Social services involved..help

[Koko]

Hello.
Me I my partner had an argument with ended up with asult.. argument took maybe 3 mins if so.... After some time my partner (she) stupidity drove a car to shop where she got stopped by the police and done for drink driving...she told the police we had an argument and I hit her in head.. so next day when I went to pick her up I was arrested but then realized with no father action as she did give any statements and don't want to take case any further... However because at the time of argument kids were in the house ..they where asleep upstairs to police informed SS ... When SS rang my partner said she doesn't want to take it any further and everything is ok ... She offered SS to come over to house for chat but social worker said " what's the point to come in to your house if you don't want to give statement .. she also said she will speak to her manager and see what's next .... What can happen now??... Me and my partner are absolutely fine with each other ..we apologize to each other and move on from it... Please can someone tell us what can happen next?

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear Koko

Welcome to the discussion board and thank you for your post. My name is Suzie and I will be responding to you today.

In summary, there was argument between you and your partner which resulted in you assaulting her. After the argument your partner got into her car to go to the shop and was stopped by the police for drink driving. From what you say, I think she was then arrested and kept at the police station. When you went to collect her the following morning you were arrested because your partner informed the police you had ‘hit her.’ The children were at home when the incident took place, and this triggered a referral from the police to Children’s Services. There was no further action from the police and your partner did not want to make a statement. Children’s Services have spoken to your partner, who has offered to meet with the social worker to reassure her everything is fine but that she does not want to take matters further. You state that there are no ongoing concerns and you and your partner have apologies to each other. The social worker has said that she will need to speak to her manager to discuss. You would like to know what might happen next in respect of their involvement.

Children’s Services have a legal duty to investigate situations where a concern has been expressed about the safety and well-being of a child. The child protection investigation is predominantly the responsibility of social workers within Children’s Services, however they do work closely with the Police, health workers and other professionals who are connected to the child and/or family.

What is a referral and who can make a referral to Children’s Services? A referral, in the context of child protection, is when someone contacts Children’s Services because they have concerns about the safety and well-being of a child. Anyone can make a referral including a parent, wider family member, friend, doctor, teacher or health visitor.

What happens when Children’s Services receive a referral? When information is received Children’s Services have 24 hours to decide what type of response is required. In making this decision, the social worker will have to determine whether:
• the child(ren) require immediate protection and thus urgent and immediate action is required;
• the child(ren) is/are in need;
• there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the child(ren) is/are suffering, or is/are likely to suffer, significant harm and whether further enquiries need to be made;
• any services which the child(ren) and/or family require and what they are;
• whether any further specialist assessments are needed to help Children’s Services determine what further action to take;
• whether any action needs to be taken; and
• if there is no further action they can take, whether to refer the matter to a more appropriate agency.

What happens if Children’s Services decide to conduct an assessment following a referral? Unless the child or children in question requires immediate protection, the majority of cases will begin with a social worker conducting a multi-agency assessment under section 17 of the Children Act 1989. The assessment needs to be carried out within 45 days from the point of referral. This was previously known as an initial assessment or core assessment.
The purpose of the assessment is to gather information and to analyse the needs of the child or children and/or their family and the nature and level of any risk of harm to the child or children.
Each Local Authority will have their own child protection procedure and protocols for assessment. However, the investigation will generally require that a social worker:
• visit the family and discuss the allegations which have been made;
• conduct an interview with the child away from the family;
• liaise with other professionals who are involved with the child and/or family;
• assess the developmental needs of the child;
• assess the ability of the parents to respond to the child’s needs; and
• consider the impact the family, the family history, the wider family and environmental factors are having on the parents’ capacity to respond to their child’s needs and the child’s developmental progress.

What if I do not want my child to be interviewed independently? Every assessment must be informed by the views of the child, as well as the family. Children’s Services are legally required under the Children Act 1989 to ascertain the child’s wishes and feelings about the provision of services. The Working Together to Safeguard Children Guidance states that children should be seen alone, wherever possible. When talking to the child, the social workers must observe and communicate with them in a manner appropriate to his age and understanding.

If a parent does not provide consent for the social worker to speak to the child on their own, professionals may become more concerned for the child’s safety and well-being. This can result in Children’s Services escalating their involvement, for example, an order can be sought form the court to make sure that the child is safe.

What possible outcomes are there of an assessment by Children’s Services?
As a result of the assessment, Children’s Services will decide one of the following:
• that the child is not ‘In Need’. In this case, Children’s Services will take no further action other than, where appropriate, to provide information and advice in accordance with the local Common Assessment Framework.
• that the child is ‘In Need’, but it has been determined that the child is not suffering, or considered likely to suffer, significant harm. In this case, Children’s Services will determine the support which will be provided and draw up a ‘Child In Need’ plan accordingly. For more information see our page on Child in need.
• that the child is ‘In Need’ and that there are concerns that the child is suffering, or considered likely to suffer, significant harm. In which case, Children’s Services will initiate a Strategy Discussion to determine whether a Section 47 investigation is necessary; and consider whether any immediate protective action is also required.

Please also find the links below which I hope you find helpful. The first, discusses the child protection process. The second, the child in need process. The third provides information and guidance on why children’s services may be concerned and become involved with families when domestic abuse is a factor. The fourth offers support to victims of domestic abuse and the fifth is a charity that supports perpetrator of domestic abuse.

1) Child Protection
2) Child in Need
3) Concerns around domestic abuse
4) Victims of domestic abuse
5) Perpetrators of domestic abuse

I hope you find this information useful.  Should you wish to speak to an adviser again please call our free advice line: 0808 801 0366 (Mon to Fri 9.30a.m. – 3.00p.m excluding bank holidays). You can of course post again on here.

Best wishes, Suzie