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Flower

Member since
February 2023

105 posts

Posted Fri February 9, 2024 8:59pmReport post

I didn't write this but it describes my experience so far, and echos many other stories I read here. Wanted to share it with all the other frustrated mothers here..



https://www.mysocialworknews.com/article/am-i-the-only-social-worker-who-thinks-plo-is-pointless

rainyday52

Member since
April 2023

450 posts

Posted Fri February 9, 2024 10:02pmReport post

Interesting read, Flower. In places I thought it was talking about our grandchildren's situation especially all the time and money being used up on assessments!

Edited Sat February 10, 2024 9:21am

Distressed and pregnant

Member since
November 2020

1005 posts

Posted Sat February 10, 2024 9:09amReport post

Thank you for sharing Flower. It's a shame it's just an opinion piece. I've often wondered if it would be cheaper for a local authority to fund an independent risk assessment for all cases like ours vs the funds used by keeping families on plans etc.

It's good that the emotional toll it takes on families was mentioned. Obviously I know that every situation is different but it would be interesting to be able to quantify the emotional impact of ss involvement. Especially if this could be done in such a way that it was recognised by ss as something that should be considered at every stage of involvement xxx

rainyday52

Member since
April 2023

450 posts

Posted Sat February 10, 2024 9:26amReport post

Coincidentally, we've just had an email from a psychologist asking if he can come and visit us next week (he's a long distance from us) as he needs to do a psychological assessment of our grandchildren who are with us for their half term. He wants to speak to our son and also us if we're willing, which we welcome but it's more expense and someone who has never met us or know about us doing some kind of assessment crammed into an hour or two but being hugely powerful in its implications. Hopefully it will be positive but feels like a tickbox exercise.

Flower

Member since
February 2023

105 posts

Posted Sat February 10, 2024 4:20pmReport post

13 months after the knock, devices checked and evidence passed on to CPS, 3 social workers 3 managers later we are at PLO.

It's really scary and frustrating all at once. I haven't read from many parents here that went through PLO so i feel that I am alone in this.

I'm in full time work, I've got child protection meetings, core meetings, unannounced visits, I'm in third trimester of pregnancy now, appointments relating to that, I've lost so much time off work, then ended up working my evenings and Saturdays. it's never ever ending.. and leads to nowhere, ticks no boxes.

The truth is we are just living together with supervision in place, but the risk keeps being escalated with no new action, or breach, or behaviour or statement every time there is a new social worker or a manager.

I've got to a place where I am deeply unhappy, sad and confused, fearing removal of children but logically there is no need to do so. It's a clean, safe, warm home. Everyone looked after physically, emotionally, financially.