Work help

[Sadsan]

Because I want to stay with my husband, I’m deemed an unprotective parent. He doesn’t live with us and comes round for an hour a day to eat and see daughter.
SS have escalated things and we have just had a meeting before action. This came about through lots of assumptions and inaccuracies. My husband being allowed no contact with children, breaching his visor/shpo rules. These were untrue and I proved that to them.
They told me I’d have to tell my manager at work things had been escalated, because I can come into contact with children and by not being a protective parent I might not protect them. I told my boss who spoke to safeguarding and I was suspended for a week. I can go back but have to work in the office away from the shop floor.
Is there anything I can do? I’m heartbroken I’ve done this job for 25 years and been in my current department since 2009.
I love my job and I’m good at it and feel because of SS untruths I’m being punished.
Thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Sadsan

Thank you for your further post and I am sorry that children’s services involvement due to your husband’s conviction for indecent images of children has led to your work being affected.

It is usual practice where children are placed on a child protection plan where the parent or parents are asked, especially if their work involves contact with children or vulnerable adults, to inform your employers about that. What happens following this disclosure will depend on the employer’s own policy. In these situations, a referral can be made to Local Authority Designated Officer (LADO) who can offer advice to employers. You can read more LADA in that government guidance Working together to Safeguard children at page 108 paragraph 223, there is also information at page 120 paragraph 275 relating to probation service.

Here is a link to the statutory guidance

If you attended a public law outline (PLO) meeting with your solicitor, then the issues you mention in your post about inaccuracies may have been brought to their attention by your solicitor.

In previous posts you were sent links to services that could offer advice and support to you as the wife of a sex offender. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to engage with the Lucy Faithfull Foundation to get some help in navigating this difficult situation.

Whilst you wish to remain in a relationship with your husband, it is important that you are seen as a protective parent for your daughter. If children’s services consider that you are minimising or justifying you husband’s offending behaviour, they will not see you as protective. Try to see their safeguarding concerns relating to risk and work to address these.

Advising on employment related issues does not fall within the remit of our advice service. I suggest you ask to see the local authority’s policy for dealing with cases of this nature.
You mention that your husband has contact with the child of the family, was this arranged by children’s services as part of the child protection plan? You may wish to consider seeking advice from a solicitor regarding your employment situation.

You can post again or telephone our free confidential advice line on 0808 808 0366 to speak with an adviser. The advice line is open from 9.30am to 3.00pm Monday to Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)

Hope this is helpful to you.

Best wishes

Suzie