mental health
mental health
Hi was wondering if anyone could give me some advice? Im 35 weeks pregnant and my Mams partner was convicted of grooming last year. He served time and now lives near us but not with us. CS are involved and because my Mam and partner minimised the risks of this man its goimg to child protection. Me and my partner no longer have contact with him because the social dont want him around the baby which is fine by me and I totally agree. Just got the report, its full of errors and in some cases lies. I have bipolar but i take my medication, regularly see a CPN and psychiatrist and havent had any episodes during my whole pregnancy. The SW even said "your bipolar doesnt seem that bad" which annoyed me bevause she didnt see the struggle I had before diagnosis but whatever. Anyway she has put as one of the risks I suffer from BPD and it may affect me after the birth, which is true but are they allowed to use that against me before it has even caused a reason for concern? It has been arranged with my team that if it did, me and the baby would be able to stay at the mother and baby mental health unit, where we would both get the care we need and I would still be able to care for my child. With all this in place can they really class it as a risk as I am making plans for all situations? Feel like they are making problems when they have no proof that it will be a problem.
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Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4259
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: mental health
Hi Mimzy1991
Welcome to the board. My name is Suzie one of the on line adviser’s from the Family Rights Group.
Sorry to hear you are struggling with the current social work assessment. The important thing is that you already have a familiar and established group of professionals to monitor your mental health family support needs. In addition, a contingency plan to enter a mother and baby unit, has been identified, once the baby is born, if indeed you require this.
Children’s Services, are not in a position to assess your mental health, in isolation. But based on the information available to them, (and that which you have shared in your post),primarily the assessments being undertaken by the community based mental health team, they have limited evidence to escalate their involvement. It seems they do not intend to convene a child protection conference at this time.
The Local Authority need to be relatively confident you will continue to engage with any necessary community based services in order to keep your baby safe. Therefore, it is important that you continue to engage with the support network, as these will be important factors, in any future decisions that are made. So please keep focussed, so you can continue to demonstrate your ability to prioritise your unborn baby's needs.
From the information you have provided, it seems that neither the psychiatrist, Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) or social worker (in spite what you read into as being unhelpful comments about your mental health) have any significant child protection concerns at the present time. Your GP can also play a useful role in the sharing of any key information and advice that is offered to the professional network, so keep in touch with them where need be.
To give yourself the best chance, of a successful outcome, and a clear pre-birth support plan is identified, you may wish to request a network meeting is held very early in the New Year. You could then have the option of attending (with an advocate, family member or friend to support you). In this way, a family support plan can be agreed in advance, to assist you for the remainder of the pregnancy, and following the baby’s birth.
Alternatively, a family group conference is a further option, where you can be involved in making safe plans for the baby. Either way, it is always useful to ask for minutes of any meetings held, with decisions and recommendations clearly outlined, are sent to you within seven days of these being held.
Finally, you may wish to enter into a written agreement, that makes it clear what actions and support you have agreed to, but always seek advice before signing any document with Children’s Services, so you are clear about the implications of doing so. In this way, you will have documented evidence of your ability to cooperate with professionals, as well as keep your baby safe.
If you wish to speak to an adviser after the New Year, you can contact the Family Rights Group advice line on 0808 801 0366 Monday to Friday 09.30 am to 03.30 pm after 2nd January 2013.
I hope this advice has been useful to you.
Best Wishes
Suzie
Welcome to the board. My name is Suzie one of the on line adviser’s from the Family Rights Group.
Sorry to hear you are struggling with the current social work assessment. The important thing is that you already have a familiar and established group of professionals to monitor your mental health family support needs. In addition, a contingency plan to enter a mother and baby unit, has been identified, once the baby is born, if indeed you require this.
Children’s Services, are not in a position to assess your mental health, in isolation. But based on the information available to them, (and that which you have shared in your post),primarily the assessments being undertaken by the community based mental health team, they have limited evidence to escalate their involvement. It seems they do not intend to convene a child protection conference at this time.
The Local Authority need to be relatively confident you will continue to engage with any necessary community based services in order to keep your baby safe. Therefore, it is important that you continue to engage with the support network, as these will be important factors, in any future decisions that are made. So please keep focussed, so you can continue to demonstrate your ability to prioritise your unborn baby's needs.
From the information you have provided, it seems that neither the psychiatrist, Community Psychiatric Nurse (CPN) or social worker (in spite what you read into as being unhelpful comments about your mental health) have any significant child protection concerns at the present time. Your GP can also play a useful role in the sharing of any key information and advice that is offered to the professional network, so keep in touch with them where need be.
To give yourself the best chance, of a successful outcome, and a clear pre-birth support plan is identified, you may wish to request a network meeting is held very early in the New Year. You could then have the option of attending (with an advocate, family member or friend to support you). In this way, a family support plan can be agreed in advance, to assist you for the remainder of the pregnancy, and following the baby’s birth.
Alternatively, a family group conference is a further option, where you can be involved in making safe plans for the baby. Either way, it is always useful to ask for minutes of any meetings held, with decisions and recommendations clearly outlined, are sent to you within seven days of these being held.
Finally, you may wish to enter into a written agreement, that makes it clear what actions and support you have agreed to, but always seek advice before signing any document with Children’s Services, so you are clear about the implications of doing so. In this way, you will have documented evidence of your ability to cooperate with professionals, as well as keep your baby safe.
If you wish to speak to an adviser after the New Year, you can contact the Family Rights Group advice line on 0808 801 0366 Monday to Friday 09.30 am to 03.30 pm after 2nd January 2013.
I hope this advice has been useful to you.
Best Wishes
Suzie
Re: mental health
Its gone to child protection. Mainly due to me living with my mam, him being her partner and her and my partner minimising the risks. We have all stated he would not ve having cintact with my child, but they have ignored that and said my partner and mam have no insight. Im totally trapped, they have said because i live with my mam she may allow him in the hiuse even though she has said all along she wont, and fuz of my condition they are unsure if I have sufficient living skills to live alone! Dunno what to do, cant see any positives they have used me gaving fontact with my mams partner as me not heing able to protect the babt, even though I have cut contact and he stays away from the house. The conference is this week, if they wanted to start care proceedings when will I be informed? Gunna fight all the way but I can see it not ending in my favour 
i would never put my baby at risk, yet they seem to think we wpuld!
i would never put my baby at risk, yet they seem to think we wpuld!Re: mental health
Mimsy, I don't have any experience re your mental health issues, but I was wondering if your CPN could support you and try and find a Mother and Baby unit for after baby is born, this will take you away from the home, but you may find yourself fully supported and away from the risk. The reality is your Mum's Partner does pose a risk and has been convicted of a serious crime, I assume after his conviction he has failed to recognise his risk to Children, otherwise probabtion and other agencies may be able to support the family through intervention and reabilitation work.
I would just issue a word of caution that if you have been dishonest with CS then this is almost impossible to overcome, once they have evidence you have lied they will never trust you fully again, and this will also affect any family members who may be dishonest. I do not want to alarm you but if for example your Mum is telling CS he doesnt visit the home, and they obtain evidence to prove otherwise your baby is at risk of removal, and they will probably go to court for an Emergency Protection Order. Evidence is obtained a number of ways through unnanounced visits and the use of Private Investigators.
Your Baby and its future safety and protection is your primary concern now, you have to provide evidence of this due to the relationship your Mum has with an offender.
I would just issue a word of caution that if you have been dishonest with CS then this is almost impossible to overcome, once they have evidence you have lied they will never trust you fully again, and this will also affect any family members who may be dishonest. I do not want to alarm you but if for example your Mum is telling CS he doesnt visit the home, and they obtain evidence to prove otherwise your baby is at risk of removal, and they will probably go to court for an Emergency Protection Order. Evidence is obtained a number of ways through unnanounced visits and the use of Private Investigators.
Your Baby and its future safety and protection is your primary concern now, you have to provide evidence of this due to the relationship your Mum has with an offender.
Re: mental health
Heyy one has been arranged if I need it 
and we do know hes a risk and said all along he wouldnt be around the baby so he wont be putting the baby at risk but they have constructed it tge wrong way. We are sticking by the no visiting the home too he hasnt been over for a couple of weeks now. They really use private investagators?! Suppose if you have nothing to hide tgen its a bonus.
and we do know hes a risk and said all along he wouldnt be around the baby so he wont be putting the baby at risk but they have constructed it tge wrong way. We are sticking by the no visiting the home too he hasnt been over for a couple of weeks now. They really use private investagators?! Suppose if you have nothing to hide tgen its a bonus.-
Suzie, FRG Adviser
- Posts: 4259
- Joined: Mon Jul 04, 2011 2:57 pm
Re: mental health
Hi again Mimzy,
I can see that this is very worrying for you. First of all, please be reassured that the Child Protection Conference is entirely different to care proceedings. The only decision that will be made at the child protection conference is whether your baby will be made subject to a Child Protection Plan (pre-birth child protection plan in your case) and if it is decided they will be, then what support and services can be put in place to ensure the safety of the child e.g. that they are not to have contact with your mum’s partner. I have linked to our child protection advice sheet in my post above. It would be useful for you to look at that if you want more information. It would also be very useful and perhaps, reassuring for you, to watch the film of a mock child protection conference that is on our website. This will help you have a clearer idea of what will happen on the day.
I can see in your post above and elsewhere on the boards that you are very worried about Children’s Services making an application to remove your baby without you knowing about it. This would only happen if Children’s Services thought that they needed to do something straightaway to protect your baby. If Children’s Services feel like it is necessary to apply for a Care Order but it is not an emergency, they will first send you a letter before proceedings. This is a letter that tells you what the concerns are and what you can do to improve the situation and try to avoid going to court. You’ll be invited to a meeting to discuss this. You can take a solicitor to this meeting and if you receive a letter before proceedings should take immediate advice from a solicitor specialising in childcare. There is more information about this in our care proceedings advice sheet.
The best way of avoiding this is to be open and honest with the Social Worker and to work with them and the other professionals involved as best as you can.
I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, please either post again on the boards or call our advice line on the details I have given in my earlier post.
Best wishes
Suzie
I can see that this is very worrying for you. First of all, please be reassured that the Child Protection Conference is entirely different to care proceedings. The only decision that will be made at the child protection conference is whether your baby will be made subject to a Child Protection Plan (pre-birth child protection plan in your case) and if it is decided they will be, then what support and services can be put in place to ensure the safety of the child e.g. that they are not to have contact with your mum’s partner. I have linked to our child protection advice sheet in my post above. It would be useful for you to look at that if you want more information. It would also be very useful and perhaps, reassuring for you, to watch the film of a mock child protection conference that is on our website. This will help you have a clearer idea of what will happen on the day.
I can see in your post above and elsewhere on the boards that you are very worried about Children’s Services making an application to remove your baby without you knowing about it. This would only happen if Children’s Services thought that they needed to do something straightaway to protect your baby. If Children’s Services feel like it is necessary to apply for a Care Order but it is not an emergency, they will first send you a letter before proceedings. This is a letter that tells you what the concerns are and what you can do to improve the situation and try to avoid going to court. You’ll be invited to a meeting to discuss this. You can take a solicitor to this meeting and if you receive a letter before proceedings should take immediate advice from a solicitor specialising in childcare. There is more information about this in our care proceedings advice sheet.
The best way of avoiding this is to be open and honest with the Social Worker and to work with them and the other professionals involved as best as you can.
I hope this helps. If you have any more questions, please either post again on the boards or call our advice line on the details I have given in my earlier post.
Best wishes
Suzie
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