This Morning - interview with social services representative

[EclecticShock]

It was about the dilemma of taking children away needlessly versus leaving children in abusive homes. I was shocked that the social services representative acknowleged that often they have overlooked the presence of a new male in a vulnerable household. Apparently, if he is the mothers partner they investigate but if a lodger etc... They haven't investigated in the past? I think I have this right...

Although, there is a correlation between children who die from abuse an the presence of a new male...

Shouldn't they be more thorough if the family are known to be vulnerable? Can anyone shed any light on this topic?

We do police checks on any new adults in the home. The adult has to give permission though which makes it tricky.

Social care has such a long way to go :(

I think you will find that the correlation of abused children and a new male in the house is usually to do with cases when the new male is the mother's partner rather than just some harmless-but-skint bloke renting a cheap room.

SS are shite, its not the staff, its the underfunding and the overload of cases.

And the limitations. Like the police check thing. Plus needing permission to share any info we have on someone.

If someone refuses a police check alarm bells ring with me but trying to convince someone else that isn't easy.

Makes me laugh, DH had to be CRB checked, by CAFCASS, in order to see his own children despite no allegations of abuse, whereas OM, who was the local "hardman", had free access to DHs children, one of whom had nightmares about him for years after he split from their mum.