Child protection

[lovely22]

Any support/information would be great.

My step daughter who is now 16 has lived with my husband since she was 18 months old full time - she has also lived with myself for nearly 10 years.

During her last year in highschool, to cut a long story short - all her behaviours stafter spiralling out of control so we went to social services to ask for help. At first they were brilliant - they took her in for respite for 4 nights and they arranged for multi stemic therapy (MST) to prevent further problems. They advised there were no safeguarding concerns and this was fully voluntary.

The MST worker really helped us and we followed everything that was put in place - the mst worker was really happy with the progress and how we were managing my step daughters challenging behaviour

Unfortunately when she left school, everything spiralled even though we helped her to get a part time job. She started stealing and lying again and going missing with the police have to return her early hours of the morning. She was also getting in to fights and met a known sex offender and the police were very concerned.

We followed a plan which MST put in place and always reported her missing and safeguarded her to the best of our ability. Unfortunately this did not work and she continued.

On the last night - she went missing and we had a social worker who advised concerns that if she is giving our address out to a sex offender it could potentially put my 2 year old daughter at risk. Fron that point, my step daughter did not return to the family home to safeguard my 2 year old daughter - she went in to local authority care (which was heavily resisted by social services - who threatened my husband with abandoment , criminal proceedings ect.

My husband nearly had a nervous break down due to the stress.

My step daughter continues to be under local authority care (has been for over a month now) and they are looking for a long term placement for her - but there has been a few threats made by social services which i need answers about.

They have advised that my step daughter may be put on a child protection risk register to safeguard her. But they have advised due to my 2 year old daughter being her half sibling and living with her when this all began - she will also automatically get put on the child protection register. When asking the social worker what safeguarding concerns she had - she stated none but this was just local protocol that siblings automatically go on it too. I am extremely worried and concerned regarding this because my step daughter has never been left with my 2 year old daughter un supervised. So i am very confused as to why my daughter would need safeguarding and what risk of significant harm is she at risk from.

My questions are -

Can my step daughter be put on the child protection at risk register under local authority care ? (She will not be returning to live with us , and her mother is unable to have her to live with her due to her.mother having children who do not get along with my step daughter due to her behaviour).

Am I able to appeal if my daughter gets put on the register and will they have to inform myself? (Social services have never met my daughter - i have only spoken to/met social worker once) no concerns have ever been raised about my 2 year old.

Thanks

[KatKat10]

Get a solicitor, before you get trapped down the rabbit hole.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Any support/information would be great.

My step daughter who is now 16 has lived with my husband since she was 18 months old full time - she has also lived with myself for nearly 10 years.

During her last year in highschool, to cut a long story short - all her behaviours stafter spiralling out of control so we went to social services to ask for help. At first they were brilliant - they took her in for respite for 4 nights and they arranged for multi stemic therapy (MST) to prevent further problems. They advised there were no safeguarding concerns and this was fully voluntary.

The MST worker really helped us and we followed everything that was put in place - the mst worker was really happy with the progress and how we were managing my step daughters challenging behaviour

Unfortunately when she left school, everything spiralled even though we helped her to get a part time job. She started stealing and lying again and going missing with the police have to return her early hours of the morning. She was also getting in to fights and met a known sex offender and the police were very concerned.

We followed a plan which MST put in place and always reported her missing and safeguarded her to the best of our ability. Unfortunately this did not work and she continued.

On the last night - she went missing and we had a social worker who advised concerns that if she is giving our address out to a sex offender it could potentially put my 2 year old daughter at risk. Fron that point, my step daughter did not return to the family home to safeguard my 2 year old daughter - she went in to local authority care (which was heavily resisted by social services - who threatened my husband with abandoment , criminal proceedings ect.

My husband nearly had a nervous break down due to the stress.

My step daughter continues to be under local authority care (has been for over a month now) and they are looking for a long term placement for her - but there has been a few threats made by social services which i need answers about.

They have advised that my step daughter may be put on a child protection risk register to safeguard her. But they have advised due to my 2 year old daughter being her half sibling and living with her when this all began - she will also automatically get put on the child protection register. When asking the social worker what safeguarding concerns she had - she stated none but this was just local protocol that siblings automatically go on it too. I am extremely worried and concerned regarding this because my step daughter has never been left with my 2 year old daughter un supervised. So i am very confused as to why my daughter would need safeguarding and what risk of significant harm is she at risk from.

My questions are -

Can my step daughter be put on the child protection at risk register under local authority care ? (She will not be returning to live with us , and her mother is unable to have her to live with her due to her.mother having children who do not get along with my step daughter due to her behaviour).

Am I able to appeal if my daughter gets put on the register and will they have to inform myself? (Social services have never met my daughter - i have only spoken to/met social worker once) no concerns have ever been raised about my 2 year old.

Thanks

Dear Lovely22

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board and thank you for your post. My name is Suzie and I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser. I am sorry to hear of the difficulties your family is experiencing. Please accept my apologies for the late response to your query.

• The advice below is relevant if you live in England. I notice that you use the term ‘child protection register’ so just need to check if you are possibly posting from Wales where that term is used – in England, the terminology used is child protection plan. In the past, there were also ‘child protection registers’ in England but not anymore. If you are in Wales then please disregard the information below and refer to our list of useful services in Wales. . The NSPCC also has information and advice about child protection in Wales. Unfortunately, Family Rights Group advises families in England only.

If you are in England, I hope that the following information will be helpful to you. It does not apply if you are in Wales:

My understanding is that your 16 year old step-daughter is currently accommodated by children’s service under a voluntary section 20 arrangement. This is due to concerns about her behaviour which have continued despite you and your husband’s attempts to manage this safely and to follow the strategies put forward via the Multi Systemic Therapy worker. Your stepdaughter was at risk as she was involved in criminal activity, running away/going missing and at risk of child sexual exploitation due to being known to a sexual offender. You were concerned for the safety of your 2 year old child as your address was known to the sexual offender. It seems that your stepdaughter was accommodated at your husband’s request not her own (at 16 she can agree her own care plan and ask to be accommodated) and that children’s services were reluctant to offer this form of family support to you. However, they are now seeking a long-term placement for her.

The social worker has told you that there will be an initial child protection conference held to decide whether your stepdaughter should be made subject to a child protection plan .

You want to know i) if a young person can have a child protection plan while they are accommodated by children’s services.

Yes, this is possible as it is the safeguarding concerns which have led to her being accommodated. It may be your local children’s services’ department’s policy also to always hold a conference if a young person becomes accommodated. The decision to make a child protection plan is made at the conference.

ii) The social worker has told you that the local protocol is that siblings are automatically made subject to child protection plans too. I think that you should ask for a copy of this local protocol. If there are child protection concerns for one child then their sibling’s needs must also be assessed but (in England) there can be different plans made for different children depending on their circumstances. So there can be a situation where one child has a child protection plan because they have or are likely to suffer significant harm and another child in the same family may have a child in need plan if there is not significant risk of harm to them. So, ask to see a copy of the policy where this is stated. Policies can be challenged where necessary.

iii) You ask if you will be informed and if you can appeal a child protection plan being made for your child.

You should be present and able to participate in a child protection conference for your child. You can make a complaint (not an appeal) about a decision made at a conference. Please see this information here and our template letter (2 ) which can assist you in making a complaint, if needed.

I hope this helps. If you do need further advice about your situation and you are in England please post back or call our freephone advice line on 0808 8010366 (Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 300 pm) (except on bank holidays).

Best wishes

Suzie