Blogging about social workers

[Madeupusername]

I've created a blog regarding my experience with my local authorities children's services. It was a rather negative experience.

I have used the social workers names. I am not being threatening. The blog is anonymous and I'm being very careful to protect my identity.

I am just writing events as they happened, stating what went wrong and who did what and providing evidence, redacted to protect my identity obviously.

Can they do anything to get the blog taken down? I don't think it's a violation of the blog providers TOS as while I use their names I can't see that it would violate their privacy as they are professionals and I only talk about my professional involvement with them.

It hasn't been indexed by Google yet but has been up for almost two weeks. The local authority and another organisation were aware straightaway as I sent them both the link. They know it's me but readers of the blog won't.

It's a very long story and it isn't a social worker hating blog, it's just my story but I have used names when I've felt it's in the public interest to do so. I'm also not harassing them or calling on others to harass. It's more of a 'this happened to us' blog where im staying things that happened from a parent's perspective.

Has anyone done this before? If so, did it get shut down? I am doing my best to be polite although inevitably some of the posts are emotional.

Many thanks

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear madeupusername,

Welcome to the Parent’s Forum. My name is Suzie and I am FRG’s online adviser.
I am not able to answer your question about whether your blog can be taken down as this is beyond the remit of this board. However, you have done the right thing by notifying the local authority who can decide what action, if any, they want to take.
Kind regards,
Suzie

[Madeupusername]

Just thought I'd update.

4 months since my blog has been up now.

I imagine there have been many reports to the blog provider made. However, my blog breaks none of their terms of service. I've not been harassing anyone via the blog, just relating mine and my children's lived experiences.

I believe that complaints have been made to Google to remove search results, that hasn't worked either for the same reason.

Leader of the county council did threaten action a while back if I continued. I posted the email along with how much that would cost the public, only avenue would be defamation which is expensive. Received another email a week later stating he didn't mean they would take acton but they would consider it or something weird.

I've asked politely many times, including going into detail regarding the evidence they would need to provide to prove what I'm saying is not true to help them out and made sure they all have my address for legal action but nothing.

Tbe only things I've had problems with is not being able to go into detail regarding a lot of things. Each of my children iis just referred to as child with no ages or genders given or anything that could identify us. Any documents I post have personal information redacted.

So that is my own question answered by me.

You can write a blog regarding your experiences. They won't be happy about it, but as long as you keep to the truth I've managed to get my voice heard.

I have made a habit of notifying everyone who I mention with a link to that post. I've made freedom of information requests and when I publish those I link to them.

My point is that as service users who are parents we are second class citizens. We all wander around with a crack pipe in one hand and a bottle of neat vodka in the other according to social care. We have no voice, in my case my children also had no voice.

Many are not in a position to do what I've done and I do have further plans for the information I have. It's finding the time.

I would not recommend doing so during any child protection processes or if they are taking court action against you regarding your children or your children are in the child protection system at present at all.

Stating on a public blog during anything along those lines that the authority is corrupt will go against you and you likely won't be able to prove it at that time.

I'm fairly certain that even now people reading this are thinking I'm just a stupid service user, the LA actions were and still are exemplary. Hence why I post proof.

It's not a blog to bash social workers, it's a blog to get our voices heard.

[MK3000]

Hey!

This is exactly what I am going to do too! LA have recommended my child to be returned home to me. As soon as they are out of our lives and nowhere to be seen, I will be shouting to the world how corrupt the system is. I will also be naming every single social worker and corrupt professional. I would like a link to your blog so I can see how you have gone about it, I am not scared or intimidated by any social worker , but I don’t want to cause any more stress to me or my child.

[HH_Dad]

I am keen to see your blog. My wife and I were on the wrong end of something terrible 2.5 years ago now. Long story short; hospital said our 13-month old son had multiple fractures, Social Services waded in but, guess what - the expert's report came back confirming our son did not have multiple fractures. Cue Social Services backtracking with words such as "we were just doing our jobs..."

I am sure there are some decent social workers out there. But I can say, categorically, many are power-crazy people and blatant liars. We had dealings with two social workers in particular who lied throughout the entire saga. They were horrific human beings. When we had a multi-agency meeting a few months after it ended, the head of our Local Authority even admitted one had not followed protocol and confirmed she had left their 'service' (!) now but would have been sacked had she still been there. I have been saying it for the past couple of years now but something needs to be done about Social Services in this country. It is utterly disgusting what these people can do and how they walk away scot-free after all the upset they have caused.

I would love to name them here but I won't.

[Kelviz]

I think you are amazing for blogging about the corruption that goes on with social services.

I myself have also has dealings with them and not one I would like to repeat. I am still having TAF meetings for my 3 youngest children (this was my idea as they all have additional needs due to autism) however recently I have asked for them to stop as they are not needed now.
I have a health visitor who is a horrible person and always interferes in everything. She has basically threatened me saying if I do not continue with the taf meetings she will put in a referral to social services and that she is concerned that professionals have not been into my home! I have no reason to allow anyone into my house and I am not under social services so not really relevant but shebis pushing!!!

I will continue with the meetings however I feel like there is no way for me to turn legally or otherwise and under no circumstances am I dealing with social services again because of a health visitor on a power trip so like you I will also be naming them and the health visitor because the sheer incompetence bullying and intimidation caused by these people is beyond words and something needs to be done.

I will not be subject to social services due to one person on a power trip and my children having additional needs they are all fit and well loved and cared for and also have several specialists each for various things and me I'm one person but I still manage to keep all appointments attended or rearranged mainly due to overlapping times and keep 2 in school daily x

[Kelviz]

I think you are amazing for blogging about the corruption that goes on with social services.

I myself have also has dealings with them and not one I would like to repeat. I am still having TAF meetings for my 3 youngest children (this was my idea as they all have additional needs due to autism) however recently I have asked for them to stop as they are not needed now.
I have a health visitor who is a horrible person and always interferes in everything. She has basically threatened me saying if I do not continue with the taf meetings she will put in a referral to social services and that she is concerned that professionals have not been into my home! I have no reason to allow anyone into my house and I am not under social services so not really relevant but shebis pushing!!!

I will continue with the meetings however I feel like there is no way for me to turn legally or otherwise and under no circumstances am I dealing with social services again because of a health visitor on a power trip so like you I will also be naming them and the health visitor because the sheer incompetence bullying and intimidation caused by these people is beyond words and something needs to be done.

I will not be subject to social services due to one person on a power trip and my children having additional needs they are all fit and well loved and cared for and also have several specialists each for various things and me I'm one person but I still manage to keep all appointments attended or rearranged mainly due to overlapping times and keep 2 in school daily x

[Madeupusername]

My apologies for not seeing if I had any replies sooner.

Update is that the local authority is more corrupt than i'd given them credit for.

My blog is still up, however, it had over 100 posts so what i've done is skimmed it right down to the bare essentials and not so much the fluff, with the goal to move it to a new one, and then send the links to the parts that are relevant to different organisations. My hope is that the organisations will be able to give the LA into making some much needed changes.

In it's current format it may be confusing with regards to timelines and what exactly happened in what order, but there are enough posts which can be read by themselves and give the reader details of specific incidents.

I will say it may be triggering to anyone who has been the victim of sexual abuse. It is mentioned, though no details.

I have named social workers and staff members at the LA, this is solely because it is the only way to get my voice heard. I would have preferred to do it another way, but that wasn't to be unfortunately, so a blog is all I have.

All I have done is write the truth.

They nearly caused the death of one of my children and they do not care.

I'm not going to put the link here as i'm going to guess that would go against the t&c's of FRG but I will privately message all those who have asked.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

I think you are amazing for blogging about the corruption that goes on with social services.

I myself have also has dealings with them and not one I would like to repeat. I am still having TAF meetings for my 3 youngest children (this was my idea as they all have additional needs due to autism) however recently I have asked for them to stop as they are not needed now.
I have a health visitor who is a horrible person and always interferes in everything. She has basically threatened me saying if I do not continue with the taf meetings she will put in a referral to social services and that she is concerned that professionals have not been into my home! I have no reason to allow anyone into my house and I am not under social services so not really relevant but shebis pushing!!!

I will continue with the meetings however I feel like there is no way for me to turn legally or otherwise and under no circumstances am I dealing with social services again because of a health visitor on a power trip so like you I will also be naming them and the health visitor because the sheer incompetence bullying and intimidation caused by these people is beyond words and something needs to be done.

I will not be subject to social services due to one person on a power trip and my children having additional needs they are all fit and well loved and cared for and also have several specialists each for various things and me I'm one person but I still manage to keep all appointments attended or rearranged mainly due to overlapping times and keep 2 in school daily x

Dear Kelviz

Thank you for your further post. I recently responded to your post on your other thread ('at breaking point') in relation to the current situation so please do take a look at that response.

I think that you are right to agree to continue to cooperate with the Team around the Family meetings as this seems to the least intrusive process for you and your children yet it provides an opportunity for you and the professionals to work together to help you care for your children, who have additional needs.

I hope this helps.

Best wishes

Suzie