Do social services do weekend meetings ever?
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I genuinely think that SS are not used to dealing with parents who work. They just expect you to be able to attend meetings at short notice and do what they say. They are supposed to work with you and not against you when they are involved with your family. I actually don't think they work at weekends apart from emergency/duty social workers that's why they will never arrange meetings on a weekend.
I've had to take unpaid leave and mentioned this to the SW- they just don't care about the impact it has on you. All you can do is go through the complaints process which I have done and currently my complaint is with the ombudsman xx
I've had to take unpaid leave and mentioned this to the SW- they just don't care about the impact it has on you. All you can do is go through the complaints process which I have done and currently my complaint is with the ombudsman xx
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I took one week unpaid leave four months ago over the Easter holidays. They used it against me. They said there are concerns that I'm unable to provide financially for my daughter. They are absolute horrible people. They wrote this without even asking how much money I have etc..
SS wonder why they have the reputation that they do xx
SS wonder why they have the reputation that they do xx
I think it's not unreasonable to expect some co-operation finding a time that works for you as well as anyone else. I bet they would respect a SW saying they were on leave or on a course when dates are looked at, so why not your unavailability too? Have you thought of saying you will attend virtually if it was at a time that suited you (eg your lunchtime?) We are well used to that now because we live many miles from the LA area - not ideal but can be done if you have a laptop or phone......and a car or somewhere confidential to sit!
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Social workers are usually contracted Monday - Friday 9-5. This makes it difficult for parents who work.
Child in need is voluntary though, so they need to work to your requirements and it should be collaborative. I would write a formal written request to the head of service requesting meetings on certain days at certain times to enable attendance by you both and without negatively impacting employment. You have a smuch right to set the time and agenda of the meeting as they do, it's your plan for your family. They should do this - I've done late meetings plenty of times for parents that work, but i think weekends are less likely.
Child in need is voluntary though, so they need to work to your requirements and it should be collaborative. I would write a formal written request to the head of service requesting meetings on certain days at certain times to enable attendance by you both and without negatively impacting employment. You have a smuch right to set the time and agenda of the meeting as they do, it's your plan for your family. They should do this - I've done late meetings plenty of times for parents that work, but i think weekends are less likely.
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That is a bit of a nightmare. I think you need to put the request for weekend meetings in writing and be very clear about why and the impact of not doing this - husband excluded, stress at work, potential job loss, loss of time off with child etc.
However it will be on the good will of a social worker to a certain extent, willing to work weekends as obviously this means time away from whatever their life entails at the weekend, and we are not allowed to be paid overtime etc. so then you have to negotiate toil.
So sorry you are going through this additional stress, I hope you can sort something out
However it will be on the good will of a social worker to a certain extent, willing to work weekends as obviously this means time away from whatever their life entails at the weekend, and we are not allowed to be paid overtime etc. so then you have to negotiate toil.
So sorry you are going through this additional stress, I hope you can sort something out
Good luck
We managed to have some family members join meetings virtually on their lunch hour as my ex had already had to quit one job and was starting a brand new one with no leave and fixed inflexible shifts until their probationary period was over.
The social worker was always late, forgot whether they were in person or virtual and on one occasion sent the teams link and details to completely the wrong email address (hello-confidential information).
I took 3months sick leave after the knock as I was so stressed and anxious so I did manage to jump through the hoops of meetings miles away and having to host a massive family meeting with "emergency chairs" and everything. When I did go back to work I always asked for the same day of the week on a lunchtime as that was the 1 day I worked from home so could manage meetings within the working day.
However the social worker did also want to come meet my child at home several times; they never arranged this in advance, always called me at work; usually with only 3 hours notice. I work Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30 in an open plan office with a 2hour commute each way. The meetings were always 4pm. Which involved leaving early and also involved pulling my child out of kids club and having a grandparent arrange to collect them to come back home for a quick 10 minutes with the social worker. It was annoying but a necessary evil.
Luckily our child's head teacher was an absolute legend and outright refused last minute meetings or ones that weren't convenient to her, or the child or their class teacher because it wasn't professional and she wasn't willing to disrupt the children's education or the school day.
Sadly as the protective parent I had to just suck it up until they were done. I made sure I got it in writing that they were finished with us....(it took months and again incorrect details about my child on the closure letter but I have it).
Let us know how you get on.
We managed to have some family members join meetings virtually on their lunch hour as my ex had already had to quit one job and was starting a brand new one with no leave and fixed inflexible shifts until their probationary period was over.
The social worker was always late, forgot whether they were in person or virtual and on one occasion sent the teams link and details to completely the wrong email address (hello-confidential information).
I took 3months sick leave after the knock as I was so stressed and anxious so I did manage to jump through the hoops of meetings miles away and having to host a massive family meeting with "emergency chairs" and everything. When I did go back to work I always asked for the same day of the week on a lunchtime as that was the 1 day I worked from home so could manage meetings within the working day.
However the social worker did also want to come meet my child at home several times; they never arranged this in advance, always called me at work; usually with only 3 hours notice. I work Mon-Fri 8:30-4:30 in an open plan office with a 2hour commute each way. The meetings were always 4pm. Which involved leaving early and also involved pulling my child out of kids club and having a grandparent arrange to collect them to come back home for a quick 10 minutes with the social worker. It was annoying but a necessary evil.
Luckily our child's head teacher was an absolute legend and outright refused last minute meetings or ones that weren't convenient to her, or the child or their class teacher because it wasn't professional and she wasn't willing to disrupt the children's education or the school day.
Sadly as the protective parent I had to just suck it up until they were done. I made sure I got it in writing that they were finished with us....(it took months and again incorrect details about my child on the closure letter but I have it).
Let us know how you get on.