My partner is my ASD son’s PA and that is how we met. I had known him for years I knew he had previous for domestic violence when his wife had an affair behind his back after they were married for 27 years and he threatened to kill her and ended up doing some time this was 10 years ago and social services said then he was no threat to his own children.
He works with vulnerable adults and they know his past.
Last Sunday we spent an evening at a hotel we ended up in a very heated argument and it ended up being physical.
As he is my sons PA social services have been informed and have now stopped my partner from being in our home and having any contact with my son. They have had a strategy meeting. I’m unsure what is next. We were also supposed to get married in August. Do we cancel or wedding and more importantly what is going to happen to my son with social services next he is 17 next month
Section 47
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Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4996
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Section 47
Dear Loopylou1972
Thank you for your post and welcome to the forum. My name is Suzie, I am an online adviser and will be replying to you today.
You have a son aged 16. He is neuro diverse and has autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). You are in a relationship with his personal adviser (PA). Your partner has a history of domestic abuse and was convicted and sentenced 10 years ago for making threats to kill his ex-wife.
You and your partner had an altercation whilst staying at a hotel. The police were called, and a referral was made to children’s services. Children’s services have requested your partner is no longer PA to your son and that he refrains from visiting your home. Children’s services have held a strategy meeting, you are not clear what the next steps might be and what the implications are likely to be for your son.
You are due to get married to your partner in August of this year and are seeking advice on whether you should cancel the wedding.
A strategy discussion takes place between a social worker and the police when they are worried a child may be at risk of significant harm. Other professionals who know a child, such as their teacher or a health visitor may also be involved. Its purpose it to share information and decide whether children’s services need to start child protection enquiries. If it is felt that this is necessary, the strategy discussion should focus on how the matter should proceed and whether any immediate steps need to be taken to keep the child safe.
The strategy discussion may be a face-to-face meeting, or it could be a discussion that takes place over the phone or in a series of phone calls. Parents are not normally invited to a strategy discussion. However, they should be told soon afterwards what the plan is for the child, as long as this does not cause any risk to the child. Given you are aware a strategy discussion has taken place, I suggest you contact children’s services to ask what the outcome is. You can do this by contacting your local authority and asking for the Duty Team (sometimes referred to as the Mash Team).
Once children’s services have decided on their plan of action, different options are open to them - no further action, a referral to Early Help, A Children and Family Assessment, a Section 47 child protection assessment or in very few circumstances, care proceedings. I have added HERE and HERE some further information regarding the different types of assessments they may undertake. From the information provide, it is likely that they will complete either a Children and Family Assessment or a Section 47 Assessment. Once completed the information gathered will inform of any further recommendations (if appropriate).
You may find this document helpful – working with social work guidance . It is a guide we have created which includes ‘top tips’ when working with social workers.
You partner may also wish to seek support from an organisation called Respect . They provide courses, workshops, and assessments for perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Your son is soon to be 17, moving forward there should be a transition process from children to adult services (if criteria is met). Both departments should be working together, alongside you and your child, to ensure a needs led transition plan is put in place. Children’s services will have a policy and procedure on this. It would be good idea to ask them for a copy to better understand the process and how they should be working with you.
In respect of your wedding plans. This is not something we would advise on. If you are uncertain about this due to your partner’s behaviours, it would be a good idea to contact a domestic abuse charity. I have added a link HERE to Women’s Aid. It is a domestic abuse service that provides support to women who have experienced domestic abuse. They have several ways you can contact them. Please do check out their website.
I hope you find this information helpful. Please do contact us again should you need to. Details below:
- post again here.
- Submit a web enquiry.
- Start a webchat, Monday and Wednesday 2pm-4pm.
- Call our free and confidential advice line on 0808 801 0366, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) 9:30am-3pm. Please see our website frg.org.uk for further information and guidance.
Best wishes, Suzie
Thank you for your post and welcome to the forum. My name is Suzie, I am an online adviser and will be replying to you today.
You have a son aged 16. He is neuro diverse and has autistic spectrum disorder (ASD). You are in a relationship with his personal adviser (PA). Your partner has a history of domestic abuse and was convicted and sentenced 10 years ago for making threats to kill his ex-wife.
You and your partner had an altercation whilst staying at a hotel. The police were called, and a referral was made to children’s services. Children’s services have requested your partner is no longer PA to your son and that he refrains from visiting your home. Children’s services have held a strategy meeting, you are not clear what the next steps might be and what the implications are likely to be for your son.
You are due to get married to your partner in August of this year and are seeking advice on whether you should cancel the wedding.
A strategy discussion takes place between a social worker and the police when they are worried a child may be at risk of significant harm. Other professionals who know a child, such as their teacher or a health visitor may also be involved. Its purpose it to share information and decide whether children’s services need to start child protection enquiries. If it is felt that this is necessary, the strategy discussion should focus on how the matter should proceed and whether any immediate steps need to be taken to keep the child safe.
The strategy discussion may be a face-to-face meeting, or it could be a discussion that takes place over the phone or in a series of phone calls. Parents are not normally invited to a strategy discussion. However, they should be told soon afterwards what the plan is for the child, as long as this does not cause any risk to the child. Given you are aware a strategy discussion has taken place, I suggest you contact children’s services to ask what the outcome is. You can do this by contacting your local authority and asking for the Duty Team (sometimes referred to as the Mash Team).
Once children’s services have decided on their plan of action, different options are open to them - no further action, a referral to Early Help, A Children and Family Assessment, a Section 47 child protection assessment or in very few circumstances, care proceedings. I have added HERE and HERE some further information regarding the different types of assessments they may undertake. From the information provide, it is likely that they will complete either a Children and Family Assessment or a Section 47 Assessment. Once completed the information gathered will inform of any further recommendations (if appropriate).
You may find this document helpful – working with social work guidance . It is a guide we have created which includes ‘top tips’ when working with social workers.
You partner may also wish to seek support from an organisation called Respect . They provide courses, workshops, and assessments for perpetrators of domestic abuse.
Your son is soon to be 17, moving forward there should be a transition process from children to adult services (if criteria is met). Both departments should be working together, alongside you and your child, to ensure a needs led transition plan is put in place. Children’s services will have a policy and procedure on this. It would be good idea to ask them for a copy to better understand the process and how they should be working with you.
In respect of your wedding plans. This is not something we would advise on. If you are uncertain about this due to your partner’s behaviours, it would be a good idea to contact a domestic abuse charity. I have added a link HERE to Women’s Aid. It is a domestic abuse service that provides support to women who have experienced domestic abuse. They have several ways you can contact them. Please do check out their website.
I hope you find this information helpful. Please do contact us again should you need to. Details below:
- post again here.
- Submit a web enquiry.
- Start a webchat, Monday and Wednesday 2pm-4pm.
- Call our free and confidential advice line on 0808 801 0366, Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays) 9:30am-3pm. Please see our website frg.org.uk for further information and guidance.
Best wishes, Suzie
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Loopylou1972
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Wed May 22, 2024 8:15 pm
Re: Section 47
Thankyou he is getting counselling and has said he will contact respect as he is prepared to go anything he can to make things right. After he went to prison social services said he was not a risk to his own children aged 8 at the time. 5 year ago he was in the process of adopting a child with his ex partner which they took on as the mother was related but heavily into drugs he had all checks done on him but at last moment the father decided he wanted him do I don’t understand how now he is suddenly a risk to my son. We want to work through this and still get married as nothing like this has happened before after talking a lot of it is due to the pressures of work having a close family member being seriously ill etc which doesn’t make it right what has happened. My son is missing him so much he cries every night to speak to him and see him I’m really worried about his mental health and how it is affecting him. We are both support workers so this is huge to us. Is my sons wishes lovely to be taken into account will they maybe let him have some form of contact as he is nearly an adult and potentially let my partner come home?
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