How can we protect our families from Children's Services?

[heartbrokenfather]

Hi All.

I was going to call the title of this topic "How can I protect my family from Children's Services" but the fact of the matter is that it's not just my family out there that needs protecting from Children's Services, it is indeed all of our families that need protecting.

I am sure that somewhere there are some local authorities that will work within the law, and follow the government rules and guidelines, but with my own families involvement with our local authority, and my own research, the advice, the posts on this forum and other forums, it seems that this is the minority not the majority, and this really does scare me.

My understanding of the local authorities is that it is there to provide a service and or support to children and or families that need it.

This and the other forums are a great source of information, but unfortunately if someone has come to the forums looking for help and advice it is often that the local authorities are already involved by this point in time.

I myself am in no position to give any legal advice and or guidance with regards to how to deal or fight the local authorities, I can only talk about what I have been told, and or read in legal documents.

Web Links
Family Rights Group Advice Sheets < Click for link
NYAS - National Youth Advocacy Service < Click for link
Ofsted < Click for link
Legal Aid < Click for link
Citizens Advice < Click for link
Law Centres Network < Click for link
AdviceNow < Click for link
Law Society - Find a Solicitor < Click for link
National Association of Child Contact Centres < Click for link

Documentation
A Guide to the Human Rights Act 1998: Third Edition < Click for link.
Human Rights Act 1998 < Click for link.
Children Act 1989 < Click for link.
Children Act 2004 < Click for link.

I will be editing this post and posting link to useful documentation when I can.

Please do let me know your views on this subject.

Thanks for your time.

Best Regards.

[ange301126]

Dear Heartbrokenfather, Thank you very much for your concern for other children than your own.
Also,thanks for the links.
Do not underestimate your ability to advise and inform others.With all you have been through and the knowledge you have gained through all your e-mails, letters to your MP and internet research you are more qualified to advise parents and will certainly have more empathy with wronged families than most of the ' experts'. I emphasise , in saying this, that I do not refer to other users of this forum or to other participants or administrators.

I look forward to comments from others,particularly those like coachkev who have much greater experience of the system than most of us and comes from another angle having seen both sides of the story.

Best of luck with this thread!