Social services involvement

[Smoggy_uk]

Do social services have to inform a Father (separated from mother) if they're involved with the child regardless of whether or not the father sees his child

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Smoggy_uk

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your post. My name is Suzie and I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser.

You want to know if children’s services must always inform a father of their involvement with their child, even if he does not see the child.

You have not provided any context for your query which means that my advice may be limited.

Children’s services are required to work in partnership with all parents when they are supporting children and keeping vulnerable children safe. This can include fathers with parental responsibility and fathers without parental responsibility.

However, there could be circumstances in which information is more limited e.g. if there is domestic violence and the mother and child are in a refuge.

Please see our advice for fathers here .

If you believe children’s services are involved with your child but you have not been told you can contact the children’s service area where your child usually lives to enquire.

If you are unhappy with children’s services’ response or how they involve / don’t involve you then please seek further advice. It would be helpful to know in what way children’s services are involved if you need more advice.

If you would like private law advice about seeing your child you could contact Child Law Advice or one of the organisations listed here.

I hope this helps.

You can contact the advice service again if you need more advice about children’ services by:

• Posting on this forum
• Speaking to an adviser on our freephone advice line (0808 8010366): lines are open Mon to Fri (except bank holidays) from 9.30 am to 3.00 pm.
• Making an advice enquiry
• Using our webchat facility.

Best wishes

Suzie