Child in need plan - how long (is a piece of string?!)
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My ex husband was arrested in October and has been serving remand since then. We expect him to get a prison sentence, a couple of years at least according to a colleague (I work for the police).
The police referral to social services was made on child protection grounds due to ex husband's actions and secondarily that I have mental health diagnoses (bipolar and adhd) and so as a single parent with now no support it's an "untested" scenario.
The core assessment went well - I was described as tremendously insightful, resourceful and the report referenced other professional's opinions that I'm emotional warm etc etc.
Had the first child in need meeting and there were no actions for me because I'm on it. They said the house was slightly untidy but not of huge concern and I've now got a cleaner anyway. I was initially very upset by this because I'm.a perfectionist but I'm just letting it go. I feel like they needed to pick on something (my house is no worse than any of my friends' houses)
They want to do some keep safe work with the kids (which is very welcome in my view) and when my ex is out they will have to support me in the most appropriate supervised contact arrangments.
What I really want to ask but am too afraid is when will they just sod off.
The social services support worker visits every Friday for a couple of hours and along with all the meetings I've had to reduce my hours by a day per week. This is a £7000 a year pay cut. Obviously I will do whatever it takes to ensure my children are safe and well but this just does not benefit anyone. He comes for ages, we rant about the roadworks for half an hour. He says how well I'm doing and then goes. If I was taking this pay cut and the kids or I were benefiting then great but it is honestly just box ticking. Then to boot I'm still doing a job that was taking me 50 into 29 hours.
To be honest although it's hard work being solely responsible for the kids, they are doing well and I actually like the control of it just me being in charge (ex H was very bad at enforcing boundaries so things like them having a decent diet and being in bed on time just didnt happen when he had them).
Am I wrong to be just wanting this part over? Do you think after another few months if all is still going well they might just go away until ex H comes out and then obviously they will need to be involved again as required?
I just want me and my kids to get used to my new normal now.
The police referral to social services was made on child protection grounds due to ex husband's actions and secondarily that I have mental health diagnoses (bipolar and adhd) and so as a single parent with now no support it's an "untested" scenario.
The core assessment went well - I was described as tremendously insightful, resourceful and the report referenced other professional's opinions that I'm emotional warm etc etc.
Had the first child in need meeting and there were no actions for me because I'm on it. They said the house was slightly untidy but not of huge concern and I've now got a cleaner anyway. I was initially very upset by this because I'm.a perfectionist but I'm just letting it go. I feel like they needed to pick on something (my house is no worse than any of my friends' houses)
They want to do some keep safe work with the kids (which is very welcome in my view) and when my ex is out they will have to support me in the most appropriate supervised contact arrangments.
What I really want to ask but am too afraid is when will they just sod off.
The social services support worker visits every Friday for a couple of hours and along with all the meetings I've had to reduce my hours by a day per week. This is a £7000 a year pay cut. Obviously I will do whatever it takes to ensure my children are safe and well but this just does not benefit anyone. He comes for ages, we rant about the roadworks for half an hour. He says how well I'm doing and then goes. If I was taking this pay cut and the kids or I were benefiting then great but it is honestly just box ticking. Then to boot I'm still doing a job that was taking me 50 into 29 hours.
To be honest although it's hard work being solely responsible for the kids, they are doing well and I actually like the control of it just me being in charge (ex H was very bad at enforcing boundaries so things like them having a decent diet and being in bed on time just didnt happen when he had them).
Am I wrong to be just wanting this part over? Do you think after another few months if all is still going well they might just go away until ex H comes out and then obviously they will need to be involved again as required?
I just want me and my kids to get used to my new normal now.
Hi SJP88
Ask to see their CIN procedures. They should have written procedures for their local authority, however don’t be surprised if they don’t. If they don’t then ask them to put in writing what the procedures are - this should include how you get off a CIN plan.
you say that you don’t have any actions on the cIn plan? That is strange as that means you are not being asked to do anything (like go on a course), so not sure what extra help they are giving you?
your CIN plan should have actions and timescales on it - so, for example, if they wanted you to go on a course for 3 months then you would know that for at least 3 months you would be on a CIN plan. If you look at your plan you should have some clarity as to what the actions and timescales are a d therefore it should help you see what needs to be achieved in order for the plan to end.
you say that someone is visiting you once a week. Is that the SW? With a CIN plan you would expect a SW visit probably every 20 working days. Or is it someone else visiting who is part of the plan?
dont forget a CIN plan is purely voluntary. At any point you can decide that you don’t need their help. If you did this they would have to decide if you met the threshold for a CP plan. From what you have described then it sounds like you wouldnt meet the threshold as your ex partner is in prison so the risk that brought you to their attention has essentially disappeared. Unless any new risks have appeared in other aspects of your life (an untidy house doesn’t class as a risk unless it’s bordering on neglect) then you could argue that you don’t need their help right now.
The Family Rights Group are pretty good and have a helpline so you could talk it over with them. Not sure how old your kids are, but I’d they are over 12 you could ask for them to have an advocate too.
hope that’s helpful x
Ask to see their CIN procedures. They should have written procedures for their local authority, however don’t be surprised if they don’t. If they don’t then ask them to put in writing what the procedures are - this should include how you get off a CIN plan.
you say that you don’t have any actions on the cIn plan? That is strange as that means you are not being asked to do anything (like go on a course), so not sure what extra help they are giving you?
your CIN plan should have actions and timescales on it - so, for example, if they wanted you to go on a course for 3 months then you would know that for at least 3 months you would be on a CIN plan. If you look at your plan you should have some clarity as to what the actions and timescales are a d therefore it should help you see what needs to be achieved in order for the plan to end.
you say that someone is visiting you once a week. Is that the SW? With a CIN plan you would expect a SW visit probably every 20 working days. Or is it someone else visiting who is part of the plan?
dont forget a CIN plan is purely voluntary. At any point you can decide that you don’t need their help. If you did this they would have to decide if you met the threshold for a CP plan. From what you have described then it sounds like you wouldnt meet the threshold as your ex partner is in prison so the risk that brought you to their attention has essentially disappeared. Unless any new risks have appeared in other aspects of your life (an untidy house doesn’t class as a risk unless it’s bordering on neglect) then you could argue that you don’t need their help right now.
The Family Rights Group are pretty good and have a helpline so you could talk it over with them. Not sure how old your kids are, but I’d they are over 12 you could ask for them to have an advocate too.
hope that’s helpful x
Hello
i work within children services and i agree with everything Big Sigh has written, CIN Is voluntary and threshold for CP are so high given all the financial constrains local authorities you would meet the 4 steps for a CP plan. The CIN plan as Bigh Sigh has said has to have SMART objectives to achieve and once those are completed then sometimes they may drop families down to Early Help or close the case. After each CIN meeting which should take place every six weeks, you should recieve minutes of the meeting. You do not say how old your children are, however if they are school aged then contact your school nursing service request a health assessment; a health assessment by school health will include an emotional health and wellbeing screening which will help you to evidence that the children are happy and getting on with life.
the more you work with the agencies the sooner the case will be closed. However if you are not happy with how the CIN is been implemented raise your concerns with the social workers team manager
hope this helps and all gok well for you xx
i work within children services and i agree with everything Big Sigh has written, CIN Is voluntary and threshold for CP are so high given all the financial constrains local authorities you would meet the 4 steps for a CP plan. The CIN plan as Bigh Sigh has said has to have SMART objectives to achieve and once those are completed then sometimes they may drop families down to Early Help or close the case. After each CIN meeting which should take place every six weeks, you should recieve minutes of the meeting. You do not say how old your children are, however if they are school aged then contact your school nursing service request a health assessment; a health assessment by school health will include an emotional health and wellbeing screening which will help you to evidence that the children are happy and getting on with life.
the more you work with the agencies the sooner the case will be closed. However if you are not happy with how the CIN is been implemented raise your concerns with the social workers team manager
hope this helps and all gok well for you xx
Sorry it should read you will not meet the 4 steps for CP plan xxx