social worker who totally understood the situation, did a few checks and actually went out of her way to help us access respite via the disability team. At the time i was very upset about it but now im glad it happened. At the end of the day social workers have a job to do but most are good people who want to help.
I don't think anything will happen in your case, but if they do contact you engage with them 100% and you'll have no issues.

My understanding is that the police will make a referral to children's social care, who might ask your HV to contact you or they might contact you or do a visit themselves. It's not necessarily a bad thing and might be worth using it as an opportunity to ask for any support you need or any home adjustments that might help.

It's likely a check he has food and comfort (the basics) and he didn't go off in search of those things.

If SS do visit use it as an advantage. Ask for OT visit to get things in place for security and about funding for things like safe space bedrooms and home support and respite.

My son was suicidal and I was at breaking point and I couldn't get them to even visit. If they'd have graced me with their presence when I wanted it I would have presented them my list of demands! needs.

Don't see them as the enemy. They are a support network and a decent SW is worth their weight in gold.