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Can anyone explain the process.

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JillyManilly

Member since
July 2021

20 posts

Posted Fri October 29, 2021 9:17amReport post

My ex husband is in prison until next summer.

His SHPO says no contact with under 16s.

Upon release our son will be 16 and our daughter will be 11.

The children are desperate to see him and I am happy to arrange supervised contact with the 11yr old. I assume the 16yr old can do as he pleases?

Can anyone explain the process when hes released?

So SS automatically contact me? does his offender manager contact me? does my ex get in touch with SS to request contact assessment? Do I?



Many thanks

Notalone1970

Member since
May 2021

98 posts

Posted Fri October 29, 2021 1:36pmReport post

Hi

there are two answers to this, legally yes he can see his son and he would not be breaking any rules of the SHPO

on the side of the sex offenders register he would need to notify police if he was living in a house hold with any one under the age of 18 or notify them when staying in a household for a period of more than 12 hrs with a child under the age of 18

majestictopaz

Member since
December 2019

499 posts

Posted Fri October 29, 2021 4:41pmReport post

The wording for my partner's SHPO is that he can have contact with under 16s with parents AND social services permission/approval. Does his say something similar?

JillyManilly

Member since
July 2021

20 posts

Posted Fri October 29, 2021 7:38pmReport post

Yes. It's the same.

I just wondered how the process will get started upon his release.

Emma33

Member since
November 2019

23 posts

Posted Fri October 29, 2021 7:51pmReport post

Hi Jilly

My husband will be released next year also and finding out information is almost impossible! From what I have been told it will be referred to social services by the prison when he is due to be released. I have recently spoken with social services though as part of him having contact with our child whilst he is in prison and they said it wouldn't be a bad thing to give them a call, explain the situation and then they are aware. I was advised to speak with the duty and care team.

Unfortunately we don't find out what the license conditions are until one month (or less) until they are released. You could try speaking with the family engagement services based at the prison he is in and they might be able to offer some advice.

From conversations I have had, probation will assess him 6 months before release to see where he will be living etc. At that point they will advise any other agencies if they are involved, such as PPU and SS to prepare for release.

Edited Fri October 29, 2021 7:56pm

Blue82

Member since
January 2020

95 posts

Posted Sat October 30, 2021 2:38amReport post

Hi there!

I have just these past couple of weeks been through this process. About a week before my partner was released SS contacted me as they had been given a referral from probation. They said they needed to come and do an assessment as my children are 13 and 14, and to begin with there was to be no contact until an assessment was done which can take up to 35 days.
My partner and I don't live together and haven't since the knock. He had to move out immediately, and went to live with his mum. Since...she has become terminally ill, so he cares for her and will live there permanently.

SS have done a home visit in the first few days of referral at which they spoke to me and the children, and told me we are on a child in need plan. The week after she visited my partner and his mother with me present as well, to discuss a plan of action for contact. We expressed that the children were desperate to see their dad and they have been truly amazing. Two days later she called me to give me the green light and as long as we followed the plan (supervised contact in the community and at his residence to start with, supervised by myself and his mum) it was all fine. We are still under the care of SS and there will be meetings and more things to discuss, but I don't mind at all. We're lucky to have a supportive, non judgemental SW.
As for the license conditions and SHPO. Ours said very similar, and if you have any questions or queries about any of it, talk to the probation officer. They will be able to tell you what you need to know as it can be a grey area.
I hope this helps a little. Things don't always work the same in different areas but this is our experience.

blue xx

Edited Sat October 30, 2021 2:41am

JillyManilly

Member since
July 2021

20 posts

Posted Sun October 31, 2021 8:37pmReport post

Thank you all for your replies.



Thanks Blue. That all makes sense. It's just a waiting game, I suppose



Cheers

Jilly