Any social workers online or parents with experince of a Multi agency review something???

[squatchette]

I have a 3 year old in pre school and a 5 year old with sen just turned 5 in reception class.
To cut a long story short we have been having a lot of problems finding an STA or tracheostomy trained nurse to support my eldest whilst in school.Due to this i have been attending with her mainly afternoons since September.
However over the the last 3 months she has been poorly and needing a lot of care during the night resulting in me getting by on between 3 and 5 hours sleep a night.
Over the last 3 weeks i have become ill myself it started off like flu symptoms then nose bleeds then last Thursday i fainted cleaning the bathroom and was 15 mins late collecting the youngest from pre school.Yesterday i was being sick for most of the day and was again 10mins late picking up the youngest.
On Friday morning the head teacher asked me into her office and explained she had concerns about my ability to care for the children at present and was i drinking or taking any thing!?She then said she was putting a form into social services i think called a multi agency review something.
Then this morning the same thimg happened with my pre school child they said she had been saying she was worried about Mummy being poorly and they are also putting in a report to social services the same as the school with a view to getting me some help (or so they say).
I am worried sick it was only a few weeks ago they offered me a job as an STA as they said I was so good with the children.
I am going to the doctors tomorrow so maybe if i explain what has been the result of this illness they may be able to help.
I would really appreciate some advice particularly from any social workers on line as to what to expect ,or anyone who has been in a similar situation.
My main fear is that i will loose my girls
and to be honest without them life would have no meaning for me.What can i do ?

I had a mutli agency review. They will get everyone involved with your child (consultants, GPs, HV, SALT and physio (if you have one) to write reports and hopefully get you some support. We managed to get 24 hours a month respite after our review. You won't lose your children. My sister (lisad123) works for SS, I will get her to look at this thread tomorrow and give you some advice

Thanks so much sparlkly will sleep much better tonight and if your sis could find time to have a quick look that would be fantastic .Can't tell you how much beter you have made me feel thanks again x

I remember when we were 'reported' to SS, I was so worried they were going to take my kids, but they did get respite for us, and they didn;t take my kids

Multi agency review is nothing to paninc about.

When they mention the dread words "Child Protection Strategy Meeting" it is time to get seriously defensive.

That said mums on here are fairly safe, taking your kids into care would be seriously expensive, not that services are driven by cost of course!!

squatchette - I am sorry I don't have any advice or experience, but it sounds like you are a great Mum, you wouldn't have been offered the sta job if they didn't think you were a responsible caring person, it sounds like you are having a really awful time.

I hope the doctor can help, what I have read and seen (not much I admit) but the social services etc should be there to support you and your family, not take your children away! what a worry for you.

without your level of need my family has been referred to social services for respite - I am loathe to take help , especially when I read of people in much tougher circs like yourself, it must be hard for you to think straight just now, when you are feeling so ill and exhausted, you are amazing for managing to get your dds to school and nursery considering!

I really hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel for you, very soon.

Thankyou for all the support and reassurances ladies.
I went to the doctors yesterday and was told i was very run down due to the lack of sleep and have Bronchitis(sp)?.Anyway i have the antibiotics and so should be on the mend soon.
I do have the option of respite for 2 weeks a year with our local kids hospice .I have just always felt guilty using it and not really felt the need before now,perhaps i will reconsider should i find myself getting run down to this extent in the future.
I went to my daughters SENCO 6 month review yesterday also and got lots of good comments from the people there (who will also be at the multi agency review).So fingers crossed this is a good sign for me and the girls.
At least we now have the Easter hols to look forward to and recover some sleep with a bit of luck.

it is good to hear you sounding a wee bit more positive, I hope the anti-bs help and you get the sleep you need this weekend!

I'm an ex SW. Glad to hear the SENCO review went well and that you've got to the Dr for some Antibots - no wonder you have been struggling, trying to carry on with bronchitis and deal with the needs of your dd's!

Yes please don't worry about the multi agency review, instead use it as a chance to ask for what would really help. A family support worker to help you with some of the day to day stuff perhaps? or weekly respite?

I'd be surprised if people had child protection type concerns here - you are clearly working really hard to deal with your dd's needs! But clearly the head and the pre-school leader have chatted, from what you say, and they must have had real worries to do what they've done; but it really shouldn't be about punishing you, but about finding things that can help you.

Hope the head feels suitably guilty when they realise that no, you haven't been drinking, but have been caring for a disabled child whilst really unwell with bronchitis!