SS not following procedures
Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2021 2:40 pm
Hi there,
Long story but I’ll give the cliff notes.
Children’s social care been involved since March at my request via my domestic abuse support worker because of my concerns about my children.
I’m staying with my mum and 2 of my 3 children are with me, because of their fathers abusive behaviour.
Initially they closed the case after a brief phone call. DA support worker got it reopened.
After 2 months from the initial referral they eventually did an assessment (father and my son, now 15).
They witnessed and documented emotional abuse and neglect towards my son, drug misuse and mental health concerns, domination, (of father) isolation, young carer concerns and many other things. They were also fully aware of the history and ongoing domestic abuse aimed at myself and my children.
This is all still going on now, it has not stopped or changed at all, in fact in some areas it has become much worse.
All of this and they did not call a CP meeting or strategy discussion.
Witnessing domestic abuse in itself is a case of a child being at risk of significant harm.
They did a CIN plan. This was not followed by father and SS did not follow up on it.
They only visited when I told them of my concerns about my son not eating properly, not going out at all, not washing, being emotionally abused etc. They only went round because of the nature of my concerns I reported to them.
This happened on 3 occasions. They did not go any other time of their own accord.
I’ve spoken to NSPCC, women’s aid, FRG, a solicitor, my local MP and the police.
Spoke to my GP and he arranged a CIN meeting, 3 weeks ago, which we’ve had before.
They did another CIN plan, placed all responsibility on my son and none on his father.
This has not been followed at all either as to date. This is not my sons fault, his father should be implementing it.
Another meeting is due next week.
I made a formal complaint on 4th October. I didn’t get any response until 21st Oct, this was a phone call and I had expressed that I only wanted an email response.
No progress from that call and none of my questions answered.
I have emailed the complaints officer 4/5 times to make sure my complaint is being escalated but had no reply whatsoever.
My MP got a response from head of children’s social care and it was very uninformative and answered no questions or concerns.
He also contacted the police but as yet no reply from them.
I did a SAR at same time as complaint and did not receive any response. I emailed 3 times before I eventually got a reply apologising that it hadn’t been handled correctly, no other info.
Should have received info by 3rd Nov but now it’s going to be 18th December.
I feel like I’m banging my head against the wall. I’m shouting so loud for help to everyone but no one is helping. I’m being ignored by children’s services, the council and the police. I don’t know where else to turn. I feel like I’ve exhausted all avenues and have got no where.
My son is being emotionally abused every day and the people who are supposed to help him are not doing anything.
They have not addressed the DA at all. To them it’s not even an issue. They know that’s why myself and 2 of my children have had to leave our family home.
They have not asked my son about it. They have not discussed it with him.
They do not seem to realise or care how much DA can have a detrimental effect on children.
They do not understand or care that my son doesn’t realise what abuse and neglect is. They don’t understand or care that because do this, the brainwashing, the manipulation etc, his own wishes and feelings are not actually his own. He’s not allowed to make decisions or say how he actually feels because he knows what will happen if he does.
They deny that witnessing domestic abuse is a cause for concern for significant harm and they tried to say that the emotional abuse and neglect etc were historical, this is an outright lie as there are no historical concerns and they did not say that on the assessment, I have it in black and white and they sent it to me!
Why are SS not following procedures in any way and getting away with it? They should have called a CP meeting back in March and they still didn’t even do it after the assessment!
They are not putting my sons health and safety above all else.
So basically to sum up what I want and need help with;
I want a CP meeting.
I want my son with me.
I want my complaint escalated to the highest possible level.
I want the social workers involved to be investigated for their blatant lack of following procedures and even law.
If anyone can please, please, please help me with any of this I would be eternally grateful, you have no idea how much. I’m at my wits end. This has been going on for so long. My child is suffering and I don’t know what else I can do. I’m so desperate.
Sorry for the long post and thank you for your time and any help anyone can give.
Long story but I’ll give the cliff notes.
Children’s social care been involved since March at my request via my domestic abuse support worker because of my concerns about my children.
I’m staying with my mum and 2 of my 3 children are with me, because of their fathers abusive behaviour.
Initially they closed the case after a brief phone call. DA support worker got it reopened.
After 2 months from the initial referral they eventually did an assessment (father and my son, now 15).
They witnessed and documented emotional abuse and neglect towards my son, drug misuse and mental health concerns, domination, (of father) isolation, young carer concerns and many other things. They were also fully aware of the history and ongoing domestic abuse aimed at myself and my children.
This is all still going on now, it has not stopped or changed at all, in fact in some areas it has become much worse.
All of this and they did not call a CP meeting or strategy discussion.
Witnessing domestic abuse in itself is a case of a child being at risk of significant harm.
They did a CIN plan. This was not followed by father and SS did not follow up on it.
They only visited when I told them of my concerns about my son not eating properly, not going out at all, not washing, being emotionally abused etc. They only went round because of the nature of my concerns I reported to them.
This happened on 3 occasions. They did not go any other time of their own accord.
I’ve spoken to NSPCC, women’s aid, FRG, a solicitor, my local MP and the police.
Spoke to my GP and he arranged a CIN meeting, 3 weeks ago, which we’ve had before.
They did another CIN plan, placed all responsibility on my son and none on his father.
This has not been followed at all either as to date. This is not my sons fault, his father should be implementing it.
Another meeting is due next week.
I made a formal complaint on 4th October. I didn’t get any response until 21st Oct, this was a phone call and I had expressed that I only wanted an email response.
No progress from that call and none of my questions answered.
I have emailed the complaints officer 4/5 times to make sure my complaint is being escalated but had no reply whatsoever.
My MP got a response from head of children’s social care and it was very uninformative and answered no questions or concerns.
He also contacted the police but as yet no reply from them.
I did a SAR at same time as complaint and did not receive any response. I emailed 3 times before I eventually got a reply apologising that it hadn’t been handled correctly, no other info.
Should have received info by 3rd Nov but now it’s going to be 18th December.
I feel like I’m banging my head against the wall. I’m shouting so loud for help to everyone but no one is helping. I’m being ignored by children’s services, the council and the police. I don’t know where else to turn. I feel like I’ve exhausted all avenues and have got no where.
My son is being emotionally abused every day and the people who are supposed to help him are not doing anything.
They have not addressed the DA at all. To them it’s not even an issue. They know that’s why myself and 2 of my children have had to leave our family home.
They have not asked my son about it. They have not discussed it with him.
They do not seem to realise or care how much DA can have a detrimental effect on children.
They do not understand or care that my son doesn’t realise what abuse and neglect is. They don’t understand or care that because do this, the brainwashing, the manipulation etc, his own wishes and feelings are not actually his own. He’s not allowed to make decisions or say how he actually feels because he knows what will happen if he does.
They deny that witnessing domestic abuse is a cause for concern for significant harm and they tried to say that the emotional abuse and neglect etc were historical, this is an outright lie as there are no historical concerns and they did not say that on the assessment, I have it in black and white and they sent it to me!
Why are SS not following procedures in any way and getting away with it? They should have called a CP meeting back in March and they still didn’t even do it after the assessment!
They are not putting my sons health and safety above all else.
So basically to sum up what I want and need help with;
I want a CP meeting.
I want my son with me.
I want my complaint escalated to the highest possible level.
I want the social workers involved to be investigated for their blatant lack of following procedures and even law.
If anyone can please, please, please help me with any of this I would be eternally grateful, you have no idea how much. I’m at my wits end. This has been going on for so long. My child is suffering and I don’t know what else I can do. I’m so desperate.
Sorry for the long post and thank you for your time and any help anyone can give.