Children's services seeking a care order.

[Mumoftwo81]

Good morning , I am new to the group and in desperate help and advice. I am the mum of two children under 4. About 10 weeks ago now, my husband was arrested by the police for receiving and distributing indecent images of children. He was charged on an emergency provision for distributing a category c image. Social services are involved and he has not been allowed any contact with the children to this date. When he was in custody, he was also questioned about other offenses, which he denies. However, I understand that social services have to take the allegations as the truth for now and they have decided that he poses a threat to his children. He wants to have contact so his lawyer has notified CS of this. CS have informed me that they are seeking legal action to obtain a care order. I have very little knowledge of all the legal terms, this whole situation has been sprung on me with no prior signs, warnings. I saw nothing coming. I googled what care order mean and I am now panicking that my children might be removed from my care or that they will have that "looked after" status for the foreseeable future. I will do everything it takes to protect my children. I have not and will never go against any decision CS make. I need someone to help me shed light on this situation please and some advice on how I can move forward in a positive way. Many thanks.

[NorthernMum]

Hi,
I am so sorry to hear this has happened to you and your children.
I apologise I cant offer any practical help or advice as I am not aware of how procedures etc. work.

Just wanted to reach out and say that your husband's actions are not a reflection of you. I cannot even begin to imagine what a terrible shock it must be for you that he is accused let alone if he is guilty.
Is there anyone in your family you can trust for support as this must be dreadful for you.
I wouldn't want anything to do with him if that is the case. But I know there are all kinds of rights etc. father's have to their children but I do not know if these rights continue if the are found guilty of despicable behaviour towards children. Even if not found guilty criminally C.S. will still want to be certain that the children are safe.
I think because of the seriousness of the situation you need to co-operate with S.W's and be upfront about what a shock it is. Hopefully you will have a decent S.W to talk to and they should be able to explain what all the terms mean. Remember it is not your fault and their involvement is not a criticism of you.
I really hope you and the little ones are ok.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Good morning , I am new to the group and in desperate help and advice. I am the mum of two children under 4. About 10 weeks ago now, my husband was arrested by the police for receiving and distributing indecent images of children. He was charged on an emergency provision for distributing a category c image. Social services are involved and he has not been allowed any contact with the children to this date. When he was in custody, he was also questioned about other offenses, which he denies. However, I understand that social services have to take the allegations as the truth for now and they have decided that he poses a threat to his children. He wants to have contact so his lawyer has notified CS of this. CS have informed me that they are seeking legal action to obtain a care order. I have very little knowledge of all the legal terms, this whole situation has been sprung on me with no prior signs, warnings. I saw nothing coming. I googled what care order mean and I am now panicking that my children might be removed from my care or that they will have that "looked after" status for the foreseeable future. I will do everything it takes to protect my children. I have not and will never go against any decision CS make. I need someone to help me shed light on this situation please and some advice on how I can move forward in a positive way. Many thanks.

Dear Mumoftwo81

Welcome to the parents’ discussion forum and thank you for posting.

My name is Suzie, online adviser, at Family Rights Group. I am sorry that you find yourself and your family in this distressing situation following your husband’s arrest for downloading indecent images f children. This must very shocking as well as very upsetting for you.

The police made a referral to children’s services because of safeguarding concerns for your children. These are very serious allegations against your husband and children’s services will be very concerned about the safety and well-being of your children. They will not be agreeable to your husband having contact with the children whilst the police and their investigations are ongoing.

Children’s services will be concerned about your response to the situation and whether you are able to protect your children. Was your initial response supportive of your husband having contact with the children or did you in anyway give an indication that you are supporting your husband because of the category of offence or because he has denied further offences. You say, in your post, that you ‘understand that children’s services have to the allegations as the truth for now’. Do you not believe the allegations?

It is not clear how long ago this situation started and whether your children were placed on child protection plans. If there was a child protection plan and you have not adhered to the plan, this may be the reason children’s services may be considering care proceedings. Please read our advice sheet Care (and related) proceedings . You will see that there is a threshold criteria to be satisfied. That is:

'A court can only make certain orders about a child, like care, supervision or adoption orders, if it is satisfied that, when Children’s Services first got involved in protecting the child, s/he was suffering or was likely to suffer significant harm, and that the harm was due to the parents’ care not being what is normally expected of a parent.

Once the court decides this is true, it goes on to decide if it’s best for the child to make an order.'


Has children’s services been advised that at this stage that care proceedings can go ahead. You could ask the social worker if he or she has taken legal advice. If children’s services start care proceedings you would be entitled to legal aid for legal representation by a solicitor.

It may be that children services is considering is child protection. This would not involve the court or children being removed. Please see our advice sheet Child protection procedures if this has not yet happened. Child protection is so that children’s services can work with the family to ensure children are safeguarded.

Child protection is to investigate whether a child has suffered harm, is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm in the future. It is also a way ensure children’s services can work with the family to ensure children are safeguarded.

You may find it helpful to contact the NSPCC about their advice and courses for women as protectors. Their telephone number is 0808 800 5000. The Lucy Faithfull Foundation’s Parents Protect also offer advice to families where sex offences is an issue. You can reach them on 0808 100 0900.

If your husband makes an application to the court for contact the court will want to know the outcome of the police investigations and also to know what children's services view is regarding contact.

Should you wish to speak to an adviser you can telephone our free confidential advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3pm Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays).

I hope you will find this information helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie