CIN Meeting

[Hopeful1993]

Hello, I’m looking for any advice as I’ve googled endlessly and still feel none the wiser.
This morning I received a notification for a CIN meeting next week, I have emailed our current SW for further information without much clarity. Does anyone have any experience of this meeting and can offer any insight ? I read on another forum it’s good to start making a safety plan, my OH is no longer on the SOR as of yesterday but SS had concerns over him still accessing mainstream porn. Is anyone able to share any safety plans they put in place ? I know many people have them in place if they stay with their partner and have children. I’ve wrote down the obvious but just feel like it’s not enough for them. Feeling judged and extra on edge now.
Thankyou

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Hopeful1993,

Welcome to the parents' board and thank you for your post. You say that you have received a notification recently that a child in need meeting is going to be held next wee. You say that you have asked your social worker for more information. You say that, as of yesterday, your partner is no longer on the sex offenders register. Children's services have concerns about him accessing porn. You would like more information on what a child in need meeting is and some more information on what you can include in a safety plan.

I am assuming from your post that the social worker has conducted and completed a child in need assessment. This assessment should have looked at various aspects of your children's lives - such as health, education and housing - and evaluated any risk they may be at. The social worker has recommended a child in need plan, which suggests they may have some worries and/or feel that your family would benefit from some extra support. It is important that you read this assessment and fully understand why the social worker is recommending a child in need plan.

A child in need meeting is held so that those working with the family can discuss with parents and carers what help is needed. If the child agrees and is old enough, they may be at the meeting. A child in need plan will usually be made at this meeting.

The aim of a child in need plan is to provide support so the child to continue to live safely within their family. Parents and carers should be asked what they think would help them and their child, and if they agree to what is put in this plan. It is good social work practice for the plan to be provided in writing and signed by both the family and the social worker if it is agreed, even if this is by email.

The child in need plan will have certain objective and aims, and these should be reviewed at subsequent child in need meetings held every 4-6 weeks.

You mention a safety plan and would like some more help on what this might look like. Every safety plan will look different as each case is different. A safety plan should respond to the children's specific needs and the specific risk they may be at. If children's services have concerns about your partner, a safety plan is likely to include ways that his contact with your children is limited/supervised. It is good that you have noted some ideas down, and I would advise that you put these forward to the social worker. The social worker may also have some more suggestions and can work with you to develop this.

You may find it helpful to contact the Lucy Faithful organisation for more guidance on this, who support relatives of those who have committed sex offences. Their number is 0808 1000 900.

You may also find it useful to take a look at our page on child in need assessments and plans.

Best wishes,

Suzie.

[Hopeful1993]

Thankyou for you reply Suzie.
We haven’t received any feedback from our pre birth assessment as of yet and when we have asked the SW we just keep being told she will write her report and we go from there. We feel we are going into this meeting not knowing what to expect as nothing has been discussed with us, even down to them telling us what they feel the risk is and why they are involved, everything has just been directed to us as to why we think they are involved. We were open to things in a safety plan that we had discussed between ourselves if SS feel that we need to have certain measures in place but nobody is being open with us. So far it’s been a constant battle for information and everything is sprung on us, from meetings with a few days notice to several repetitive conversations.
We aren’t opposed to working with SS but feel in the dark on everything that is happening.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Hopeful1993,

It is understandable that you feel in the dark given the lack of communication from your social worker.

You should received a copy of the assessment prior to an initial child in need meeting. This is so you can understand why children's services are recommending a child in need plan and what support they are suggesting.

I would advise that you ask your social worker for a meeting - or discuss at the next meeting - your concerns about the lack of communication. You can develop some clear steps as to how to address this together.

You may find it helpful to read our top tips on working with a social worker here.

Best wishes,

Suzie.

[Terrifiedparent]

Hello,
We originally started on a CIN plan and have since been signed off.
We had similar experiences, last minute meetings, visits etc in the space of 9 months we had 4 different social workers.
We now have no social worker at all but we are on a safety plan, my partner isn't allowed to be in the family home however he is allowed to see our child providing it is supervised by myself or family members.
The meeting itself for us was between myself my partner thr social and the school there was only ever us 4 involved and it was basically just discussing safeguarding, every meeting was pretty much the same so er never felt we were getting anywhere at the time.
Feel free to message if you have any questions