Recording meeting with Social Worker

[Ads]

Hello everyone,

Hope you all are well

Just wanted a bit or advice on recording voice meetings with social worker in your own home

I’ve always heard bad things about the social services, especially in my borough. Several years ago the local authority was ordered by the government to set up a new company to run children's services. Since then they have gone from inadequate to requires improvement. Most people would say this is because they are looking for results (doesn’t matter how they get these).

Anyway my story is the child social services got involved and I had a couple of meetings with them at my home. So what I did was I voice recorded the meetings.

In the assessment report the social worker has added things I never said. Some of the things stated in the report are crucial to ‘meeting the threshold’ for a child protection conference.

So now I want to make a complaint. My questions are:
1) Was I in my right to record such meetings? (legal)
2) Can I use these records for my complaint? Or pass them over to someone? (any privacy issue)

Thanks and stay safe

[Taz2020]

I have SS on videos in my home on CCTV the courts will not listen to the videos plus if u inform SS that you are recording then they will make you stop as they are not good ppl only care about getting the Bonuses

[Ads]

Hi
Thank you foe your advice
So in other words they can lie and do what they want but you can’t use any evidence against them
Oh lovely

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Ads,

Welcome to the Parents Forum. My name is Suzie, FRG’s online adviser.

I can see that you have cooperated with an assessment by children services. You recorded the meeting with the social worker and think want to use the recording as there are errors in the report. The social worker has made a decision that the threshold of significant harm for a child protection case conference had been met. (that she suspects that your children have or are likely to suffer significant harm).
You want to use the recording to challenge the assessment.
I do not have a straightforward answer to your question. Legally you would need someone’s consent to record them. If you presented the recording to the team manager or chairperson of the case conference, then it is likely it may not be even listened to and you would need to explain why you recorded.
However, sometimes recordings are given weight and are used in court. Please see guidance from the Transparency Project.
.
I suggest that you write down the 5 or 10 worst errors and ask the social worker and her manager to correct them. If it is going to a child protection conference, it is important that a you also let the chairperson of the conference know about the errors in case there is not enough time to amend the report. The chair could circulate a copy of your letter or you could read it out at the conference.

Here are our FAQ’s about child protection.


I hope my advice helps. If you need further advice, please post again or call our confidential and free advice line on 0808 801 0366.

Best wishes,
Suzie