Social services/protectors assessment advice

[Mummytomygirls]

Just over 15 weeks ago my husband was arrested in the middle of the night. My 2 children were in bed (aged 7 and 11). I will point out my husband is not my children’s dad but their stepdad.
I found out later that day he was arrested because his daughter and former step daughter reported allegations of him sexually abusing them to the police, whilst drunk.
I believe these allegations to be false. I won’t go into my reasons why on here as that isn’t why I’m posting.
A strategy meeting was held which found we did not meet the threshold for child protection. A CIN meeting was completed whereby the SW stated she was happy for the case to be closed. However, I maintained the view that I wanted an initial assessment to be completed and for supervised contact to be looked at and we agreed to stay open on CIN.
Initially the SW said no to this stating we needed to adhere to his bail conditions - it later came to light that she wasn’t aware what his bail conditions were until I sent them to her. When she realised he was allowed supervised contact under his bail conditions she said this could be looked at.
An initial assessment was completed at the end of May. With no other concerns. We have had early help involved for almost a year (I self referred for support for the children after issues with their dad) and lots of direct work regarding our family, which showed no concerns.
A new SW was allocated at the end of May who said that they would complete a protectors assessment with me, to assess whether I’m capable of protecting the children and that she would contact my husband and complete a risk assessment with him to look at me supervising contact in the community. However, in the interim, no contact at all - not even letters/telephone calls etc.
It’s now been 15 weeks and no progress has been made.
I was told it would take 6-8 weeks for these assessments to happen to enable contact and we still haven’t even started!!
My SW has been off sick, then the team manager has been off sick.
During the CIN meetings it’s been identified and discussed by myself, school and our support worker the negative impact this is having on my children emotionally and how contact should be looked at and things need to move forward l.
Whilst I am aware they need to be aware of any physical risks posed by this allegation, why are they then able to completely ignore emotional risk?!
My questions are:
- Are they allowed to just ignore things?
- Do these assessments not have to be completed in a certain timeframe?
- I’ve known people have these assessments completed in a couple of weeks - why have I been told 6-8 weeks?!
- Is there anything I can do?
- If I were to complain about what is happening, could they use this against me?
As I’ve said, I’m very aware SS have a duty here based on the allegations made. I’ve been very clear with them that whilst based on the information provided to me I believe the allegations to be false, I’m also very aware I cannot be 100% and I’m happy to work with SS and follow their guidance, however, I feel like we are having the absolute mick took out of us to be honest. I’m being ignored, as are my children!

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Mummytomygirls

Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. Thank you for your post. My name is Suzie. I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser. I am sorry that I was not able to reply to your post sooner.

I am sorry to hear about the difficulties you and your family are experiencing. Your husband who is stepfather to your two daughters is currently subject to a police investigation in relation to allegations made by his daughter and (former) stepdaughter that he sexually abused them. You don’t believe the allegations.

Children’s services have been involved now for 15 weeks. You have cooperated fully with the child in need plan. Your husband is under bail conditions which allow for supervised contact, presumably if agreed with children’s services. Your current social worker, allocated at the end of May, agreed to undertake a protective parenting assessment of you and a risk assessment of your husband, with a view to you supervising contact between your husband and your children, in the community, if recommended by the assessment. Unfortunately, these assessments have not happened yet. Your children’s social worker has been on sick leave.

I can understand how frustrating this must be for you and your family. You state that your husband and the children have had no contact during these 15 weeks. You are worried that this is causing emotional harm to the children.

Children’s services are expected to work in a timely way with families and to communicate clearly with them. There are no statutory timescales for the proposed assessments, but children’s services should work with families fairly and proportionately, with respect for family life. They must also prioritise children’s welfare. You are happy to cooperate with the assessments but need children’s services to do them.

You are wondering whether to complain about the situation or whether this will make matters worse. I would suggest that you contact the social worker and their manager first to try to agree a timescale and plan for this work to take place. Then if they do not respond positively or if you are dissatisfied with their response, you then consider making a complaint.

I would recommend that you begin by seeking clarification, in writing (by email), about when these two important assessments will start and asking for confirmation of how long they will take to complete. You can highlight the long delay that you have experienced. You can state that you, your support worker, and the children’s school are worried that the situation is having a negative impact on your children. However, as your social worker has been unwell, it is reasonable to factor this into the delay. I would suggest that you ask your social worker to reply in writing to your query.

Please see this information here about complaints, if you decide that you need to make one. Parents need to complain sometimes in order to get their concerns addressed and children's services should be robust enough to continue to work in partnership with a parent who has had to complain.

It may be a good idea for you to access additional advice and emotional support as the partner of an alleged sexual offender. The information and services below may be useful to know about:

Information for parents and carers about sexual abuse
Parents Protect
Stop it Now
NSPCC.
Family Line (for emotional support about pressures of family life) .

I hope this has helped. Please post back if you need any further advice. If you would prefer to speak to an adviser, you can call our freephone advice line on 0808 8010366, Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm (except bank holidays). We also have an advice enquiry form and a webchat facility.

Best wishes

Suzie