Probation/Social Services- Please read and give any advice. I’m really worried and stressed out.

[Worriedmum_1]

Hi everyone,

I have 2 kids, girl is 4 and my boy is 3. The father of my children doesn’t live in the same city as me and is about 2 hours away, he’s currently in prison but due to get out in early release in about 3/4 weeks. Prior to him going to prison we had social services involved who at the end of assessment basically said any contact he has with kids needs to be supervised by myself and someone else i decide and needs to be in my city. As he’s due to get out soon, probation asked him for details to get in touch with social services to see if he’s allowed to see the kids or not. The assessment took place about 2.5 years ago, I have the copy of the assessment and what it says. I’m quite worried and concerned if social services turn around and lie to probation and say he isn’t allowed contact.. when in fact on the assessment it doesn’t say that and says he is allowed but it needs to be supervised. Could social services lie to probation about this matter or will they tell them what it says on the assessment? As I have proof it states he is allowed contact but supervised.. please could literally anyone respond back with anything I’m worried out of my mind and quite literally cannot sleep at night. My kids are at the stage of asking for their father like any child would.. any help or response will be greatly appreciated!!

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Worriedmum_1

Thank you for your post and welcome to the Forum.

I am sorry to read that you are worried about what might happen when your children’s father is released from prison and on probation.

May I suggest that you provide a copy of the assessment from children’s services to the probation officer/department. Children’s services are unlikely to give misinformation to Probation Services, I imagine they will provide the most up to date information they have, and if they are required to undertake another assessment will do so.

Here are some helpful links, Prisoner’s Families Helpline and Unlock for you and for your children Barnardo’s has information for children whose parent is in prison.

Best wishes
Suzie

[Worriedmum_1]

Dear Worriedmum_1

Thank you for your post and welcome to the Forum.

I am sorry to read that you are worried about what might happen when your children’s father is released from prison and on probation.

May I suggest that you provide a copy of the assessment from children’s services to the probation officer/department. Children’s services are unlikely to give misinformation to Probation Services, I imagine they will provide the most up to date information they have, and if they are required to undertake another assessment will do so.

Here are some helpful links, Prisoner’s Families Helpline and Unlock for you and for your children Barnardo’s has information for children whose parent is in prison.

Best wishes
Suzie

Hi!

I don’t have the Probations officer/departments number or contact details. All my partner has said was they asked for our kids details and said they will be finding out from social services, probation however haven’t rang or spoken to me at all.. so I’m not sure how I can go about this. I’m just not wanting them to get false information as on the social services final assessment I have it says my partner is allowed contact with kids but it needs to be supervised by myself. If they require to undertake a up to date assessment would that mean no contact would be allowed until that takes place? Please could you provide further advice. Thanks!

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Worriedmum_1

Thank you for your questions.

Here is a link which may help you find probation services in your area.

In answer to your second question, “whether children’s services will prevent contact until a new or updated assessment is complete?” I can only ‘speculate’ they may or may not: you will have to ask them if this situation arises.

If an assessment is being undertaken (or proposed) you might want to ask whether the safety measures originally suggested (i.e you supervising any contact) might be temporarily appropriate or whether your partner can be supervised by someone else until any ‘new’ assessment is complete.

Best wishes

Suzie