no risk what can social services do?

[mumto2]

Hi all, 7 months ago my children were put on the at risk register we have had 2 conferences and a PLO Meeting, it all started because my partner was having intrusive thoughts about our daughter (brought on by ocd) he can only see our kids though supervison contact not by me as they are worried about my ability to protect due to me normalising the situation, anyway Its been 7 months now and we have been through alot not to mention the damage it has caused to our children, we have been assessed by a big ocd professor, pushed for by ss, he has deemed me able to protect and my partner no risk whatsover the only risk is damage to our kids mental health, what can ss do now? We have the outcome we wanted but do they? We feel like they have only wanted one outcome! And my partner and I feel like he has been penalised for having these thoughts that he nearly committed suicide over, anyone know what we can do if they decide to ignore the professors report? (We do have solicitors) x

[mumto2]

Any help on this would be greatly appreciated x

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi mumtof2,

Welcome to the Parents Forum.

I can see that it has been a difficult time for your family. It has no doubt been very stressful with the possibility of court proceedings being taken by children services and dad having to see his children in a supervised setting.

I am glad that Dad cooperated and agreed to a psychiatric report to examine his intrusive thoughts.

The expert decided that your children are not at any risk of physical abuse from him. That is really good news.

He also said that you under stood the risks and so could protect your children from any possible harm due to dad’s mental health. Which is also very good news as this was being questioned by children services.

However, the expert has said that your children may be at risk of “emotional abuse”- potential damage to their mental health. So this will be seen as worrying. Children services may still argue that dad could pose a risk to your children. Emotional abuse (like physical abuse) can cause significant harm to children.

The key is whether dads risk can be reduced or managed enough for him to be allowed to return to the family home?

Did the psychiatrist recommend any support that could be put in place to limit any possible emotional abuse?

So for example, further treatment for dad to help his OCD? Or access by him to a treatment plan and further mental health support if his mental health should deteriorate?

Your question of whether children services can ignore the report. The answer is no.
Children services when making decisions about whether to go to court for a care order, need to consider all the evidence they have. They cannot ignore the experts report. There are also special rules that mean expert reports will carry a lot of weight.
Social workers are not trained doctors so cannot ignore the advice of a psychiatrist or over rule it with their views. They have to give it due weight.

What plan are children services proposing in light of this report?

You should discuss the implications of the report with your solicitor.

Here is our advice sheet about care and related proceedings which explains how the public law outline (PLO) works.

I hope my advice helps but if you have any questions or want further advice, please post again.

Best wishes,

Suzie

[mumto2]

Hi suzie, I think you misunderstood the risk isnt due too us emotionaly abusing the children the risk is the damage that children services have done to the children, with how long its all taken etc, children services havnt had his report yet he is writing it up as we speak, he told us what he would be putting into the report x

[mumto2]

Also the psychiatrist is going to assess my partners psychiatrist to make sure she is up to the job of getting rid of his intrusive thoughts completely, he said there is no risk whatsoever by us as parents whether itbe physical or emotional abuse x

[mumto2]

Also all in all this report would be atleast the 5th one they just kept over ruling the rest thats why we have been so worried about this one x

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi Mumto2,

Thank you for clarifying the position. I thought the psychiatrist was worried about possible emotional abuse due to your partner's mental health. Sometimes, if children were to see or hear something worrying from their parents then children services might be worried about them being affected emotionally. I am glad that he is not worried about this.

I can see how stressful it must have been for your partner (as well as you) to keep being re assessed, then for children services to keep rejecting the medical reports-(5 times!). It must have also wasted time as well. Did they give a reason for this?

However, given the latest report is by a professor, a lot of weight will be given to it.

The more experienced and senior an expert is, the more likely they are going to get their opinion right. Children’s services should now be satisfied that dads mental health is not impacting on your children. A professor is a very senior specialist.

As soon as you have received the report, you need to discuss its implications with your solicitors.

Best wishes,

Suzie

[mumto2]

Hi again, the only reason they gave was he needed to be assessed by the ocd specialist, we are still waiting for his report but he has been in touch with my husbands solicitor for his medical records as they never sent all the other reports to him, thankyou for your help we really appreciate it xx

[mumto2]

Hi, update I spoke to sw yesterday they have had a small email from the professor to say my husband is no risk and he is happy for him to return home, they have said they have to wait for the full report so they can see how he came to the no risk conclusion, but also if the report is on 2 sides of a4 they cant accept that as it wont be enough detail and they cant say whether he wont act on his thoughta in the future he could still be a risk but surely that would be the same with anyone? No-one knows whats going to happen in the future, also they said it will have to go to a big core group and a conference n it only takes one person to disagree? We have a feeling that one person will be the sw she just seems to be against us, they pushed for us to see the professor n now they might not take his report into account, what will happen if our solicitors tell us he can return home as the children are not at risk, I should also point out im 6 months pregnant, canwe take them to court to fight them? X

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear mumto2

I am pleased that the Professor who was instructed has now completed his assessment of your husband and has said that he is happy for him to return home.

It is frustrating for you but Children Services will want to see the report in its entirety before being in a position to say what their view is on what the report recommends. If there any issues arises then it will be for your respective solicitors to ask the relevant question of Children Services.
A social worker is not really qualified to second guess the person who is instructed as an expert since that person was instructed because of their expertise. You mentioned in earlier posts that there had been at least 5 reports already. It is not clear why so many was necessary but I suppose it depends on the nature of the various reports and what they were looking at.

I hope that if any support is needed for you and your husband the report will give the appropriate recommendation.

I think it will be for your solicitor to advise you as to whether you have a case against the local authority but waiting to see the final report would be the best thing at this stage.

As you are pregnant now, is Children Services including your unborn baby in the child protection process now or waiting to do so later on into your pregnancy?

Hopefully, the Professor will provide a full and comprehensive report so there will a clear understanding of how he reached his conclusion having assessed your husband.

In the meantime, continue to engage and work with Children Services as this is the best way to get the right outcome for your family. Your solicitor will be able to advise you as he or she has all the evidence relating to your current situation.

Should you wish to speak to an Adviser, please do telephone our advice line on 0808 801 0366. The advice line is open from 9.30 a.m. to 3.00 p.m. Monday to Friday.

Hope this helps

Best wishes

Suzie