Dear MummyDaddy,
Thank you for your post and welcome to the parents’ forum.
My name is Suzie and I am an online adviser responding to you today.
You explain that children’s services became involved after police were called to your home about domestic violence, but you do not feel that the allegations are entirely true.
Police are under a duty to refer to children’s services when they are called to a domestic conflict and there are children in the home. Children’s services then make child protection enquiries to decide whether the children have experienced or are at risk of experiencing significant harm.
Children can be very distressed, and their wellbeing and long-term development affected by frequent and severe conflict between their parents. Children’s services have a duty to protect children from emotional harm.
You can read about child protection enquiries
here.
Significant harm is described
here.
You may find the Family Rights Group pages on domestic abuse helpful
here.
You can link to contact details for domestic abuse support organisations
here.
You can read specific information for fathers about early help in the context of domestic abuse
here.
The support available from early help teams is described
here.
It is always positive for parents to engage with parenting education courses available and work with children’s services on the concerns raised. I would advise you to talk to the early help team social worker about the specific courses that would be helpful to you and your family and find out what is available locally. Completing additional online parenting courses could also be beneficial and would show that you are keen to work collaboratively.
You can find out about online parenting courses on the Family Lives website
here.
If children's services see that you are willing to accept the help available and you are open to the challenge of working on new ways of resolving conflicts they could conclude that no further measures are needed to protect your children from harm, so the offer from the early help team will be an important opportunity.
I hope this was helpful. Please post again or contact us another way if we can be of further help.
There are many different ways to contact Family Rights Group.
• A free telephone advice line open Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 3pm (excluding Bank Holidays) on 0808 801 0366
• Easy-to-follow online information. Features include an A-Z, FAQs, films, ‘top tips’ and legal advice sheets;
• Online forums where families can receive advice, discuss issues, and find support;
• A webchat service where you can message an adviser online, who will help you find information and advice to support you.
• A web enquiry form – to help you submit an email and receive a reply within five working days.
Best wishes,
Suzie