Social services involvement?

[ProudMama]

Hi, I have been with my current partner for almost 2 years. We live together and have a 3 month old baby. He’s very irresponsible when he’s drinking, and so when he does drink I tell him he has to stay away for the night and only come home when he’s sober, which he does.
A few nights ago, he was at his friends house, drinking. An argument broke out amongst the 3 men present, who were all drunk, and the result was my partner being arrested and charged with ABH (the man he assaulted received a cut to the eye which did not require medical attention).
What I’m worried about is how this could affect our baby. My partner was not home when this incident took place, he was at the home of the person he assaulted. Our baby was at home with me. Will the police inform social services if the incident even though neither myself or the baby were present? And if so, how are social services likely to proceed?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear ProudMama,

Thank you for your post and welcome to the parents' board.

You say that you have a 3 month old baby with your partner. You say that is very irresponsible when he drinks and that if he does drink, you tell him to stay away from the home. A few nights ago, your partner was at his friends house, and following an argument, was arrested and charged with ABH. You are worried about how this could affect your child. Your partner was not at home when the incident occurred. You would like to know if the police will inform children's services, and how they may proceed.

Firstly, I am sorry to hear about the difficult situation you are in.

The police will assess whether they think your partner's behaviour could pose a safeguarding risk to your child, and based on this, may decide to refer to children's services. They should inform you if they are making a referral.

Children's services will assess the referral and make a decision as to whether they think they need to open an assessment. They may decide to open a child in need assessment. This is an assessment carried out by children’s services to see whether a child is a child in need of extra help (as defined by Section 17 of the Children Act 1989). If the social worker decides the child is a child in need, they will draw up a child in need plan. This will set out what extra help will be given to the child and their family by children’s services and other local agencies (e.g. the school and local health services).

If children's services are concerned that your child may be at risk of significant harm, they may initiate child protection enquiries. This will involve speaking to you, your partner and other professionals, in order to establish what risks your child may be exposed to. This could result in your son being placed on a child protection plan.

It is important that if children's services contact you, you work with them openly and honestly. Whilst your partner was not at home when the incident occurred, he appears to demonstrate problematic behaviours when he is drinking. This could impact upon your son now or in the future. Children's services will expect both you and your partner to show insight into this and may want your partner to engage with help to address this.

I hope you have found this helpful.

Best wishes,

Suzie.