When my child is 16

[Worriedmother]

Hi,
My GP has requested my son go and see him and the GP surgery say it is due to them receiving a letter from the safeguarding team.

SS were involved and did a home visit back in July but we have not heard anything since (until the above request that is). My son turned 16 at the beginning of September. Apart from the visit in July I have never had any dealings with SS at all.

Why would the GP ask to see my son? Is it because he has to have my son's consent to reply to SS now that he is 16? Or what else could it be?

I thought that the file would have been closed by SS by now as it has been eight weeks since the home visit and there has been no mention of any CP conferences or anything of this nature and the SW said at the time of the home visit she was happy. Why wait all this time? My son has just started his 6th form and it would be awful to have all this hanging over him again.

I would be grateful for any advice on the above and also about what happens when a child turns 16, does it mean the choices are all down to my son rather than me?

Thank you for your time.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Worriedmum

Thank you for your post and welcome to the discussion forum. My name is Suzie and I am an adviser at FRG.

I am sorry to read about your current concerns regarding Children’s Services.

My understanding is that a social worker visited your family back in July, perhaps as a result of a child protection referral? My assumption is that the social worker carried out an initial assessment at this stage.

Your impression was that the social worker “was happy” at the end of the visit and you have heard nothing further from Children's Services. It would be reasonable for you to have assumed, therefore, that no further action was to be taken and the case was closed.

If the case was closed after the visit in July, the social worker should have written up their assessment and sent a copy to you along with a closing letter outlining the position and any action or recommendations being taken (e.g. a referral to another agency or service or advice/ recommendations to you). It is extremely poor practice that you have had no clarification about the outcome of the visit to date.

If Children’s Services intended to contact your son’s GP for any reason, they should have discussed this with you and sought your consent. It is correct that they should also consult the child in question depending on their level of maturity and understanding and I would have expected the social worker to talk to you and your son about his/ her intention to contact other professionals.

Once a child turns 16, he has the right to give or refuse consent to certain information being shared above his parents. This does not exclude parents from the process, however, as they retain parental responsibility for a child until he is 18yrs. They, therefore, have the right to be involved in discussions etc. unless the child specifically declines this and, even in this situation, a parent would retain the right to basic information about Children’s Services involvement.

I would advise that you support your son to contact the GP surgery to ask for more details about why they wish to see him. I would also advise that you contact Children’s Services directly and ask them to update you, in writing, about the status of your son’s file, whether assessments are continuing, whether they are in the process of contacting other agencies and, if so, why consent was not sought for this.

It might be helpful for you to read our advice sheet about child protection procedures and please do come back to us as the situation develops if you would like any further advice. Alternatively, you are welcome to call our free and confidential adviceline (0808 801 0366) to speak to an adviser directly. The line is open from 9.30am- 3pm, Monday- Friday.

Best Wishes

Suzie
FRG Adviser

[Worriedmother]

Hi Suzie,

Thank you for your reply. It was very helpful.

I had already wrote to the SW on 20th September to say that I hadn't received any contact since the home visit and therefore I presumed the case was closed. I also requested written confirmation of this along with a summary of her findings. To-date I have received no response.

I visited the GP with my son last week. The GP told me the SW had requested a report of my previous history and that of my son's. The letter was dated 12th August but the GP surgery tell me they received it on 11 September. My GP noted that consent or discussion had not been held with either me nor my son. I asked if I could have a copy of the letter that they would be writing and my GP was unsure of the procedure and said the surgery would contact me once they had decided what they would do as he thought he might have to write back and ask for proof of consent from the SW first.

So, there you go I am still left in limbo. I was thinking to write a further letter to the SW expressing my further discontent about her contacting the GP in this way and very late on.

Please could you advise?

Many thanks.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Thank you for your update.

I think you are right to be unhappy with the way your situation has been handled. The social worker has clearly not followed proper process or good practice.

I agree that it is right for you to write again to the social worker expressing your concerns and asking for clarity. I would advise that you also include your dissatisfaction that previous correspondence has not been responded to.

You may wish to structure your letter as an informal stage 1 complaint or indicate that you are considering this process. Be clear what you expect from the social worker (e.g. a written response answering your queries or a meeting to discuss the situation) and give clear timescales.

I hope this helps.

Best Wishes

Suzie
FRG Adviser

[Worriedmother]

Hi Suzie,

Once again, thank you for your reply.

I wrote to the SW on Monday. I enclosed a copy of my previous letter, expressed my concerns that it had not been answered and expressed further concerns at the manner and timing of the way she had contacted my GP. I also stated that if I did not receive a reply in writing to all of my concerns within 10 working days of the date of my letter I would consider initiating the formal complaints process.

I received a letter from the SW today in response to my letter. The SW apologised for the delay and said she had not received my previous letter and would surely have replied to it if she had received it. (I don't believe that for one minute)

The SW informed me the case was closed on 13th September based on the allegation being unsubstantiated. The SW then went on to say that due to the nature of the initial referral she had to contact my GP but after speaking to my son and family members it was agreed no further action was necessary. (This doesn't make sense as my GP was written to more than 4 weeks after she spoke to all family members)

She thanked me for my cooperation during the assessment process and wished me and my family the best of luck.

Well, I am satisfied I have it in writing the case is closed. However, I am dissatisfied at the poor practice and communication I have received from the SW throughout. The letter contains contradictions and still does not answer why my son and I were not consulted about my GP being contacted.

I can understand how other families feel about the way they have been treated and I am still considering taking it to a formal complaint as she did not answer my concerns fully. If she is doing this to me, how many other people is she doing this to and getting away with it? I work in a school where the LA safeguarding dept was recently audited and the outcome was poor. Children who are really suffering are not being helped and their families are not being supported.

How much longer can this can this go on for?

Good luck to everyone reading this forum.

Kind regards
Worriedmother