Advice for a friend

[SoapMactavish]

Hi, it's my first post here and alight you unsure but here it's goes..

so recently a friend of mine has came out of a relationship due to him hurting his partners child and caused a mark/bruise. He admitted it to the police and his ex and has been given a caution with a anger management course etc. Social services have been involved obviously due to the child's protection etc does anyone know if there isn't anything he or his ex can do to arrange meetings or anything with them both and social to come to some sort of agreement to carry the relationship on as they have been speaking and understanding from both sides why they did what they did and how they acted with each other on top of this situation.

Appreciate any comments and advice from or him, thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear SoapMactavish

Welcome to the Board and thank you for your question.

I think it will be difficult for your friend’s ex-partner to persuade professionals that her child will not be at risk if she resumes her relationship with the person who has harmed her child.

I imagine the professionals will also be very concerned about the child’s emotional well-being if he or she knows that their mother has resumed a relationship with someone who physically harmed them. A social worker may question the mother’s motives and likely escalate any safeguarding concerns for the child. Additionally if the mother (or your friend) were to suggest that the child would not be involved or know that their mother has resumed the relationship this would not seem feasible and it would be virtually impossible to monitor and therefore would not be an acceptable suggestion.

Child abuse always places children at risk and they need to be protected from it, the NSPCC has some useful information this, I hope you find it useful.

Best wishes

Suzie