Social services checking contact with prisoner

[dp2906]

Hi

Children are on a care plan due to domestic abuse, dad is in prison for non violent crime. Will social services just check with the prison if I have been communicating with him by asking my name? So if he was to call someone else’s number but speak to me on that phone social services wouldn’t know?

In addition if a letter comes from a different name are social services allowed a copy of it?

Happy to not see him again or allow him to see the children unless supervised but I don’t mind him having updates on them and speaking to them occasionally on the phone, however don’t want social services using it against me. So I just want to know what information they will get from the prison.

[Pepsiking1490]

Probably just shouldn't talk to him. They probably won't find out because of the way you've gone about it.
Pretty sure prisons record phone calls though, so you could be potentially found out that way.

But if they do find out, it's gonna be 1000x worse for you because they won't trust what you tell them.



Good luck.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear dp2906,

Thank you for your post.

You say that your children are on a care plan due to domestic abuse. Their father is in prison for a non-violent crime. You would like to know if children's services check with the prison if you have been in communication with him. You say that you are happy not to see him again or for the children to not see him unsupervised but do not mind him having updates on the children or them speaking to him. You want to know what information they can get from the prison.

I am not clear from your post whether your children are in care, or are on a child protection plan. Nevertheless, it appears that children's services are concerned about the risk your children's father may pose and your relationship with him. They may have recommended that you end the relationship and have no contact with him.

Children's services and other agencies can share information for the purposes of keeping children safe. It is good practice for them to seek consent first and/or to tell you that they are sharing this information. I cannot tell you what information children's services may ask the prison for, but a situation may arise that leads them to do this. If you have been communicating with your children's father in a non-transparent way, this may cause the social worker to become even more worried and they may escalate their level of involvement.

If your children's father would like updates on the children, it is best that he speak directly to the social worker about this. The social worker can advise on whether phone contact at this time would be appropriate and how this may be set up without you as a mediator. He can also ask for the social worker to provide updates.

I hope you have found this helpful.

Best wishes,

Suzie.

[WDC45B]

Hi,

Just wondering if you managed to have contact with your partner while they were in prison without SS knowing?

I’m going through a similar thing atm and we are talking on a different number, but I would like to send him some letters and use email a prisoner… did SS find out about your contact? Thanks xx

[Mummy112]

Did ss find out in the end ?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Mummy 112,

I am re-posting my reply to your related question that appears elsewhere on the parents' board so that it can be seen on this thread also. Please see below.

Best wishes,
Suzie

Dear Mummy112,

Thank you for your post.
You explain that your friend is 38 weeks pregnant, so is due to give birth very soon.
Children’s services are involved due to your friend’s history with a previous child. You do not give details of the steps that children’s services have taken, and any assessments or reports completed in regard of your friend's unborn child. You do say that things are looking positive and that is good to read.

You can read more about how children’s services work with parents to be here.

You mention the contact your friend has begun with an old friend who is in prison and say that she is concerned about children’s services possibly finding out about this.

Your friend’s decisions on this matter hinge on whether there are risks to her unborn child or any other children in her care identified by children’s services, and whether her contact with her friend in prison is likely to be seen as relevant to management of those risks. Sometimes children’s services are concerned about a continuing or resumed relationship with a particular person who may present a risk to a child. Obviously I am making a general point only as I do not know your friend’s full circumstances or the reasons that children's services are involved.

In general, it is better to be open and discuss any matters that could be relevant with children’s services. The Family Rights Group guide to working with social workers here could be of use to your friend.

Your friend could also reach out for support to any other professionals involved to discuss this contact as it is clearly on her mind and the time just before giving birth can be emotionally demanding. Birth Companions offer support to expectant and mothers who are facing challenges. Their contact details are here.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes,
Suzie