Child services referral

[Ducktales]

Hi,
Im hoping someone can help. I will try to cut a long story short.

I am friends with someone who is on the SOR (not child related), he is currently still on license and so has his license conditions to stick to. Anyway, we have been spending lots of time together, not at my house, out on dog walks, dinner etc. but someone has found out about his offence and reported me to child services, firstly for being in contact with him and also saying due to my mental health, that I palm my son (age 10) off to my mum (my mum has him when I go away on business...I work in sales so have to travel for work, they also said that my sister lives with my mum and she was on the SOR (she was but is no longer on it, and again it wasnt against a child).

Anyway, I think I know who has reported me, not that it matters. So, 2/3 weeks ago I had a call from a social worker saying they had received an anon email saying my son was at risk....due to the above. At the end of the call he said he had no real concerns but has to send a social worker out to speak to me.....as of yet I havent heard anything....does anyone know how long this might take, and if they are happy with me will they continue this? Ideally I dont want my child involved as he's just about to start a new school, our family life is nice and calm after a few months off up and down (due to my eldest who has drug and alcohol issues, he no longer lives with us as i asked him to leave....I think he could be the anon person)

I also need to add that my friend has told their probation officer about our friendship, and again she had no concerns but will need to call me.

Is anyone able to give me advice on how this might pan out, and why Child Services still havent contacte me.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Ducktales,

Thank you for your post and welcome to the parents' forum.

You say that you are friends with someone who is on the sex offenders register. He is currently on licence and has licence conditions. You have been spending a lot of time together, but without your child. Someone has found out about his offence, and has reported you to children's services for being in contact with him. They have also said that due to your mental health, you 'palm' your son off to your mother. Your mother lives with your sister who was also on the sex offenders register. You have been contacted by a social worker, who said that someone would be out to visit you. You have not heard anything, and would like to know how long this may take. You say you like for your child to not be involved due to some recent ups and downs. You would like some advice on what you could expect.

A referral has been made to children's services due to concerns about your friend and the risk he may pose to your child due to previous sex offences. There was also a concern raised about your son spending time at your mother's home, where your sister lives. When children's services receive a referral, they have 24 hours to decide whether they need to take action and what action this may be.

You have spoken to a social worker who has said that they would like a social worker to speak to you. This could mean that they want to find out some more information before closing the referral, or it could mean that they would like to carry out a children and families assessment. This is also known as a section 17/child in need assessment. This would involve the social worker finding out more about your friend, the risk they may pose, speaking you and your son, and other agencies such as school/health. The would then recommend whether they felt it was necessary to remain involved and in what capacity. A child in need assessment should be completed with 45 days.

You can read more about child in need assessments here.

I would advise that you contact children's services to clarify whether or not they want to complete and assessment, and when the social worker will visit you. You should highlight the delay in someone attending your home and your concern about this.

When the social worker does visit you, they should explain why exactly they may have concerns. If they want to do an assessment, they should explain what you can expect. You say that your son does not have contact with your friend, however, children's services may still have concerns about any risk he may pose. The social worker will be interested in how you ensure your son's safety, your protective capacity and ability to put your son first.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes,

Suzie.

[Ducktales]

Hi Suzie

Thanks for getting back to me.

So, the referral wasnt just about my friend, as mentioned it was my mental health and my sister also, however I feel as though my friend is what they are getting at.

As its been almost 2 weeks since I received the initial call from Child Services - how long do they have before they decide what they need to do. If I call them, will this annoy them by me pointing out that they havent been in touch, what is the likelihood that they wont even make contact with me? When you mention in your reply "You should highlight the delay in someone attending your home and your concern about this." what do you mean by this please?

My friend is allowed to be around children, his nieces/nephews and children of his own, however I understand that he also has his license conditions to adhere to and so appreciate child services have a job to do. Will they take into account I dont really want them to speak to my son, due to the issues I have raised, but I am happy for them to speak to his school and also my Dr ref my MH issues?

Sorry for all the questions, I am struggling to get my head around all of this as its completely out of the blue.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Ducktales

Thank you for your further post.

In answer to your first question, please see the helpful charts in this document called Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. The chart on page 76 shows what happens when a referral is made. The chart on page 103 shows what might happen thereafter.

‘Highlighting a delay…’ means (you) saying that not being visited sooner/quicker made you worry or ‘words to this effect’...

In response to your second question please see our webpages about child protection about why social workers ‘may/will’ need to speak with a child or children (see the heading Children’s involvement in the child protection process).

I hope this response is helpful.

Best wishes
Suzie

[benion]

If SS were seriously worried they would be knocking on your door now.

They are a bit useless when it comes to telling people the case is closed.

If you have not heard anything for 2 /3 weeks it is highly likely the case has been closed without your knowledge.

[Ducktales]

Thanks benion - this is what I am thinking, just not nice having it hanging over my head

[Ducktales]

Hi Suzie,

Im hoping you can advise please? So, child services have been to meet my child, after cancelling our first meeting because the social workers car broke down. He said had no immediate concerns about my child and would like to come back and meet him again on the Monday, his iniital visit was on the Friday.

Anyway, the Monday came and I hadnt heard from CS so I text him to ask when he was coming, he said he was in a meeting but would call me later.....he eventually called me, saying that he needed to speak to his manager but she had taken a long lunch and so he wouldnt be able to come see us that day. I have been trying to get in touch with him since as i want to know what is happening with the case and he always has a reason as to why he cannot update me....despite telling me my case has been escalated to the highlest level that he's seen. He has also spoken to my son's school who have adivsed him they have no concerns for my son whatsover. Having this hanging over me is making my anxiety through the roof, and my son is also a little unsettled wondering when 'the man' is coming back.

What is a reasonable timescale for me to expect him to come back to me with a plan, is it acceptable for me to chase him for an update, and is there anyone else do you think I could speak to who could update me?

Thanks

Dear Ducktales

Thank you for your further post.

In answer to your first question, please see the helpful charts in this document called Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. The chart on page 76 shows what happens when a referral is made. The chart on page 103 shows what might happen thereafter.

‘Highlighting a delay…’ means (you) saying that not being visited sooner/quicker made you worry or ‘words to this effect’...

In response to your second question please see our webpages about child protection about why social workers ‘may/will’ need to speak with a child or children (see the heading Children’s involvement in the child protection process).

I hope this response is helpful.

Best wishes
Suzie

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Suzie,

Im hoping you can advise please? So, child services have been to meet my child, after cancelling our first meeting because the social workers car broke down. He said had no immediate concerns about my child and would like to come back and meet him again on the Monday, his iniital visit was on the Friday.

Anyway, the Monday came and I hadnt heard from CS so I text him to ask when he was coming, he said he was in a meeting but would call me later.....he eventually called me, saying that he needed to speak to his manager but she had taken a long lunch and so he wouldnt be able to come see us that day. I have been trying to get in touch with him since as i want to know what is happening with the case and he always has a reason as to why he cannot update me....despite telling me my case has been escalated to the highlest level that he's seen. He has also spoken to my son's school who have adivsed him they have no concerns for my son whatsover. Having this hanging over me is making my anxiety through the roof, and my son is also a little unsettled wondering when 'the man' is coming back.

What is a reasonable timescale for me to expect him to come back to me with a plan, is it acceptable for me to chase him for an update, and is there anyone else do you think I could speak to who could update me?

Thanks

Dear Ducktales

Thank you for your further post.

In answer to your first question, please see the helpful charts in this document called Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. The chart on page 76 shows what happens when a referral is made. The chart on page 103 shows what might happen thereafter.

‘Highlighting a delay…’ means (you) saying that not being visited sooner/quicker made you worry or ‘words to this effect’...

In response to your second question please see our webpages about child protection about why social workers ‘may/will’ need to speak with a child or children (see the heading Children’s involvement in the child protection process).

I hope this response is helpful.

Best wishes
Suzie

Dear Ducktales

Thank you for your further post.

I am sorry that you have not been able to meet with the social worker because he did not come for a pre-arranged meeting. You say that you are now having difficulty contacting the social worker for an update to have a clear idea about how your case is being progressed. This lack of communication is distressing for you and your son is also unsettled.

It is possible to contact the social worker’s team manager about your concerns if you are unable to speak with the social worker. If you do not know the team manager’s name you can telephone children’s services, give the social worker’s name and ask for the team manager’s name.

I am not sure what is meant by your case being ‘escalated to the highest level he has seen’. When children’s services receive a referral, as explained in the first response to your post, they must decide what assessment will be done. In your situation it may be that they will carry out child protection enquiries to decide if your son should be on a child protection plan. The possible final procedure would be for an application to be made to the court for a care order if they considered you could not safely care for your son. As the process has only just started this is unlikely to happen unless your son is found to be at imminent risk of harm.

To ensure you are given information, which you will see from the Working together guidance sent to you previously, children’s services are to be open and transparent with families they work with. Put a request in writing to the social worker and the team manager for an update.

The social worker should respond to you in a timely manner but there is no set time in which they should respond to a call. In your written request you can ask for an acknowledgement in say 2 days and a full response 5 working days after.

I suggest you look again at the links sent to you in previous responses so you get a better understanding of the procedures children’s services should follow.

Hope this helps.

Best wishes

Suzie