Help with social services

[Dra]

Hi, thank you for accepting me to the forum. I have a few questions if you don’t mind helping? I was accused of unlawful assault of my child. Social services got involved conducted a section 47 put a safety plan in place I was asked to go in for an interview with the social service worker who was heading the case. I asked if I could take a solicitor or another person with me I was told no I could not have no one present. I was asked questions by the social worker about the injuries that the photos shown. The Social Worker did not say at any point the alleged injuries they said why did you do these injuries? I gave my account I said to the Social Worker can I show you proof of what actually happened and the alleged injuries that they are looking into was not me it could’ve been from my child or from my partner. I explained I had evidence showing that my child has been assaulted in the past by both my partner and her teenager my non-biological child. The Social Worker did not want to listen to what I had offered and coukd show and said she will book another appointment for me to show my evidence and view my concerns this never happened. The next thing was a section 17 was put in place and they would keep me up-to-date with everything that is happening, which has not happened. The section 47 also involved a joint collaboration with the police. Which i had to force their hand for a voluntary interview after being interviewed. I received no further action as there was no sufficient evidence in the case children’s social services were updated that no further action was taken and I was free to go. As I mentioned social services have now finished the section 17 and I have not been involved with anything to do regarding the section 17. I have not even been told the outcome. The safety plan that was put in place and still is as I’m led to believe stated that social services and the police have concerns but as mentioned, the police ended their involvement when i got no further action and they closed enquiries and filed it closed but every time my partner calls the police she uses the safety plan to keep me out of my home. I have been wrongfully arrested and I’ve explained to the police they have no more involvement as I was NFA’D and that the safety plan is only an advisory and it is not enforceable. I am sorry for the long message, but I’m frustrated that I’m being blamed for something I did not do in the first place. Can someone help please?

Kind regards.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Dra
Welcome to the parents’ discussion forum and thank you for posting.

My name is Suzie, online adviser at Family Rights Group and I will respond to your post.

I am sorry that you are feeling so frustrated by children’s services (the new name for social services) involvement with you following your child suffering injuries. Just to explain where a child is injured children’s services has a duty to investigate as they have a safeguarding role for all children in their area. As your child suffered injuries which means the child was harmed child protection investigation would be done on the basis that the child has suffered harm and at risk of future harm. This child protection investigation is carried out under s.47 of the Children Act 1989. You can read more about child protection .

Here is information about the procedure when children’s services receive a referral.

You do not mention if there was an initial child protection conference, which child protection police would attend. Sometimes the outcome of this conference is a child in need plan which is under s.17. This involves support being put in place for the family to ensure that there is monitoring to ensure that child is safe, and the family has appropriate support. Here is information about child in need

If you requested to have support in a meeting, you should have been allowed to have someone support you. You may wish to complain about this and the fact that you have not been given information by children’s services. Here is information about making a complaint .

Although the police may have taken no further action this does not mean that children’s services will no longer be involved. This is because the police and children’s services are concerned with different aspects. The police to find evidence for a successful prosecution which is based on the criminal test of beyond reasonable doubt. The civil test is on the balance of probabilities so the police not having sufficient evidence to pursue a case does not mean it did not happen in your situation the child suffered injuries that is the harm children’s services are concerned about.

There is a safety plan which should be followed because failure to do so might lead children’s services to escalate the case from child in need to child protection which is not voluntary. I hope you know what is expected of you in the safety plan and, if not, you should ask the social worker to provide you with a copy, so you are clear about their expectations. If the police is called on a regular basis this could lead children’s services taking action to safeguard the child in the family. There should be child in need meetings, and you should be invited to attend.

If you are a parent with parental responsibility for your child children’s services should keep you fully informed. Read this information for fathers from our website.

You may wish to speak with one of our experienced advisers and you can by telephoning our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays).

Hope you find this helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie