My old social worker has left, prior to leaving it was in discussion to step down social involvement as my abusive ex partner is no longer in our lives and I have complied with all changes, however i have a new social worker who clearly has not read my case by the questions she is asking it is very obvious she knows nothing, she has compared us to a horrific case (bear in mind there was never any issue with me it was my ex) and has gone into my kids school without my consent and questioned them and then refused to release them, sadly since the abuse my kids do not trust men at all and she claims they have stated my partner has dragged one of my kids. I understand that they need to investigate but she questioned them alone and states they said things which i know they would not say or word how she stated, she then refused to release them from school, I rang her manager and was told they should have been released. My sister attended a meeting and raised the inappropriateness of comparing us to the sharif case social worker response was 'why shouldn't I' , she would not listen to my sister explain whats happened in the case with my ex or what the boys went through, my sister is a medical professional and has stated that she found the social worker unapproachable, rude and would not listen at all.
My partner was more than happy to leave while this is being investigated, has requested a DBS, liaised with his kids social worker and is trying to do things the right way to prove he is not a danger.
Not only this but she has stated in front of my young children that they may be taken away from me if they carry on playing roughly. She has also be extremely rude to my family and is judging me by how many children I have, she is very vocal on this, I have 2 young upset children. What can i do? I have already put in a complaint, but nothing seems to be getting done and again today this social worker has gone into my kids school without my knowledge and again questioned my young kids, I only found out because my child told me he was very upset as the social worker told him she doesnt like my partner. And again i was not informed she was going to the school.
Has she breached any law here? or is there anything i can do, i have already requested a new social worker but feel its falling on deaf ears. This social worker has also made me take my son to the doctors demanding a blood test, the doctor has refused saying my son is a healthy young boy who does not require a blood test, she is ignoring this and is not demanding i take my son to a consultant of her choosing which could be several hours drive away and i have to have him seen and back in time for a meeting tomorrow she wont even give me a time for. (I do not drive).
I also have a support worker who says she has no idea why this social worker is doing what she is doing as they have zero concerns and are happy with how we have progressed. I have put in a complaint and so has my sister and all this has happened since. My sister went through the whole fostering process for the kids when my ex was involved and passed everything and was even stated by our old social worker as exceptional and would be in place until the boys are 16, however today this new social worker has said my sister and husband have to go through the whole process again! why the change? The manager of this social worker has sent another social worker today to ensure we are protected from what she says - if they are concerned enough to say this why is she still aloud to continue? I am in a high risk pregnancy and i feel she is doing her best to get my kids taken away, we were on child in need , now she is saying we may be on section 47, I just dont understand how in the space of 2 weeks we have gone from potentially stepping down from child in need to out of nowhere section 47.
This new social worker said to my sister we should never have been stepped own and she doesnt understand why the previous social worker did this.
My kids are finally getting back to confident young boys after the trauma from before, they have been through enough.
Any advise would be greatly appreciated, has she breached any laws here?
Is social worker abusing her power?
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Parentinlaw
- Posts: 1
- Joined: Fri Jan 10, 2025 12:50 pm
Re: Is social worker abusing her power?
Hi, I have some knowledge on such situations, I can't provide specific legal advice, but I can highlight some general areas of concern and the relevant guidance that should be followed:
1. Data Protection and Privacy:
The social worker's actions may potentially breach the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR by:
- Accessing and using personal information without proper justification
- Potentially sharing sensitive information inappropriately (e.g., discussing the case with the children at school without parental consent)
2. Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018:
These provide the framework for how social workers should operate. The social worker may be in breach by:
- Not following proper procedures for interviewing children
- Making potentially inappropriate comments about removing children from their parents
- Not working in partnership with the family
3. Professional Standards:
The social worker's conduct may breach the professional standards set by Social Work England, particularly in relation to:
- Respect and dignity
- Building professional relationships
- Maintaining trust
Guidance the social worker should follow:
1. Social Work England's Professional Standards
2. The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations
3. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
4. Local Authority's own policies and procedures
5. HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England
What you can do:
1. Escalate your complaint through the local authority's formal complaints procedure
2. Contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman if you're not satisfied with the response
3. Raise concerns with Social Work England if you believe there have been serious breaches of professional conduct
4. Seek legal advice to understand your rights and potential courses of action
It's important to note that social workers do have certain powers to investigate child welfare concerns, but these should be exercised professionally and in accordance with established guidelines and procedures. If you feel these have not been followed, you have the right to challenge this through appropriate channels.
1. Data Protection and Privacy:
The social worker's actions may potentially breach the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR by:
- Accessing and using personal information without proper justification
- Potentially sharing sensitive information inappropriately (e.g., discussing the case with the children at school without parental consent)
2. Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018:
These provide the framework for how social workers should operate. The social worker may be in breach by:
- Not following proper procedures for interviewing children
- Making potentially inappropriate comments about removing children from their parents
- Not working in partnership with the family
3. Professional Standards:
The social worker's conduct may breach the professional standards set by Social Work England, particularly in relation to:
- Respect and dignity
- Building professional relationships
- Maintaining trust
Guidance the social worker should follow:
1. Social Work England's Professional Standards
2. The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations
3. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
4. Local Authority's own policies and procedures
5. HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England
What you can do:
1. Escalate your complaint through the local authority's formal complaints procedure
2. Contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman if you're not satisfied with the response
3. Raise concerns with Social Work England if you believe there have been serious breaches of professional conduct
4. Seek legal advice to understand your rights and potential courses of action
It's important to note that social workers do have certain powers to investigate child welfare concerns, but these should be exercised professionally and in accordance with established guidelines and procedures. If you feel these have not been followed, you have the right to challenge this through appropriate channels.
-
Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4996
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Is social worker abusing her power?
Dear baynety
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 to hear that you are having such a difficult time at present.
Congratulations on your pregnancy although I understand that it is high risk, and the current situation is stressful.
You are finding it very difficult to work with your new social worker and find her rude and hostile. Your sister has had a similar experience and both of you have made complaints. This is the right thing to do if you are very unhappy with a social worker’s actions or decisions and if you have been unable to have your concerns addressed otherwise. You can continue to follow the complaints process which is explained in more detail here.
My understanding is that there is a child in need plan for your children and your last social worker was considering ‘stepping down’ your family’s involvement to early help or to close the case. I don’t know if there is a pre-birth child in need plan in place for your unborn baby? There should have been a pre-birth assessment which you can find out more about here.
The social worker has said to you that you ‘may be on section 47’. This does not make sense. There is either a section 47 child protection investigation happening or there is not. The decision would be taken at a strategy meeting. I would suggest that you ask the social worker’s manager to clarify this for you urgently.
You are concerned that the social worker has visited your children in school without your consent. Social workers are required to see children alone, under government guidance. However, as a parent with parental responsibility the social worker should make sure that they have your permission to see your children in school. But there are situations when a social worker is legally allowed to see a child without parental consent i.e. as part of a child protection investigation if they think that asking permission would put a child at further risk.
The sort of situation in which a parent’s permission might not be asked is when there are joint police and children’s services’ enquiries and:
• The police and children’s services are concerned that a possible victim of abuse (e.g. the child) might be threatened into silence.
• There is a strong likelihood that important evidence may be destroyed, or
• The child does not want their parent and carer involved and is able to make that decision.
This is why you need to know whether children’s services are now doing a child protection investigation and what the current specific concerns are. There has been an allegation that your partner has ‘dragged one of the children.’ I am guessing this is your current partner not the abusive ex-partner from whom you have separated.
I am not sure what the concern is which requires your son to have an urgent blood test. You explain that the social worker is pressurising you to taking your son to a specific consultant urgently with no support in place to help you get there and back in time for a further meeting (without telling you when the meeting will happen). I know that the appointment and meeting may already have happened. However, you are certainly entitled to an explanation from the social worker about why this was necessary and why it was not managed better.
It is good to hear that your sister and her husband are a support to you and have previously passed a kinship fostering assessment to care for your children, if needed. Do you know why fostering is being considered again? If not, please ask the social worker and their manager to explain why.
You and your sister are querying why she must go through the whole process again. You may find it helpful to know that approval as a kinship foster carer must be reviewed within a year of someone being approved as a kinship foster carer, and then at yearly intervals. In your sister’s situation, I don’t think the children were ever placed with her which may trigger a further process. However, the best thing for her to do is to contact the fostering team to clarify this. She could try to contact the fostering social worker who assessed her originally but if she cannot contact them, she can ask the fostering duty social worker or the fostering team manager, as they are responsible for fostering issues.
I know there is a lot going on and so you may find it helpful to call the freephone advice line to speak to an adviser in more detail about your situation. The lines are open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). The number is 0808 8010366. Or if you prefer, post back on this forum, send an advice enquiry or use our webchat facility.
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes
Suzie
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 to hear that you are having such a difficult time at present.
Congratulations on your pregnancy although I understand that it is high risk, and the current situation is stressful.
You are finding it very difficult to work with your new social worker and find her rude and hostile. Your sister has had a similar experience and both of you have made complaints. This is the right thing to do if you are very unhappy with a social worker’s actions or decisions and if you have been unable to have your concerns addressed otherwise. You can continue to follow the complaints process which is explained in more detail here.
My understanding is that there is a child in need plan for your children and your last social worker was considering ‘stepping down’ your family’s involvement to early help or to close the case. I don’t know if there is a pre-birth child in need plan in place for your unborn baby? There should have been a pre-birth assessment which you can find out more about here.
The social worker has said to you that you ‘may be on section 47’. This does not make sense. There is either a section 47 child protection investigation happening or there is not. The decision would be taken at a strategy meeting. I would suggest that you ask the social worker’s manager to clarify this for you urgently.
You are concerned that the social worker has visited your children in school without your consent. Social workers are required to see children alone, under government guidance. However, as a parent with parental responsibility the social worker should make sure that they have your permission to see your children in school. But there are situations when a social worker is legally allowed to see a child without parental consent i.e. as part of a child protection investigation if they think that asking permission would put a child at further risk.
The sort of situation in which a parent’s permission might not be asked is when there are joint police and children’s services’ enquiries and:
• The police and children’s services are concerned that a possible victim of abuse (e.g. the child) might be threatened into silence.
• There is a strong likelihood that important evidence may be destroyed, or
• The child does not want their parent and carer involved and is able to make that decision.
This is why you need to know whether children’s services are now doing a child protection investigation and what the current specific concerns are. There has been an allegation that your partner has ‘dragged one of the children.’ I am guessing this is your current partner not the abusive ex-partner from whom you have separated.
I am not sure what the concern is which requires your son to have an urgent blood test. You explain that the social worker is pressurising you to taking your son to a specific consultant urgently with no support in place to help you get there and back in time for a further meeting (without telling you when the meeting will happen). I know that the appointment and meeting may already have happened. However, you are certainly entitled to an explanation from the social worker about why this was necessary and why it was not managed better.
It is good to hear that your sister and her husband are a support to you and have previously passed a kinship fostering assessment to care for your children, if needed. Do you know why fostering is being considered again? If not, please ask the social worker and their manager to explain why.
You and your sister are querying why she must go through the whole process again. You may find it helpful to know that approval as a kinship foster carer must be reviewed within a year of someone being approved as a kinship foster carer, and then at yearly intervals. In your sister’s situation, I don’t think the children were ever placed with her which may trigger a further process. However, the best thing for her to do is to contact the fostering team to clarify this. She could try to contact the fostering social worker who assessed her originally but if she cannot contact them, she can ask the fostering duty social worker or the fostering team manager, as they are responsible for fostering issues.
I know there is a lot going on and so you may find it helpful to call the freephone advice line to speak to an adviser in more detail about your situation. The lines are open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m., Monday to Friday (except bank holidays). The number is 0808 8010366. Or if you prefer, post back on this forum, send an advice enquiry or use our webchat facility.
I hope this is helpful.
Best wishes
Suzie
-
Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4996
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: Is social worker abusing her power?
Dear ParentinlawParentinlaw wrote: Thu Feb 13, 2025 2:20 pm Hi, I have some knowledge on such situations, I can't provide specific legal advice, but I can highlight some general areas of concern and the relevant guidance that should be followed:
1. Data Protection and Privacy:
The social worker's actions may potentially breach the Data Protection Act 2018 and the UK GDPR by:
- Accessing and using personal information without proper justification
- Potentially sharing sensitive information inappropriately (e.g., discussing the case with the children at school without parental consent)
2. Children Act 1989 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018:
These provide the framework for how social workers should operate. The social worker may be in breach by:
- Not following proper procedures for interviewing children
- Making potentially inappropriate comments about removing children from their parents
- Not working in partnership with the family
3. Professional Standards:
The social worker's conduct may breach the professional standards set by Social Work England, particularly in relation to:
- Respect and dignity
- Building professional relationships
- Maintaining trust
Guidance the social worker should follow:
1. Social Work England's Professional Standards
2. The Children Act 1989 Guidance and Regulations
3. Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018
4. Local Authority's own policies and procedures
5. HCPC Standards of Proficiency for Social Workers in England
What you can do:
1. Escalate your complaint through the local authority's formal complaints procedure
2. Contact the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman if you're not satisfied with the response
3. Raise concerns with Social Work England if you believe there have been serious breaches of professional conduct
4. Seek legal advice to understand your rights and potential courses of action
It's important to note that social workers do have certain powers to investigate child welfare concerns, but these should be exercised professionally and in accordance with established guidelines and procedures. If you feel these have not been followed, you have the right to challenge this through appropriate channels.
Welcome to the parents’ discussion board. My name is Suzie. I am Family Rights Group’s online adviser. Thank you for sharing your knowledge in response to baynety’s earlier post which I am sure will be well received. You have made some relevant points which are helpful in this context.
I just wanted to take this opportunity to highlight to users on this forum that the guidance “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018” has recently been updated and replaced by Working Together to Safeguard Children 2023. The update aims to create a more cohesive and effective framework for safeguarding children, ensuring that all agencies involved work together seamlessly to protect and promote the welfare of children.
Here are some key differences:
1. Strengthened Multi-Agency Working: Focuses on enhancing multi-agency collaboration across the entire system of help, support, and protection for children and their families
2. Child-Centred and Whole-Family Approach: Maintains a child-centred approach while also emphasizing the importance of a whole-family focus
3. National Multi-Agency Child Protection Standards: Introduces new standards that outline actions, considerations, and behaviours for improved child protection practices
4. Principles for Working with Parents and Carers: Highlights the importance of building positive, trusting, and cooperative relationships with parents and carers to deliver tailored support
Best wishes
Suzie
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