How many referrals and assessments

[Har1Her1]

Hi,

I have posted on this forum once or twice before and received some excellent advice. There is an on-going situation at home which basically centres around my children's additional needs and my husband's struggle to care for them when I am at work. The situation has led to the involvement of several agencies: CAMHS, IYSS, CSC, Education Welfare, FIT and a specialist school. Over the last four months, it has also resulted in two Section 17 core Assessments being completed; three additional referrals to CSC which resulted in initial assessments; one CP Strategy meeting and numerous visits from the local police (in a highly supportive function) and visits to the Accident and Emergency Department (when my eldest has self harmed etc.). My problem is this. Whilst I appreciate and realise that a lot of support is being offered, I am overwhelmingly anxious that the next referral or the next incident will be the one that tips agencies over the edge and leads to 'harsher' interventions. Furthermore, and separately, I work with young people who have additional needs and my confidence is being sapped by the apparent evidence that I cannot keep my own children safe.

I think what I need is a little reassurance that there is nothing unusual in having multiple referrals to CSC and that this does not necessarily mean the children are in danger of being taken out of our care. Has anyone been through anything similar to this?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Har1 her1,

I am sorry to hear about the struggles that your family is going through at the moment. It can be difficult to keep your confidence up when there are a lot of professionals involved in your family life.

I can see that you might be worried that each referral will be cumulative and may end up in child protection or worse.
However, each referral will be classed as a new one-so in effect the assessment process will start again. However, each assessment will look at the history of the last.

Given your apparent cooperation with the assessments-there should be a lot of information about your family so that may be reassuring for the social worker.

Removing children from parents

Children under 16 can only be removed from a parents care with a parents’ agreement or by court order. (In an emergency, if they think your child is in immediate danger they can ask the police to remove children into care for up to 72 hours) although the police do not have to agree.
Only if a court had evidence that your child was in imminent danger of serious harm would the court order immediate removal of your children.

Otherwise they have to show the court what work they have done to support you and your family to resolve their concerns before going to court. This means they will have to have worked with you and your family to find solutions. Have a look at our advice sheet about
care proceedings.

If any child was removed from a parent, children services should consider whether it was safe to place them with another parent, or with connected persons (friends or family) who would have a fostering assessment .
Only if there was no one within this network should they consider stranger foster care.

If at any point there was discussion about removal of your children, you should seek urgent legal advice from a solicitor who specialises in children law. You could also request a family group conference-to look for family members who could care for your children.

I hope this advice helps.
Best wishes,
Suzie