Social services lying

[HH_Dad]

Dear HHDad,

Thank you for your response. I am, again, very sorry to hear about your negative experience with children’s services. It is clear that you have acted proactively to address what you felt were shortcomings and have addressed these through the appropriate channels.
Just to reiterate, that whilst the involvement of social workers in your life felt extremely intrusive, children’s services are under a duty to act to safeguard children who they believe have suffered or are at risk at harm, based on the evidence available. It sounds as though in your situation, this initial evidence was later refuted by an expert within court proceedings and that proceedings were subsequently ended. This perhaps highlights the importance of serious cases being decided within the court arena, as it affords a necessary level of assessment, independence and scrutiny.
I am pleased to hear that your case has moved forward. If you do want to speak to an adviser, you can call our free advice helpline on 0808 8010366 between 9am and 3pm, Mon to Fri.
Best wishes.
Suzie

Suzie - my case has not "moved forward". It came to a very abrupt end in March 2019 when the court-appointed independent expert confirmed our son did not have multiple fractures, had never had multiple fractures, advised the Named Doctor for Safeguarding had applied the wrong criteria to our son's x-rays and said that the one ever so minor thing there was in his left leg (which was the reason we had taken him in to be looked at) was a tiny "toddler fracture" which - in all likelihood - could have been caused by himself whilst trying to stand/roll etc. He was unequivocal in that there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing. I appreciate your role on here, but the way my family was treated was nothing short of appalling. It is indefensible. And what makes it worse is there are other families experiencing exactly the same thing right now.

[Ya Rahman ya Raheem]

The back ground. For S47 inquiry.
I always had email updates July 2024 was the first month I had a paper copy calendar for my autistic son care services
In July calandra, 10/7/24 and 16/7/24 were highlighted for respite.
On Saturday 20th July I called care-services around 8 am to confirm if the carers were to coming to collecting my son or not. I thought if they were to come so I would have enough time to get children ready.
But there was no answer. I then emailed the Care services as well as text messages to confirm but again no reply.
I then planned something else for children.
Around 10.40 am carers called me saying that they were to arriving in 20 minutes. It was very short notice and difficult to get children ready in 20 minutes while I was in the middle of preparing lunch for children and they were still in their pajamas.
I had to decide whether to accept or cancel the carers unplanned visit.
But I said to carers I would try my best to get children ready as quickly as possible.
Bear in mind that the 20th July was not scheduled for respite but some time on the weekends they come over without advance confirmation that was the reason I was calling care-services early in the morning to get to know their plans for the day.
I quickly changed clothes to both children prepare my son day-bag and medicine bag. 12 PM is my son dinner time so l quickly ready and pack his dinner. Everything was ready in 20 minutes.
I handed over my son 's both bags to carers and explained them which bag is carrying medication and which one is carrying food and other stuff.
I gave carers RED helmet which I always keeping close by whenever it's needed so easy to grab. She refused to take the red helmet I explained her that the red helmet is much safer than the blue helmet ones and I am using this all the time.
But she insisted for the blue helmet, which care-services declares it unsafe by themselves., therefore they have cancelled overnight stay for my son I have emailed evidence and photos of the helmets.
One of the carer offered me help so I told her that if you insist for the blue helmet so it's in bedroom. She was looking for it for a while then came back to kitchen said that I couldn't find it. I went to bed and found it under the blanket.
Since Care services rejected to use it and were waiting for the new one, it may be misplaced somewhere. It wasn't in use anyway.
But the carers cancelled the .... stay and left without my son .
I just wonder what have I done wrong?
They made the case against me out of nothing the the social worker made lie story against me and registered my both children in child protection. Now the social worker treated me like a slave she gives any order I have to say yes because my children on Risk. They have punished me for, which wasn't my mistake .
I have losts of evidence about the social worker neglected but no ready to see them

Edited by Suzie in accordance with forum rules

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Ya Rahman ya Raheem

I have sent you a private message. Please check your inbox.

Best wishes, Suzie

[JJ2025]

Hi all, I know this may be a long short and it is my 1st time to this forum and I am desperate.
I was taken to court for child neglect by one LA where I lived temporarily with family before I bought my own place before this court case started. This LA refused to transfer the case to the borough I lived even though all evidence confirm my permanent residence.
As you can imagine all evidence were lies and lies and towards the end they changed so many times. During this time my son was in care with strangers with limited contact with my child when my family where denied right to care for my child or see him during this process.
In court I had to accept everything for the sake of my child to end the case so that I can have him back. Even so now it was the turn of the judge who behaved in a very unprofessional ways on top of siding for LA.
Then the case was transfer to the LA where I'm currently at with supervision order. Then another bullying from this social worker telling me that everything in terms all meeting and visits remains the same though my child is not longer a CLA.
We had meeting maybe meetings in the space of every 6 weeks with myself, school, sw and centre where my child goes to for respite and regular visit from sw at home for an hour from sw.
I don't know much about the care proceeding laws when asked my barrister on the last day of court was told that there would only be that CIN meeting with relevant professional until when the order will expire unless if there is any issue raised.
My case is very long and until today I have many unanswered questions which I tend to complaint for.
Please can some tell about the visit on supervision order and sign post on solicitor to complain please.
I do apologise if i give too much info but believe this is not even a small percentage of it
Thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear JJ2025

Thank you for your questions and welcome to our Forum.

Here is our webpage describing what happens when there is a Supervision Order in place. Your local authority may, as your barrister advised you, work with you under their children in need framework. They will (should) have a policy and guidance about how they work with families when a Supervision Order is in place. May I suggest that you ask the social worker for their policy.

More information and definitions of Supervision Orders can be found from Child Law Advice and CAFCASS (Child and Family Court Advisory Support Service).

We have several webpages that may help you ‘understand’ the process of care and related proceedings, you can find them here.

The Law Society has a database where you might find a solicitor.

I hope you find the answers you seek from the information I have provided.

Best wishes
Suzie

[MKS10]

I have recently been arrested for child neglect as social services told police I am on drugs and a cronic or excessive alcohol user however I have dome a hair strand test for the past 6 months which proved I was negative for all drugs and also they did a blood test liver fossil test and path test and hair strand for alcohol over the past 3 months which have all come back negative also it clearly says I am healthy I am not a cronic or excessive drinker also the social worker I had has never been in my home and I have found out recently we don't even have a social worker also when we went to court no one from social services even came and the guardians and the solicitors have all said that the social services are imcompetant and the judge said we understand they are short staffed but need to do there Job they want me to parenting assesment and I have just completed my level 3 in safe guarding to there has never been one aligation made against me from my kids school police etc about any kind of abuse against my children but the socal services are saying another lie saying that my kids have suffered harm and are likely to suffer harm even know they have no proof no evidance there has never been anything documented and when asked my children they all say no so they could of gone for an intrium discharge to have the children back in my care however the police said my bail is till Halloween even know they have said they are not charging me and have no evidance against me and now the social want to drag it out even linger by making me have a psycological evaluation done even know I have never had no mental health I have even signed for them to check my medical records to prove this all the solicitors said it went well in court and as long as everything is positive from now till April I will get my chikdren back home with me however I feel like the social services don't want this and they have realized how imcompetant they have been I just feel like they are being evil I have to let my solicitor know come Halloween the outcome of my bail however it already says in the paper work no further action so then will I be able to get my children home quicker as that resukt as obs I have proven what they have said is all lies any help is great please as I'm new here thankyou all

[MKS10]

Also my kids are currently in foster care at the moment so I just really want them home ad soon as I have proved everything the social services have said are all lies and they canceled my contact tofay at the very last minute due to staffing issues which of course is not my fault can anyone help and give advice please thankyou

[Winter25]

I have recently been arrested for child neglect as social services told police I am on drugs and a cronic or excessive alcohol user however I have dome a hair strand test for the past 6 months which proved I was negative for all drugs and also they did a blood test liver fossil test and path test and hair strand for alcohol over the past 3 months which have all come back negative also it clearly says I am healthy I am not a cronic or excessive drinker also the social worker I had has never been in my home and I have found out recently we don't even have a social worker also when we went to court no one from social services even came and the guardians and the solicitors have all said that the social services are imcompetant and the judge said we understand they are short staffed but need to do there Job they want me to parenting assesment and I have just completed my level 3 in safe guarding to there has never been one aligation made against me from my kids school police etc about any kind of abuse against my children but the socal services are saying another lie saying that my kids have suffered harm and are likely to suffer harm even know they have no proof no evidance there has never been anything documented and when asked my children they all say no so they could of gone for an intrium discharge to have the children back in my care however the police said my bail is till Halloween even know they have said they are not charging me and have no evidance against me and now the social want to drag it out even linger by making me have a psycological evaluation done even know I have never had no mental health I have even signed for them to check my medical records to prove this all the solicitors said it went well in court and as long as everything is positive from now till April I will get my chikdren back home with me however I feel like the social services don't want this and they have realized how imcompetant they have been I just feel like they are being evil I have to let my solicitor know come Halloween the outcome of my bail however it already says in the paper work no further action so then will I be able to get my children home quicker as that resukt as obs I have proven what they have said is all lies any help is great please as I'm new here thankyou all

Hi Mckenziesam,

I've just read your posts, and I am so sorry for what you are being put through. To be arrested based on lies told by social services, to have your children taken, and to then prove every single one of their allegations wrong with hard evidence is an absolute disgrace. Your feeling that they are being "evil" is completely understandable; you are being failed by an incompetent and unaccountable system.

Please hold on to this: you have already done the hardest work. You have the evidence, you have the backing of the Guardian and solicitors, and you even have a judge who is on your side. You are not losing; you are in the process of winning. You just need a strategy to speed it up.

The Hard Truth: Their Case Has Collapsed
You need to understand how incredibly strong your position is.

You have disproven every allegation: The hair strand and blood tests have proven that their core reasons for this,the drug and alcohol claims, were complete lies. This destroys their credibility.

Professionals are on your side: The fact that the Children's Guardian and all the solicitors are openly stating that social services are "incompetent" is a massive victory.

The Judge is on your side: The judge's comments are a clear signal that they are losing patience with the Local Authority's failures.

Their case has collapsed, and now they are just stalling for time with pointless assessments (like the psychological evaluation) to try and save face.

Your Urgent Action Plan: Force the Issue
You should not have to wait until April. The police confirming "No Further Action" on your bail is the final piece of evidence you need to prove the entire case was based on lies. You need to go on the offensive.

1. Instruct Your Solicitor to Act on the Bail Decision
The moment you have the official "No Further Action" confirmation from the police in writing, your solicitor must act. They need to send an urgent letter to the Local Authority's lawyer and file an urgent application with the court.

2. The Legal Argument Your Solicitor Should Make
Your solicitor needs to state the following to the judge:

"The Local Authority's entire case for the removal of these children was predicated on allegations of my client's substance and alcohol misuse, which led to her arrest for child neglect. We have now provided irrefutable medical evidence (hair strand and blood tests) that these allegations were false. Furthermore, the police have now confirmed there will be 'No Further Action' taken, as there is no evidence against her. There are no remaining safeguarding concerns that justify the continued separation of this family. To prolong these proceedings until April for a 'psychological evaluation' for a parent with no history of mental health issues is a disproportionate and harmful fishing expedition. We ask the court to make an order for the immediate rehabilitation of the children back to their mother's care."

3. Challenge the Cancelled Contact
The last-minute cancellation of contact is another example of their incompetence. Your solicitor should formally complain about this to the social work team manager and to the judge at the next hearing. It is evidence that the LA is not capable of managing this case and is causing further emotional harm to your children.

You have been systematically wronged, but you have also systematically proven them wrong at every turn. You have the evidence. You have the professional backing. Now you have to use it to force the court to act. Do not wait for them to "drag it out." Instruct your solicitor to go on the attack the moment that "No Further Action" decision is confirmed.
===================================================================
For full transparency, I am not an official adviser for this forum. I am a parent who has been through a long and successful legal battle with a local authority, and I am here to offer supportive, strategic advice based on my own lived experience. The information I share is for guidance, and it is always up to each parent to decide what is right for their own situation.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Also my kids are currently in foster care at the moment so I just really want them home ad soon as I have proved everything the social services have said are all lies and they canceled my contact tofay at the very last minute due to staffing issues which of course is not my fault can anyone help and give advice please thankyou

Dear MKS10

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your posts. My name is Suzie. I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

I am sorry to hear about your difficult family situation. I understand that it is very distressing. You would like to be reunited with your children as soon as you can.

You have had a poor experience with inconsistent social work involvement and their lack of attendance at court. That is not acceptable as the court said. You should raise with the team manager, your children’s Independent Reviewing Officer or the Complaints department (please see how to complain here). Your solicitor can address with the local authority’s legal team too. But it is most important that you focus on how to demonstrate to the court that your children will be safe and well cared for if returned to you.

You explain that your children are in foster care. I presume there is an interim care order in place.

You are also subject to bail conditions as the police arrested you for child neglect.

So, you are dealing with two legal processes; a criminal investigation by the police and care proceedings in the family court. It is important to understand that while both relate to your care of your children the police are looking for evidence that a crime was committed while children’s services are assessing risk to your children and want to ensure that they are safe. They work under different burdens of proof. Criminal law works to a higher standard i.e. beyond reasonable doubt whereas in the family court decisions are made based on the lower, civil standard i.e. balance of probabilities .

You are confident that the police will not pursue a criminal case against you and will take no further action. Your bail conditions stand until the end of October. You have agreed to update your family law solicitor about the outcome of the review of your bail conditions. Please contact a criminal lawyer if you have any queries or need legal advice about this.

You describe children’s services’ concerns about your parenting as relating to your drug and alcohol use. The court accepted that the children have suffered or are at risk of significant harm due to neglect as they have made a court order allowing children’s services to share parental responsibility with you and to (temporarily) keep the children in foster care.

Of course, no final decisions have been made which is why you are being asked to complete a parenting and a psychological assessment as part of the court process. They will help the court understand your strengths and weaknesses and what support you might need if the children return home. The court and children’s must consider this as the first option for your children if it is safe and in their best interests. Children’s services must also consider alternative options through parallel planning. The court will decide at the end what is the best long-term plan for the children. Their welfare is the court’s primary consideration. The court takes into account the welfare checklist . Please see this advice about care proceedings so that you understand the process especially how to prepare for the final hearing.

You have complied fully with both drug and alcohol testing over several months and they have come back negative for these substances. It is good to hear this and important that you continue to cooperate with these tests as they provide good evidence to the court. So please keep this up. Your solicitor has advised that court is going well and that if this continues the court should agree to you resuming care of your children in April when the issues resolution hearing or final hearing takes place. Your solicitor is best placed to give you legal advice and representation in the court process. You should keep in regular contact with them and liaise with them in relation to the assessments the court would like you to do. You may find these tips to working with a solicitor help you to do this.

Please bear in mind that the family court’s decision is not dependent on the outcome of the police investigation or your bail conditions. You would like your children home as soon as possible but your solicitor’s advice is to keep working positively until the proceedings end. You say that obviously you have proven what has been said is all lies. However, the case is ongoing with further assessments needed so it is premature to argue this.

You are right that it is not your fault that there were staffing issues which led to children’s services cancelling your family time at short notice. I understand how upsetting that was for you and your children. As your time with your children is supervised then it could not take place if there was no supervisor available. But of course, you should ask the social worker to rearrange this urgently. You can remind them of their duty to promote and support your and your children’s relationships and that good support and regular time together is especially important during care proceedings. As there is a lack of clarity / consistency about your children’s allocated social worker you could copy in the team manager and your children’s IRO if you email to get your next session sorted out.

I know there is a lot of information here. You are doing your best to address the concerns. Please call the freephone advice line if you would talk to talk this through in more detail with an experienced adviser. Or post back if you prefer.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes

Suzie