Crime and Child Protection / Child in need

[NoName2021]

Hi All,
I am a little bit lost with where I'm at at the moment and the possible outcomes.

My relationship broke down with my children's father, my children are 9 and 10 years old.
My ex partner moved out of our home, he was seeing the children at weekends and we were getting on well - better than ever to be fair.
We both moved on, quite quickly this is where is gets sticky! I started dating someone who I met at school over 20 years ago. The guy i was involved with was great with me and my children and has his own children who were coming to my house alternative weekends ... however he had a "side line" which was selling class b (cannabis) when he was at work ( a doorman). He had a jaded past in his 20's and received an IPPsentence (he's 35 now) first offence was 2006 before IPP sentance was banned for violence (fighting with men no DV) He was sentanced to a period in custody for that and now for the selling cannabis, I visited him every weekend and took my children with me alternative weekends. I told my children that my partner was at work as a prison officer (they have to wear shirts on visits) my brother was an officer so it wasnt a huge suprise to the children and that we could only see him on his lunch break hence being sat at a table eating lunch etc.
Here's where it gets even more sticky - I may have taken a mobile phone into him, some tramadol and some cigarettes on a visit (alone with out the kids) and got caught (stupid i know) The police took my own phone when they arrested me for convaying articles and conspiracy to supply (the messages found in my phone were about tobacco and nothing more but I think they were hoping I was peddling weed for him) the police made a referral to social services who initially put us on CP as the police were not releasing the evidance they had to SS incase it damages the prosecution case. After the first CP review hearing we were made child in need, the kids dad is supportive, the school is supportive, our home is nice, I had a good career and above all the children's needs are met.
We are on CIN until I have been chargerd and sentenced (possibly some time in custody). The police and SS are of the opinion I was manipulated into convaying these things in and I was apparently in a bad place after my 10 year relationship broke down with the kids dad - I wasn't I was as happy as could be to be fair but they come to that conclusion themselves like it was all part of some midlife crisis.
Partner is due for release, partner has been cleared to be no risk to women or children and will have no restrictions on seeing his own children - the assessment / decision was made by probation and social services in another county where his children live.
Will he be allowed to come back here once this is over for me? Will social services in my area still see him as a risk becuase of this situation and the trouble I'm now and the impact on my children although another social services has cleared him of risks to women and children? I know probation will have alot of the say on where's and if's but from a SS view would the leave us be? or not as they think he introduced me into this crime life and there for is a poor role model? The worst of it is he didn't even ask for me to do it - I did if off my own back and suggested it to him. Currently the cin states I can not have contact with him until the police have dealt with me and until they have a clearer picture of the offense and outcome.

Thank you in advance for reading this, also no need to tell me I'm a doughnut, I already no just how much trouble I've caused.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear NoName21,

Welcome to the parents' board and thank you for your post.

Your partner is currently serving a custodial sentence for supply of Class B drugs. He has previously served an IPP sentence. Whilst your partner was serving his current sentence, you visited him in prison, taking your children with you on alternative weekends. On one occasion, you aimed to deliver some items to your partner, and were subsequently arrested for conveying articles and conspiracy to supply. A referral to children's services was made, and your children were placed on a child protection plan, which was de-escalated to a child in need plan at the next review conference. You have yet to be charged with an offence and children's services and the police are of the view that you were manipulated into supplying these items by your partner, which you dispute. Your partner is now due to be released and has been risk assessed by probation and children's services in another country, which finds him to not be a risk to women and children. You would like to know what action children's services in your area is likely to take if your partner returns to your home. The current CIN plan stipulates that you should have no contact with him until there is more clarity on the offence you have allegedly committed.

Whilst your partner has been risk-assessed as not posing a risk to women and children, this does not mean that children's services in your area will not be concerned about your relationship with him and any part he may play in your children's lives. The current CIN plan says that you should not have contact with your partner, and whilst children's services does not have the power to say who you should be in a relationship with, they do have a duty to safeguard your children. Given the information you have provided in your post, children's services may take the view that you are unable to prioritise your children's safety and wellbeing whilst being in a relationship with your partner. If they assess that this relationship amounts to your children experiencing significant harm, or puts them at risk of significant harm, they may initiate child protection enquiries again. For more information on child protection procedures, take a look here.

It would be helpful for you to speak to the social worker about what is going to happen after your partner's release, and what children's services expectations are. If you would like your partner to move into your home, you should be honest about this, and perhaps suggest that the social worker carry out a risk assessment to address any of the specific concerns they may have in relation to your specific situation. Nevertheless, due to the fact that children's services consider this to be a coercive relationship, they may consider any intention to continue the relationship as you showing an inability to do what is best for your children.

I hope you have found this helpful.

Best wishes,

Suzie.

[DASC44]

How awful it is when your child gets involved with drugs. I would like to wish that no family would know what it is