Access to records
Posted: Sat Jun 24, 2017 1:17 pm
My family has been involved with social services for over a year now, and my "children" have moved from Child in Need to Child Protection to Pre-Proceedings and back to Child in Need in that time. I put "children" in inverted commas, as my son was 18 in January, and so Children's Social Care are no longer interested in him. We now have one more Child in Need meeting in July (for my daughter who is 14), and have been told that it will be the last one, as my daughter will then be taken off Child in Need too.
My story is a long one (I think I may have explained some of it in another discussion about recording meetings) but to explain the situation quickly - my husband was accused of sexual assault (smacking a 19 year old female on the bottom in work), which he was found not guilty of in court, and someone else then accused him of historic sexual abuse, which the police decided was to be 'no further action'. Our daughter (he is her step dad) has made NO allegations at all, and, in fact, has said the opposite, begging for him to be allowed home since day 1. Because of the not guilty verdict, he has now been allowed home, but Children's Social Care insist he is still a risk and that I am an unprotective carer, as I absolutely believe him to be innocent of all allegations (as do all our family and friends, and most importantly, our daughter and son - and the children's biological father!).
As I am a teacher, the social worker felt it was her duty to report me to the Local Authority (within 2 weeks of the historic allegations being made), and I have not been allowed into work for the majority of the year. I have continuously asked for copies of the referrals that were sent into the Authority, so I could effectively defend myself, but nobody has been forthcoming in this request. I have been told by the social worker that the reason they reported me was because of my total belief in my husband's innocence and my unwillingness to have an "open mind" about the allegations - however, this is not what I was told by my Headteacher, who said I was being called unco-operative and being accused of not engaging in the process. So, you can see why I want to read the information for myself, especially now I have been allowed back to work, despite my opinion about my husband's innocence not changing. I am understandably very anxious about being back at work without a clear understanding as to why I was barred in the first place, especially as my Headteacher recorded that he had no concerns about my safeguarding ability or my professionalism at all.
The Local Authority have said I need to ask Children's Social Care for the paperwork, as it is not the LA's paperwork to share; but at a recent meeting, when I asked again for copies, I was told, under no uncertain terms, that I would NOT be given anything, as it was internal paperwork, and they didn't have to share it. I have already taken the advice from your advice sheets, and written to them, asking for copies, quoting Data Protection, but I am still getting no-where.
Are they allowed to say I am not entitled to paperwork that has my name on it and is about me, and has been shared with other agencies (the Local Authority and my Headteacher, who also won't show me anything)? How is this "internal"?
I look forward to hearing your advice, as I am finding the whole situation stressful and upsetting, and need some closure.
Beanie
My story is a long one (I think I may have explained some of it in another discussion about recording meetings) but to explain the situation quickly - my husband was accused of sexual assault (smacking a 19 year old female on the bottom in work), which he was found not guilty of in court, and someone else then accused him of historic sexual abuse, which the police decided was to be 'no further action'. Our daughter (he is her step dad) has made NO allegations at all, and, in fact, has said the opposite, begging for him to be allowed home since day 1. Because of the not guilty verdict, he has now been allowed home, but Children's Social Care insist he is still a risk and that I am an unprotective carer, as I absolutely believe him to be innocent of all allegations (as do all our family and friends, and most importantly, our daughter and son - and the children's biological father!).
As I am a teacher, the social worker felt it was her duty to report me to the Local Authority (within 2 weeks of the historic allegations being made), and I have not been allowed into work for the majority of the year. I have continuously asked for copies of the referrals that were sent into the Authority, so I could effectively defend myself, but nobody has been forthcoming in this request. I have been told by the social worker that the reason they reported me was because of my total belief in my husband's innocence and my unwillingness to have an "open mind" about the allegations - however, this is not what I was told by my Headteacher, who said I was being called unco-operative and being accused of not engaging in the process. So, you can see why I want to read the information for myself, especially now I have been allowed back to work, despite my opinion about my husband's innocence not changing. I am understandably very anxious about being back at work without a clear understanding as to why I was barred in the first place, especially as my Headteacher recorded that he had no concerns about my safeguarding ability or my professionalism at all.
The Local Authority have said I need to ask Children's Social Care for the paperwork, as it is not the LA's paperwork to share; but at a recent meeting, when I asked again for copies, I was told, under no uncertain terms, that I would NOT be given anything, as it was internal paperwork, and they didn't have to share it. I have already taken the advice from your advice sheets, and written to them, asking for copies, quoting Data Protection, but I am still getting no-where.
Are they allowed to say I am not entitled to paperwork that has my name on it and is about me, and has been shared with other agencies (the Local Authority and my Headteacher, who also won't show me anything)? How is this "internal"?
I look forward to hearing your advice, as I am finding the whole situation stressful and upsetting, and need some closure.
Beanie