Ex Partner in Prison - Social Services

[ConfusedParent]

My former partner was sentenced to prison recently for a non contact offence involving online images.

They moved out of the home upon arrest and our children (both under 18) want nothing to do with them.

At the time of arrest Social Services did an assessment, agreed to supervised contact and closed the case and there is no Child in Need or Child Protection Plan in place.

My children subsequently decided they wanted no contact with my ex and it's been that way for almost a year and there are no plans for any contact or communication to occur.

The officer in charge emailed just after sentencing and told me that when my former partner is released I will be contacted by social services to discuss any contact between former partner and children (there won't be any)

However, I am unsure if I should expect a call or email from social services in the near future?

Some people are saying Social will want to do another assessment as my ex has just been sentenced... Other people say Social will only contact just before release as they will want to look at if the children want contact so will need to do an assessment at that point.

We are over a month after sentencing and I've heard nothing from Social Services, only the officer in charge.

In short, I am asking if it's likely that Social Services will get in touch now that sentencing has occured, or if it's more likely I will hear from them closer to release as the Officer in Charge has advised?

Can anyone shed any light or share their experience... I just want to know if I can look forward to Christmas or if I might be facing more phone calls and emails.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Confusedparent,

Thank you for your post and welcome to the parents’ forum.
My name is Suzie and I am an online adviser replying to your post today.

I am unable to answer your specific question as I do not know all the details of your circumstances, nor the particular policies of your local authority children’s services but I appreciate that it is difficult for you to be living with uncertainty and that you would like some definitive answers.

I would suggest that you contact children’s services and ask for a meeting to discuss how they will be conducting any risk assessment and the timing of this. I appreciate that the children do not want to have any contact with your ex, but it is possible that children’s services will need to explore whether there is any likelihood of their stance changing in the future and how decisions on safe contact could be made if this were to happen. You may find the Family Rights Group guide to working with social workers helpful in preparing for this conversation. You can link to it here.

Lucy Faithfull Foundation are a specialist agency supporting all family members affected by online sexual offending and I would suggest that you contact their helpline as they are able to provide extra insight to help you approach children’s services with your specific question. You can link to their website here.

I see that you are hoping for some responses from parents on the forum who have had similar experiences, and I hope that you receive some peer replies.

I hope this is helpful. Please post back or call our freephone advice line if you have any further queries about children’s services' involvement. The number is 0808 8010366 and the opening hours are Mon to Fri, 9.30 am to 3.00 pm.

Best wishes,
Suzie