Can you trust Childrens Services

[cheekipixi]

In 2003 I asked the help of childrens Services, his creche were about to expel him at the age of 3. They refused and so my 10yr battle of hell began. After fighting for respite for 3yrs my son was given 1night a month respite. Immediately he became a Looked After Child. After 4yrs of questioning this, a few weeks ago, in a LAC review I was asked had I agreed to this status, I answered no to a LAC but I did for respite care 1 night per month. I also found out that he was a LAC under section 20. The chair stated that as I had not agreed to this, it was unlawful. He gave SS 4wks to sort this out legally.

I received a letter last week from SS stating that my son had been - de-laced and the file was now closed.

I received a letter a few days ago from the LAC department stating that my son would come under 'Child in Need' and would still require a review of support in place.

Whats going on, all support for my son was stopped without being re-assessed and just because SS were caught out lying etc they close my sons file where he can no longer receive any help or support.

an someone advice please

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Thank you for posting on our discussion board. It sounds like Children’s Services (CS)-the new name for social services, made a mistake when deciding how to treat your child’s legal status-whether as a “looked after child” or as a “child in need”. They would have certainly needed your consent to him being treated as a looked after child.

However, some times when children are getting respite, the CS can, (with your consent) treat them as LAC children and there can be advantages to the family when this happens. Some times it helps when there is an independent reviewing officer who over sees your case and makes sure that you get the services needed.

There are also special rules, if it is for less than 75 days a year and each placement lasts no more than 17 days. Please see guidance which sets out whether respite shuold be given under s17 (child in need) or whether it would be more helpful to the family under s20 (Looked after children) short breaks.


It is my view that CS acted wrongly when they closed your sons case without any re- assessment and I can see why you were upset about being left with no support what so ever. Now that they have re classified him as a child in need please look at our advice sheet on family support.

I would also make sure that his child in need plan is set out in writing and has the following:
1)The type of support you are getting and who will provide it,
2)For how long the service will be provided
3)What the other providers are expected to do
4) How and when the plan will be reviewed ie the date and time and what might trigger an earlier review-for example, if you were not happy with the carers –how you can call an earlier meeting. respite.
Please post again or you couild call our advice line as well on 0808 801 0366 which is free and confidential and is open between 9:30 and 3:30 Monday to Friday.

Best Wishes,
Suzie

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Hi

I have moved this thread to the "are social workers worried about your child" board as it is a more appropriate place for it and I think more people will see it there.

Suzie

[ange301126]

A small piece of advice from someone who has had his children removed wrongly.Keep a record of all letters from medics,Children's Services etc. Just because C.S. say they have closed the file ,they will hold the files and at the least excuse in the future ,they may well bring them out again and use them against you if you have upset them by pointing out their mistakes.Even though it is they who have withdrawn support ,they may well, in the future, tell a court of their 'concerns' that you complained and that you did not cooperate with them thus refused their support. They are adept at twisting the truth.Easy for you to argue against? No ,because a Judge usually will prefer their evidence to yours and they will have a Guardian to back them up. Is such a concern of little consequence? No, put alongside other 'concerns' genuine or not it will count against you in court.Be very careful what you say to them on the telephone .This can be twisted and used against you .Stick to letters if you can.In secret, social work managers are probably awaiting an opportunity to get you back and they are quite willing to wait for years for the right time at which juncture they will bring all their forces against you whether concerns are genuine or not. No you cannot trust Children's Services ,in my view.t

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Ange301126,

Thank you for your posting your comments about your experiences with children’s services (CS). I am sorry about the difficult experiences that you have had with CS and with the court.
I am glad that you have highlighted the importance that is placed the information on children’s files held by the local authority. When a file is closed it will be kept for many years and can be re- opened every time CS receives a referral about a child. Any referral will mean that old or historical information will then be looked at again.
For this reason it is important that the information held is correct.

Parents who want to access their children’s file can do so by making a request in writing for copies and stating that they are requesting their files under the Data Protection Act.

See our advice sheet on
access to records


They then can request that any factual errors are corrected and if they do not agree with opinions held they could request that their views are placed on the children’s file.

There are legal rules about evidence in court and how much weight a Judge would attach to parents evidence. As well as looking at our advice sheet on care proceedings-which gives advice about how to work with your solicitor when there are care proceedings, parents could call our advice line for specialist advice.
Best wishes,

Suzie

[cheekipixi]

Hi,
Thank you for your replies. I have had a 10yr fight with CS, caught them out on everything, I have even recorded an interview they had with my son when a CSA stated that my son had said I threw him downstairs. My son on the tape kept saying, 'my mummy would not hurt me', the SW then told him he was lying.
CS are barbaric and should not be let within a million miles of any child.

-x-

[saddadandy]

join the club mate never trust ss record write video all ss meetings they are bas xxxxxxrds

A small piece of advice from someone who has had his children removed wrongly.Keep a record of all letters from medics,Children's Services etc. Just because C.S. say they have closed the file ,they will hold the files and at the least excuse in the future ,they may well bring them out again and use them against you if you have upset them by pointing out their mistakes.Even though it is they who have withdrawn support ,they may well, in the future, tell a court of their 'concerns' that you complained and that you did not cooperate with them thus refused their support. They are adept at twisting the truth.Easy for you to argue against? No ,because a Judge usually will prefer their evidence to yours and they will have a Guardian to back them up. Is such a concern of little consequence? No, put alongside other 'concerns' genuine or not it will count against you in court.Be very careful what you say to them on the telephone .This can be twisted and used against you .Stick to letters if you can.In secret, social work managers are probably awaiting an opportunity to get you back and they are quite willing to wait for years for the right time at which juncture they will bring all their forces against you whether concerns are genuine or not. No you cannot trust Children's Services ,in my view.t

[tackle]

in a word, NO, we are going through a nightmare, & even though we now appear to have a supportive SW who has stated she has no concerns for our son or us, when i stated to her that i expect she would never critisise her colleagues, she smiled & said no more.
bottom line is if one of them has stitched you up in any way, you will not find another SW who will go against the earlier SW, in word or deed, & if they can unearth any info that backs up their BS they will.
demand everything in writing, if possible covertly record all conversations or meetings, & be very careful what you say, in fact say the minimum you can, usually while smiling politely, give them nothing they can use against you, even an aggressive manner gives them ammunition.

good luck, & in the words of norman fletcher, "dont let the bastards grind you down"

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Tackle,

I am sorry that you have has such a difficult experience with children’s services and some individual social workers but I am glad that you now have a supportive social worker and that the assessment of you and your family has been positive. Here is our family support advice sheet which explains good practice in respect of the assessment process.
Family Support Services


All the experiences (a lot very negative) that have been shared on the board about the social workers assessments made me get out government guidance that advises social workers how to carry out their assessments.
Here is a link to Working Together to safeguard Children-chapter 5 paragraphs 5.4 to 5.5

working together to safeguard children 2010


which sets out the principles underlying the assessment process those social workers should use. You will see the importance of working with parents is mentioned
“the importance of developing a co operative working relationship is emphasised so that parents or care givers feel respected and informed; they believe staff are being open and honest….and in turn they feel able to provide confidential information.”

Best wishes,
Suzie

[Dmtam]

This is what scares me we have had cases closed now got a sw but not seen for months
Last week eldest 14 told cahms his dad hurt him, I asked other children and they confirmed this, he moved out last oct and according to kids been ok since as done it when stressed
He hardly sees kids now and if does I'm there , ex knows nothing about any of it but I'm scared of cs being involved ex used to tell me they would take kids as 12 yrs ago I suffered depression after losing my daughter.