Defamation of character by social services

[MyRightToBeSupported]

HI ALL! SOMETHING IS REALLY BOTHERING ME IN TERMS OF WHAT I CAN DO IF ANYTHING AND IF SO, WHAT??
THANK U FOR READING!
I AM IN A RELATIONSHIP (LAST 4 YRS) WITH SOMEONE WHO UP UNTIL LAST YR HAD PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITY OF DAUGHTER... MOTHER DECIDED NOT TO RETURN CHILD AFTER WEEKEND CONTACT... FAST-FORWARD A YEAR, NOW DAUGHTER IS IN FOSTER CARE AND SOCIAL SERVICES ARE TRYING TO REMOVE CHILD ALTOGETHER...FROM BOTH PARENTS. MY RELATIONSHIP WITH FATHER HAS BEEN KEPT QUIET BECAUSE OF MOTHERS REACTION TO IT.
COMPLETELY UNRELATED,BEFORE I MET FATHER I HAD TWINS REMOVED FROM MY CARE 5 DAYS AFTER GIVING BIRTH,I DIDN'T LEAVE HOSPITAL WITH THEM, NO INVOLVEMENT FROM SS UP UNTIL I HAD TWINS. ADOPTION TOOK PLACE ETC ETC. BUT NOW SS INVOLVED WITH MY PARTNERS CASE ARE SAYING FATHER SHOULDN'T GET DAUGHTER BACK 1 REASON BEING INVOLVEMENT WITH ME... BEARING IN MIND
: NEVER MET ME OR KNOW ME EVEN THOUGH THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONTACT ME WAS THERE
ISN'T THIS DEFAMATION OF CHARACTER ON SS PART? SURELY REPORTS ABOUT ME WILL PLAY A PART IN WHETHER GETS DAUGHTER BACK OR NOT??
MANY THANKS

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear MyRightToBeSupported

Thank you for your post and welcome to the discussion board. My name is Suzie, I am an online adviser and will be responding to you today.

I am sorry to hear of your distress. I hope the information provided is helpful to you.

You have been in a relationship with your partner for four years. Your partner’s child is in foster care and the local authority’s plan is to permanently remove the child from the parent’s care.

You have been involved with children's services and have had two children removed from your care. They have been adopted.

You say that due to the potential reaction of the child’s mother your relationship with your partner was ‘kept quiet.’ I will assume from this that you mean the mother and children’s services were unaware of the relationship. Now that children’s services are aware they have informed your partner that part of the reason the child will not be returned to his care is because of his relationship with you. Children’s services have not met with you and you have not had any contact with them. Given this, you query whether their stance can be viewed as defamation of your character.

Deformation of character is an act of damaging somebody's reputation by saying or writing bad or false things about them. It is unlikely that children’s services can be accused of deformation of character if there is evidence of why they are concerned. You do not say whether your partner is in Care Proceedings. I will assume he is given the local authority's plan is to remove the child permanently. Children's services will address this matter within their report to court and your partner will get the opportunity to respond with support from his solicitor. You may find it helpful for you and your partner to request a meeting with the social worker to discuss their concerns prior to this and to think about how they might be addressed at this point.

I have added a link HERE to care (and related proceedings) that you may find helpful.

As part of their assessment, children's services will assess you because you are a significant person in your partner's life. Historical and current information should be incorporated in the assessment including past/present and future risks and evidence of any positive steps that have been taken to address those risks since the children were removed.

It is advisable to work openly and honestly with children’s services. I have added a link https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/top-tips-and-templates/. It is our ‘top tips’ guidance when working with social workers and provides a comprehensive guide to making the most of what is often a difficult relationship.

You say that your partner no longer has parental responsibility (PR) for his child. PR can only be removed if a child is adopted. I have added a link https://frg.org.uk/get-help-and-advice/a-z-of-terms/parental-responsibility/ and suggest you clink on our PR fact sheet which explains PR, who has it and when it can be removed.

I hope you find the information helpful. You can ring our freephone advice line to discuss this with an adviser if you would like to; our number is 0808 8010366 and we are open from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm, Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). Or of course, you can post again on here if you need further advice.

Best wishes, Suzie

[LLPT25]

Hi
Sorry to hear this . Shocked to hear that your twins were removed just after birth. Unbelievable. No explanation ? You need to find out why asap ! Do a Subject access request . SARS . Request all information that is held on you . Contact your Gp, the hospital anyone involved in your care and get all information that is held about you . This is beyond belief

[MyRightToBeSupported]

Ok thanks v.much both