Section 47 worries about what's next

[Mitsi]

Hello, well i will try to describe as better as i can the situation.

My husband I and our baby moved in the UK in December 2020. We've been here for nearly two no months. We were staying in a friend's house. It was a really tiny house, we live the three of us in a tiny room and the rest of the house there was three other people. So we don't have a house of our own yet.
We moved here for a better future so the beginning is always very hard. My husband and I are fighting very often. Before we move here we had some serious fights before, during and after pregnancy. He has hit me in the past. Personally i consider that even a slap is violence. He offends me many times with his behaviour. He calls me names. And this thing got worse when we moved here. Maybe from the stress idk but that's not an excuse.
So one week ago we had a walk in the morning with our baby because it was snowing. We went back to the house. We were into our room and discuss. He got angry. He is aggressive i can say. Without saying many things, he pulls my hair just to make sure that i got the message not to raise my voice. We were already fighting in that point. So i slapped him after a long time because i couldn't take anymore his awful behaviour. He slapped me back of course while i had holding the baby. I pushed him with my legs and kicking him to leave. He came furious and he grabbed me by my throat and i couldn't breathe. I remember it very clearly. He left me i got up with the baby and i got out of the room i yelled him to leave. I got back into the room and i locked the door. I immediately started to search in Google for help for domestic abuse. I found a National helpline but the lines were very busy. I didn't know what to do. I wanted so badly to leave this place and get away of my husband that the treated me like this. I don't have any family or friends in the UK so in the end i call 999.
A unit arrived and they took my baby and I. In tha point my husband had left the house with his friend. They dropped us in a police station and i explained the situation. In the end they asked me if i want to do a statement. I didn't want to i wasn't clearly. I had a terrible headache and a baby to take care of so i wanted a place to stay alone. They said that they will arrest my husband.
They drove me to a hotel to stay for the night. The other day they didn't call me back to inform me for anything. Where would i stay. I started call organisations to help me with a refuge or something but i don't receive any benefits so it's very difficult to find a refuge without those. Social services contract me and told me that they would pay for my stay in the hotel.
A social worker visited me but she had to leave so i didn't understand much. A woman that is helping me with this she is from an organisation. She informed me that our case is a section 47. I googled it and i was frightened. I thought oh my god they want to take my baby.
The social worker told me that it will be an investigation which includes my husband, I and everyone that took part in our case. She also found a refuge for my baby and I. She asked thought what i want to do, if i don't want to go to the refuge. She said also that we will have a safety plan for our baby, a meeting with my husband.
I really think of him. I know what he did is beyond limits. But i must try not to destroy my family. I want my baby to have a dad because despite what happens between him and I we must try for her. I am willing to go back if he gets some help. Something like angry management, psychologist idk. He must change. Don't judge me please.
I'm also worried about the social worker. She told me that she contact him via email.
They also informed me that my husband can't visit us in the refuge. I don't know what to do.
I search on the internet about a help for housing from social services. My husband and I tried to rent our own place but we are such a little time here in the UK that we can't. I can't go back to this place we stayed. Can the social services help us with a house. We will pay it because my husband is working. But I am worried what will happen next. Tomorrow the social worker will visit me I'll update. Thank you

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Mitsi

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

My name is Suzie, online adviser at Family Rights Group. I am sorry that I was not able to respond before now due to the volume of work.

From you post, I can see that you are having a very difficult and stressful time. You have moved to a new country and not yet properly settled which is hard enough to cope with and you have had to get away from a domestically abusive situation with your husband.

Clearly you needed help because of your husband’s behaviour. Your baby could have been hurt when you husband assaulted you. He did not seem to have any regard how his actions would affect you and your baby.

Children’s services have now become involved and will continue to support you with accommodation whilst they carry out child protection enquiries under s.47 of the Children Act 1989. This means they are concerned that your child has suffered harm and at risk of future significant harm. The reason for this is the arguments and fights between you and your husband could cause physical and emotional harm.

The enquiries/investigation will include your husband and is likely to recommend that he engages in a domestic violence perpetrator programme to address his behaviour. You say you want to be with your husband if he makes changes and this will be children’s services expectation as well. If your husband does not engage with children’s services or refuses to do the work suggested then, you may have to consider whether you can remain in the relationship as it may be seen as you putting you child at risk. If children’s services believe you are not putting you child’s needs first then it may be that they think you are not able to keep your child safe.

You may be asked to engage with a domestic violence service as well to help you with the trauma of being in an abusive relationship and to understand how you can manage the situation with your husband and more importantly keep yourself and your baby safe.

You say you are worried about what happens next. At present, the s47 process will continue, it takes up to 45 days to complete. A recommendation will be made whether a child protection conference should be set up. The main thing at the moment is ensuring you and baby are safe and children’s services will continue to assist you with accommodation. As you have stated, a safety plan will be put in place and likely to include the kind of contact your husband can hae with your child dependent on the assessed risks.

Our advice sheets An introductory guide to Children’s Services and Child protection procedures will help you to understand the process better.

From your post, it appears that you have been open and honest about the difficulties in the relationship with your husband. This will help you to get the help and support you need. If you have not yet contact a domestic violence service, you may find it helpful to contact Women’s Aid on 0808 200 0247 or Independent domestic Violence Advocate on 01274 667104.

My advice to you is that you should engage and cooperate with the s47 process and best you can. It is important that you are seen as being protective and working well with professionals.

I do not think children’s services are likely at this stage of their enquiries to support you obtaining accommodation for yourself and your husband.

I you would like to speak with an adviser at Family Rights Group, 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.

Hope you will find this helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie