Concerns of social services

[BNG54]

Hello. I received a call from social services after the police reported they had concerns on my husband mental health. I met the social worker and disclosed that I have been referred to Marac because of domestic violence escalating and the risk becoming very high. I reported my husband in 2022 but didn't press charges. The violence has escalated and I have told that I am looking for a place to live as I want to leave the relationship . What should I expect from social services? I am already in contact with my local domestic abuse service and I have applied to the housing register.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear BNG54

Thank you for posting again on the parents’ discussion forum. I am sorry there has been a slight delay in responding to your post
.
Having read through your previous posts, it appears that you have received advice regarding children’s services involvement and procedures when the police made a referral. It is not clear from your new post if children’s services had closed your case, and this is a new referral.

I suggest you refer to the previous responses which advised you of the processes and assessments children’s services can carry out.

In this new post you indicate that you wish to leave the relationship due to domestic violence, you are engaging with a domestic violence service and have applied for social housing. Have you considered or received advice about going into a refuge is you feel unsafe in the home? Is it possible for your husband to leave the property even if only for a short period of time?

Your local authority should have a policy regarding support for victims of domestic violence and you could ask the social worker about this policy. There is government guidance relating to the support that should be offered including housing. I suggest you contact Shelter on 0808 800 4444 or your domestic violence caseworker who will know the local provision under the statutory guidance to improve access to social housing for victims of domestic violence.

Alternatively, you may wish to seek legal advice about your husband leaving the home. Is the property owned or is it social housing? The court can make order relating to who occupies the home.

It appears that you are engaging with the correct services as well as applying for housing, but I think the social worker could support you with your housing application if your son is believed to be unsafe in the home you share with your husband.

Here is a link to information on our website related to domestic abuse and getting help.

I hope this is helpful.

Best wishes

Suzie

[BNG54]

Hello Suzie,

Thank you for your response

Social services are concerned .

They want me to split with my husband and find a place to live in less than two week.

I work full-time and have a good income, i agreed to rent a flat in another area. They haven"t helped. I feel all the pressure is on me. I am heart broken. I am cooperating with them to prove them I can safeguard my son. They want me to apply for a non molestation order and prohibitive child step order.

I am very stressed and also very sad as my family is broken.

[BNG54]

Hello Suzie,

Thank you for your response

Social services are concerned .

They want me to split with my husband and find a place to live in less than two week.

I work full-time and have a good income, i agreed to rent a flat in another area. They haven"t helped. I feel all the pressure is on me. I am heart broken. I am cooperating with them to prove them I can safeguard my son. They want me to apply for a non molestation order and prohibitive child step order.

I am very stressed and also very sad as my family is broken.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear BNG54,

Thank you for your update.

I am so sorry to hear how stressful and sad life is for you right now.

You are doing everything you can to safeguard your son but this has meant that every aspect of your family life is disrupted.

Previous responses on the forum have directed you to support with housing from the domestic violence support agency that you are in contact with and also Shelter. I hope that these agencies can help to some extent so that you don’t feel all the pressure is on you.

Shelter have a specific advice page on their website about housing options for people experiencing domestic abuse. You can link to it here

In respect of the court orders you have been advised to seek, I am directing you to information on the Child Law Advice website which may be useful. Contact details for Child Law Advice are here. They are a specialist agency on private law matters.
The specific page on non-molestation orders and prohibited steps orders for people who have experienced domestic abuse is here.

People who have experienced domestic abuse may be entitled to legal aid for the cost of legal representation on private law matters. You can find out more about this here

In response to your emotional reaction to your new situation there is information and a link to resources on the Family Lives website on coping with separation in the early days, and I wondered if this could be useful reading for you at present. You can link to it here. Family Lives also have a confidential helpline on 0808 800 2222.

I am also sending you a link to information from Family Rights Group’s website about Child In Need Assessments and Plan as this may be a way for children’s services to support your son and yourself. You can read this here

I hope that this information is useful to you.

Please contact Family Rights Group again if we can be of further help. Further ways to seek advice from Family Rights Group are here

Best wishes,
Suzie