Will my husband ever be allowed home?

[Sadsan]

My husband was arrested 3 and a bit years ago for indecent images of children (iioc). Finally went to court early this year he was charged. He was sentenced with 2 years suspended sentence. 250 hours community service a course thing. 10 years Sexual Harm Prevention Order (shpo) all about using internet and 10 years on the sex offenders register.
We have a 14 year old daughter who is currently on a child protection plan. I get social services are just doing their job but they really would be happy if we just split up. Apparently I’m blind to what he has done because I love him and our daughter will never talk properly to Ss because he still come round for an hour or 2 a day (supervised) and she won’t be abe to get past anything if she keeps seeing him. Can they force him away? Is there anything we can do to help get him home? Sorry for rambling. Just after advice how I can convince/prove to ss that I am able to keep my daughter safe

[post edited by moderator to comply with rules of use]

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Sadsan,

Thank you for your post. I am sorry to hear about this very difficult situation and I hope that the following information and advice is helpful to you.

Children’s services can only make recommendations about contact between your daughter and your husband. Similarly they can only make recommendations about whether your husband can live in the family home. They have no legal jurisdiction to ‘force’ him away, or to say that he is ‘not allowed’ unsupervised contact with your daughter.

That being said, if you do decide to allow him to move back into the family home, or allow unsupervised contact, then this may escalate children’s services concerns. If their concerns escalate then they may consider making an application to court for an order (such as a care order) which would give them parental responsibility for your daughter. They could then take steps to protect her from harm, such as removing her from the family home.

Of course this is a worst-case scenario and one that I am sure you wish to avoid. Equally I understand that you wish to continue your relationship and your family life together.

You ask if there is anything you can do to get to a point where your husband can return home. I would suggest the following:

1) Remain open and honest with the social worker and other professionals involved that it is your wish for your husband to be able to return home in a way that is safe for your daughter. (It is crucial to be honest as the professionals need to be able to trust you).

2) Ask the social worker if there is anything you and your husband could do to reduce their concerns about the risk he poses. For example you could participate in courses run by the the Lucy Faithfull Foundation or other similar organisations, if you haven’t already done so.

3) Explore whether there is any support that could be put in place for your daughter to enable her to speak more openly about the situation. For example are there any therapeutic services that she could access?

4) Explore whether an up to date risk assessment could be completed in regards to the potential risk your husband poses to your daughter?

You might find the following organisations helpful to contact:

Unlock
Safer Lives
ACTSFAST

I hope that this is of some help. Please post again if you have any further queries or you can call our free, confidential adviceline on 0808 801 0366 (Monday to Friday, 9:30am – 3pm). We also have a webchat which is currently open on Monday and Thursday afternoons.

Best wishes,
Suzie

[Sadsan]

Thank you Suzie, looks like they want to take it to a PLO. We have a meeting on Monday, where I guess this will all be explained to us.
I’m struggling to understand though how they can deem him at such a risk when the risk assessment hasn’t been completed yet! Guess I’ll ask that on Monday.
Is there anything else I should be asking??

[Need help 2021]

Hi I saw your post if your don’t mind me asking you what is his risk with probation . And how long as it been since the offence .

[Sadsan]

Probation haven’t told him the risk, so I’ve told him to request a copy.
3 years 3 months since the knock and 3 months since sentencing.

[Need help 2021]

Hi that’s very important for him to request do you know how often ppu come to see him so if it’s like once a year he will be low risk . Who contact socail was it ppu or midwife .

[Need help 2021]

Socail should do risk assment to see if you are protative and when risk he is if you don’t mind me asking was offence looking for images or like on a website I am only asking because I have been in the same boat .

[Sadsan]

I don’t know what ppu is sorry.
Our daughter is 14 social services want the PLO as they think because I want to stay with him I’m blinded to the risk.
He was charged with iioc he didn’t actively look for them was
Sent them in chats via XXX

[Need help 2021]

Hi ppu is the person that comes out to him to see him and I had to leave him at the time because of social considering he is a low risk but we would like to get back to getter x

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Sadsan

Thank you for your further posts.

You should have already had your PLO meeting by now so I hope that with the help of your solicitor it will be much clearer to you now what the concerns are and what children’s services require you to do, to keep your children safe from risk of sexual abuse. Your husband should also ensure that he is engaging with his solicitor and prepared to do the work required of him.

It is a good idea for your husband to access a copy of his probation officer’s risk assessment. Probation plays a key role in multi-agency safeguarding processes. But please be aware the probation service assesses risk in the broader sense e.g. risk of re-offending, in the community, but children’s services’ risk assessment is specific to your family i.e. risk of harm to your children. They are the lead agency when it comes to protecting children.

You may be asked to agree to a protective parenting capacity assessment. I would recommend that you speak to the Stop it Now service about what this; they advise anyone affected by child sexual offences including partner/spouses such as you.

I am attaching links to useful resource which may help you work productively with your solicitor and with the PLO process.

• Working with a solicitor
• PLO processes (pre-proceedings) .

You may want to consider asking for a family group conference (FGC) to widen your support network and increase safety for your daughter. Please see here for more information about this.

I hope this is helpful. Please post back if you have a query about children’s services’ role or contact the advice service via one of the links here.

Best wishes

Suzie