Child Protection Plan Appeal - Advice

[B1977]

Hi

My children have been placed under a CPP as of November last year. A safety plan was also initiated which currently keeps me out of my home.

Since the conference, we have found out that the SW has failed to disclose key information to ourselves and the panel, and also misled the panel. We also found out we were supposed to get the ICPC report at least two days before conference and get briefed by the SW about the process which we didnt.

I have filed an appeal, does anyone know how the process works and if there is any chance of success, the whole process seems a stich up. Myself and my wife have no previous with police or SS yet they have tore our world apart.

Thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear B1977,

Welcome to the parents' forum and thank you for your post.

You say that your children have been on a child protection plan since November last year. There is also a safety plan which says you should not be in the home. You say that since the conference, you have found out that the social worker has not disclosed key information to you or the panel and has misled the panel. You say that you did not received the social worker's report at least two days prior to the conference. You say you have filed an appeal. You would like more information on this process and whether you have a chance of success.

Firstly, I am sorry to hear about the experiences you have had with children's services. You say you have filed an 'appeal.' By this, I am assuming that you mean you have made a formal complaint. You can make a formal complaint about children's services general decision-making. A complaint might be about: Information not shared with a family, the way in which information was reported to a family, information not having been given to a family early enough or a family hearing about the decision in an inappropriate way. Initially, a formal complaint will be dealt with at Stage 1 - take a look here for more information on this.

If you are not happy with children's services response at Stage 1, you can escalate your complain to Stage 2 and then Stage 3. Take a look at our complaints webpage for more information on who is involved in each stage, what steps are taken and how long each should take. Once you have exhausted the local authority's complaints process, you can take your matter to the Local Government Ombudsman. Have a look here here for more information on this.

If you are complaining about about a child protection conference, the process is slightly different. This is outlined in this table here. For more information about possible outcomes when you complain about a child protection conference, take a look here.

I hope you have found this helpful.

Best wishes,

Suzie.

[KCD]

Hi I’m looking at getting some advice please. So i previously posted about my son being put on a protection plan due to me leaving my unsafe home to stay with my ex who is a registered sex offender. The plan states that I was to have no contact with him and a stable home which I had already taken those steps before the plan was put in place. I fell pregnant August last year and believed it was my ex’s baby which I informed SS however after scans and having a due date I now believe she is not is which I have updated SS with. I don’t know who the other guy is as it was a one night stand off tinder so we have no contact and he doesn’t know I’m pregnant. SS want his details but I have explained I don’t have them. I have a conference on Friday about potentially putting my unborn on a protection plan and my SW has told me today she’s going to recommend she is put on one. I said I haven’t had any contact with my ex since August and he hasn’t seen my son since May. She said that the initial concerns aren’t being used anymore and this is now about me and my ability to be a parent. She said there’s been improvement but there’s still concerns.

My mental health is being used against me and they are saying they’re worried about me and my lack of support. I have said a million times I am absolutely fine and I don’t need any support. They’re worried I’m tired and lacking in my ability to look after my son and that my house isn’t good enough essentially when they know I am pregnant with a 1 year old with no help so no my house isn’t always spotless however it is kept at a reasonable standard. I also moved 5 months ago alone so I it’s taken me a while to organise everything due to less storage.

My son is well looked after, fed well, always got clean clothes and has plenty of toys. I am doing very well as a single mum and trying my absolute best for him. My health visitor has told them the past 2 visits my kitchen was empty which isn’t true and I did explain I buy food as and when I want it instead of stock piling as it gives me a reason to get out the house and food is less likely to go to waste however I always have backup food for days I can’t be bothered to go out. They are also concerned about my financial situation as I asked my previous SW if there was anything she could do to help which I did explain was for debt not every day expenses like food and clothes etc. she has put in the report I refused support from citizens advise when I actually said I had already spoken to them. I was okay with money before hand however I have taken steps to improve my finances further by giving up my finance car.

I don’t feel protection plans are necessary and don’t need their involvement however they are saying they’re trying to stay involved until after my baby is born in April. I feel absolutely exhausted from all of this and just want to be left alone. I’ve done everything asked of me but there just doesn’t seem to be an end point. It’s starting to affect my mental health now and I’m not sure what to do.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear KCD

Welcome back to the parents’ discussion board, Thank you for your post. Congratulations on your pregnancy too. I understand that it is a stressful time for you though.

You have made a number of changes in relation to protecting your son from your ex-partner who is a registered sex offender. You have moved on in a number of ways. You state that you believe the father of your unborn baby to be a different person to your ex-partner.

You were due to have a pre-birth child protection conference last Friday. The social worker had stated that they are recommending a child protection plan. You have explained very clearly why you disagree with this.

I am sorry that there has been a delay in responding to your post. This means that the conference has now gone ahead and a decision has already been made. I am sorry that you had not received advice on this forum prior to the meeting. I hope that you were able to put your views across at the conference and that the professionals considered them carefully. They will also have provided their reports and expressed their professional opinion at the conference.

Perhaps you would like to post an update with the outcome of the meeting and any questions that you have arising from it.

If a pre-birth child protection plan has been made, it is important that you continue to engage with the professionals and access support and services. You will be able to work towards the plan ending after your baby is born, if the conference is satisfied that they are not at risk of harm. You could explore asking children’s services to provide you with an advocate to assist you in participating fully. Please see the links below for more information.

I am sorry to hear that the current situation is impacting on your mental health. Your wellbeing is crucial. You may wish to discuss getting some additional support from your GP or from any of the mental health or emotional support services available.

I am attaching links below to services and information that I hope will be helpful to you.

Child protection
Working with a social worker
Letter (1) requesting that children’s services provide an advocate for a child protection conference
Adult mental health
Mental health support services
Family Line provide a range of services including telephone befriending, a listening ear and counselling
Turn2Us for advice about finances including benefits and grants.

Please get in touch again, if you would like further advice, now that the conference has happened. You can post back, call to speak to an adviser on our freephone helpline 0808 8010366, Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm, send a query via an advice enquiry form or webchat.

I hope this is useful.

Best wishes

Suzie

[KCD]

Hi thank you for your reply. My social worker gave me the wrong date and the pre birth conference is on the 31/1. I have got in touch with the protection officer and have sent her a detailed statement explaining my views on the events that have happened and why I believe the plans are no longer needed. She is passing it on to anyone who is involved aswell to get a better understanding on the situation. I feel my social workers and health visitors are not representing me well and are lying about me so I’m hoping hearing from me will help. I have told my social worker I will be recording any further meetings and seeking legal advice. I have also requested a subject access request and made a complaint to childrens services which I will be hearing a response for by the end of the week. Is there anything else I could do?

Kind regards

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear KCD,

Thank you for the update.

Frustrating though it is for you to have been given the wrong date intially, I’m glad that this turn of events means that you have received advice prior to the conference date.
I hope that the advice in the previous reply and links to information on Child Protection Conferences, Child Protection Plans and contact details for specialist advice and support agencies is helpful.
I would advise you to take time to read through this information so that you are fully informed and prepared.

You mention that you are considering making recordings of professionals.

There are procedures and guidelines to consider before recording professionals and it would be useful for you to read through these first. You can link to information from Child Law Advice here
There is also information from the Transparency Project on this here
You can also ask if your local Children’s Services has its own policy and guidance on recording of professionals that they can share with you.

You can link to information on our website about complaints procedures here.
Complaints

Information on Subject Access Requests is here - access to information

Should you decide to seek legal advice you can follow this link to the Law Society database to find a solicitor in your area. Solicitor database

If you would like any further advice please contact the advice service again. You can:

• Call our freephone helpline on 0808 8010366, Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm (except bank holidays), to speak to an adviser.
• Send an advice enquiry advice enquiry
• Post a query on our kinship carers’ forum.
• Use our webchat facility web chat facility

Best wishes,
Suzie