Section 47, need help and advice

[ANIMEANGEL]

I have 11yr old daughter and 12 yr old son. Daughter been with children with disabilies team sinc 3, born with rare genetic disorder, which other things affects her height as form of Condraplasia. My son diagnosis of ASD from CAHMS, 18 mnths ago. Always up front & open, never been problem raised about Welfare. I have been referred several times to the Adult Social Care as I have complex health needs & mobility issues. Referrals made by my daughters Social Worker, Family Support Worker and my GP. alway told that they don't give support maintaining a home, even with Children involved, never helped by Adults. My son is Young Carer . After lockdown Sept20 I contact Family Support Worker for advice & help where to go for help sorting out the chaos having home 24/7 and home schooled 2 children, both on SEN register & 1 with EHCP. I had to self isolate as Clinically Extremely Vulnerabl. single parent family live 130miles away. Father & I not together, as he verbally abusive & not on D birth certificate but on Sons. We arranged deep clean I paid, £500 & I got a cleaner £40 wk & £38 per mnth to Agency. She left Aug 21 no cleaner to take over, without one now. I receive PIP daughter receives DLA. 4 wks ago SW in Disabilitie makes appt for usual visit. Day before she calls & states she wants to make my Son a Child In Need???? I asked why, she said his needs changed. I said they changed 5 yrs ago, when CAHMS said he should be assessed for ASD. Took 3 yrs to get diagnosis. Changed 18 mnths ago when rec'd diagnosis. Don'recall all said, inviting his Dad to the CIN meeting was said, I said no, told l mainly converse with him by texts or WhatsApp to protect me. The Father had no input with kids & only started seeing them at their requests few yrs ago, he wasn't interested when they younger (his words). He lets them down when feels like it. said could discuss further at her visit. 1.5hrs before visit, she rang to check still going ahead, she told me had been advised to do Graded Care profile, shocked me & I said that used when neglect or abuse is suspected or proven. She said no it isn't, I challenged saying "let's not pretend it isn't it a tool for SW to use when it is suspected" I used to work as an SEN Manager for LA & attended CP meetings,know how used. She came to house, talked to me & kids, went upstairs to check kids rooms. I told her fine but it was a work in progress as started to sort out & declutter all 3 bedrm's as son damaged 2 chests of drawers & wardrobe, so clothes on floor so I could replace furniture. not denying upstairs a mess, didn't stop her or hide it & had valid explanation. My sons bed had no sheet or duvet cover on as he wet bed (on going issue, now on meds for it)taken off that morning in wash. He told SW this. Sw made comment that downstair cluttered. It was clean, tidy, no dangers, trip hazards or im0act on mobility no risk assessment ever done, as not raised before. I asked her to leave. requested file from Children with Disabilities & my file from Adult Social care with SAR's. Emailed stating concerns to her, she set up Teams, with Advanced SW to address email. Had meeting, I said power differential weighted in their favour, as 2 of them, I had no support. ASW said he wanted to record meeting I said yes & I wanted copy. SW said her concerns with Socialisation, sons Mental Health, weight and home conditions. No expanding on anything. I said through meeting I would consider things raised & get back. I emailed asking for copy of recording & stating unable to give response until copy rec'd First ever email sent by SW rc'd said want to do a CIN, with a Graded Care Profile & Parenting Capacity, if did not agree SW would go for Safeguarding!!!! I contacted asking for extension to reply as we all sent down with Covid, 1 after other, felt unwell, unable to give proper time to recording, as dealing with kids. I was sent to A&E by Dr as complications with heart &breathing. PCR done in hospital, positive. Sent email back saying would agree to CIN assessment as realised no choice, all done in time. That was on the Mond. Frid missed call from SW 5.08pm, I rang at 5.25pm, she had set a Teams meeting for 5.15 pm. I was out in Public, I said home in a hr, Teams set for 6.30pm. My Sis In Law had made allegations. She is a Senior SW Manager for Adults with Learning Disabilities. She had been helping me, but raised in neglectful home with a lot of SW involvement, I don't know what happened, she claimed there was no neglect of my children, that I just needed support, then started screaming at me, she knew what neglect was etc & hung up. No contact since. One of claims was I fell asleep at night, children cooked for themselves & were unsupervised, due to my pain meds. Not true, luckily GP records to show last yr I raised concerns over sleepy feeling from meds twice & third time reduced meds at midday to help in Sept 21, SIL knew nothing of this. SW claimed no safety plan needed for w kend & she would call Mond as we were getting new SW, again! I sent email Mond morning, got out of office. ASW emailed back to day SW off sick, he would get new SW to contact me. I sent Wed night email explaining all my concerns about old SW to not knowing our case or referrals to Adult's & requesting new SW read our file, visit us, talk to us before any further assessments take place. Got call Thurs morning from new SW stating Strategy meeting held Wed, without my knowledge & agreed a Section 47 to either be considered or to take place. I am astounded at this, how did it get this far in 4 wks? I sent email asking who was at meeting, what allegations are & who made them. No reply to last 2 emails sent. They didn't even know Sons Counsellor had discharged him Tues before with no concerns for his mental health, about my referrals to Adults or about daughters condition.I gave contact details of CAMH Counsellor, sent my file from Adults & gave permission to contact Adults. Any help greatly appreciated on what to do as never been in this position, never had issues with Social Services before. SW not answering emails. Coming to visit Wed. Do I get legal help? I got nothing to hide, every thing They know, I told them.

[Suzie, FRG Adviser]

Dear ANIMEANGEL

Thank you for your post and the details that you outlined about your situation.

Your main question is about being advised that there has been a strategy discussion and it has been decided that there is going to be a child protection case conference.

The whole process is outlined in this document called Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018. Please start reading from page 41 which outlines what happens at a strategy discussion and goes on to explain the child protection process.

You may also like to see the section of our website that covers child protection, which I hope you find useful. And here is our film about the process too.

Best wishes.

Suzie