the involvement/processes we might experience with Child Services
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Hey all. I was wondering if I can ask some of you knowledgable lot for a focused understanding of what we can expect once Child Services get involved and what our rights are.
My specific situation is my person was Cautioned-under 10 Cat C. 2 years SOR. 1 spent. No SHPO. Not the bio father of my child. We are not together currently but waiting for assessments and courses to be completed when we will then decide our future plan.
If all is positive and we decide to move forwards together then we will have to inform CS. Hense me wondering what the processes are. What I can expect. What I can refuse if I feel it is unjust/unfair. What I have to legally comply with etc.
Thanks so much. It is a mind field and I feel a single post with this in would be useful. Not just for me but also for others.
My specific situation is my person was Cautioned-under 10 Cat C. 2 years SOR. 1 spent. No SHPO. Not the bio father of my child. We are not together currently but waiting for assessments and courses to be completed when we will then decide our future plan.
If all is positive and we decide to move forwards together then we will have to inform CS. Hense me wondering what the processes are. What I can expect. What I can refuse if I feel it is unjust/unfair. What I have to legally comply with etc.
Thanks so much. It is a mind field and I feel a single post with this in would be useful. Not just for me but also for others.
I'd like to follow this post. if anyone has any information that would be great as I am not having the best experience with SS
Hi,
what assessments and courses are you waiting for? Unfortunately there isn't a standard route for children's services in cases like these due to the variables involved such as the understanding of the protective adults in the child's life, their ability to protect, age and gender of the child and their understanding of sexual harm (age appropriate obviously). There is also the possibility that ss will want to inform bio dad if he has parental responsibility even if they have no contact with their child.
Something I found useful is looking at the local authority children's services page online to see what their assessment process is and the thresholds for each stage of intervention. Child in need or less is voluntary and although it may not seem like it at times if your child is on child in need then anything ss suggest are recommendations. You have parental responsibility so ultimately it is up to you to make the decisions for your child.
It's a good idea to write up a safety plan for your child, it doesn't have to be massively in depth but it's important for it to be achievable. Mine currently is supervised contact in any location, no personal care done by dad and for me to teach my daughter about privacy and introduce her to the nspcc pants work. We live separately and have been asked to go back to ss if this changes.
They often like to see what is working well; safeguarding knowledge of mother, family support, steps taken to understand and prevent reoffending, the level of understanding the child has if appropriate and also if your child is old enough they should try to get their views and wishes about the situation. They should then measure this against the potential risks. This is where many social workers can struggle especially with online offenders, in the majority of cases people who have offended online will not go on to abuse children within their circle. This doesn't seem to be reflected in the restrictions put in place by ss. I think there is a lack of knowledge in this area and I understand the need to be cautious. When I researched the risk of reoffending across all risk levels on Oasys and risk matrix which are the tools used by probation and offender management I found that the highest risk of reoffending was iioc which stood at 5%, communication highest risk was 2% I believe.
From the research and courses I've done it seems that the best approach as a parent is to know the risks and the signs of abuse in both offender and child and to be watchful. Don't rule out the possibility of abuse but also make sure that the measures put in place are proportionate to that risk xx
what assessments and courses are you waiting for? Unfortunately there isn't a standard route for children's services in cases like these due to the variables involved such as the understanding of the protective adults in the child's life, their ability to protect, age and gender of the child and their understanding of sexual harm (age appropriate obviously). There is also the possibility that ss will want to inform bio dad if he has parental responsibility even if they have no contact with their child.
Something I found useful is looking at the local authority children's services page online to see what their assessment process is and the thresholds for each stage of intervention. Child in need or less is voluntary and although it may not seem like it at times if your child is on child in need then anything ss suggest are recommendations. You have parental responsibility so ultimately it is up to you to make the decisions for your child.
It's a good idea to write up a safety plan for your child, it doesn't have to be massively in depth but it's important for it to be achievable. Mine currently is supervised contact in any location, no personal care done by dad and for me to teach my daughter about privacy and introduce her to the nspcc pants work. We live separately and have been asked to go back to ss if this changes.
They often like to see what is working well; safeguarding knowledge of mother, family support, steps taken to understand and prevent reoffending, the level of understanding the child has if appropriate and also if your child is old enough they should try to get their views and wishes about the situation. They should then measure this against the potential risks. This is where many social workers can struggle especially with online offenders, in the majority of cases people who have offended online will not go on to abuse children within their circle. This doesn't seem to be reflected in the restrictions put in place by ss. I think there is a lack of knowledge in this area and I understand the need to be cautious. When I researched the risk of reoffending across all risk levels on Oasys and risk matrix which are the tools used by probation and offender management I found that the highest risk of reoffending was iioc which stood at 5%, communication highest risk was 2% I believe.
From the research and courses I've done it seems that the best approach as a parent is to know the risks and the signs of abuse in both offender and child and to be watchful. Don't rule out the possibility of abuse but also make sure that the measures put in place are proportionate to that risk xx
Thanks Distressed and Pregnant. We are waiting for the Risk Assessment. I might do one more child protection specific course depending on our decision to move forwards together or not, but I have already done circles so not sure if that is overkill.
I have a safety plan and it is robust. Even though we aren't together currently (I wrote it when we were - back at the beginning of this journey). CS are happy we are still in contact and following this.
Overnight will be their main issue now, but I asked for help on here a while back with some great replies, and have added a future plan to my safety plan. I am confident it is workable, my child is clearly protected and we are going to be able to live safely and happily together.
We are expecting, based on his support professionals, that he will have a low risk outcome, but I cannot guarantee that of course, which is why we are being cautious still and not going full steam ahead without the full set of info.
My aim is to go to CS fully prepared with everything covered, so they can't find any reason to go heavy handed. I would be quite happy for them to watch us closely for as long as they needed, as long as they dont go at us and bulldoze everything we have done over the years to become better together and ensure the safety of my child. And also his own safety! And mine!
Bio dad. Yup. That sits like a dark cloud over me. The thought of that happening is worse than having CS breathing down my neck.
I have a safety plan and it is robust. Even though we aren't together currently (I wrote it when we were - back at the beginning of this journey). CS are happy we are still in contact and following this.
Overnight will be their main issue now, but I asked for help on here a while back with some great replies, and have added a future plan to my safety plan. I am confident it is workable, my child is clearly protected and we are going to be able to live safely and happily together.
We are expecting, based on his support professionals, that he will have a low risk outcome, but I cannot guarantee that of course, which is why we are being cautious still and not going full steam ahead without the full set of info.
My aim is to go to CS fully prepared with everything covered, so they can't find any reason to go heavy handed. I would be quite happy for them to watch us closely for as long as they needed, as long as they dont go at us and bulldoze everything we have done over the years to become better together and ensure the safety of my child. And also his own safety! And mine!
Bio dad. Yup. That sits like a dark cloud over me. The thought of that happening is worse than having CS breathing down my neck.
Having done the circles one myself I'd say that's enough to be honest. A general safeguarding course would offer no benefit having done one that is specific to the risk of sexual harm.
You sound very much like me in your approach to both the relationship and ss. We are pretty much in the same position minus risk assessment. Would you mind sharing who you're having the risk assessment through? You don't have to obviously, I'm just trying to get an idea of cost etc.
I don't think you'll have issues with ss but we know it's luck of the draw rather than any measurable risk based approach.
In terms of bio dad, they don't always go down that route. The fact that they've previously been involved and closed with a safety plan for contact should mean that isn't something you have to worry about. I mentioned it as my first sw wanted evidence that my ex husband knew and I've read things on here recently about ss informing fathers that have been out of the picture and it has caused issues for the mothers then xx
You sound very much like me in your approach to both the relationship and ss. We are pretty much in the same position minus risk assessment. Would you mind sharing who you're having the risk assessment through? You don't have to obviously, I'm just trying to get an idea of cost etc.
I don't think you'll have issues with ss but we know it's luck of the draw rather than any measurable risk based approach.
In terms of bio dad, they don't always go down that route. The fact that they've previously been involved and closed with a safety plan for contact should mean that isn't something you have to worry about. I mentioned it as my first sw wanted evidence that my ex husband knew and I've read things on here recently about ss informing fathers that have been out of the picture and it has caused issues for the mothers then xx
Hi Distressed and Pregnant. I will PM if that is OK. Then I can speak more openly without giving away identifyable info about me. Do you mind?
Hi,
of course I don't mind xx
of course I don't mind xx