Screwed over by the old social worker

[Fellowshipper]

One of the things I did not immediately mention on here about my S7 report from half a year ago now, is that it revealed among other things that the previous social worker which had been assigned to my family even before any incidents between myself and my wife occurred, essentially went behind my back and coached my wife about "coercive and controlling behaviour", upon her complaining to him on one occasion that we were having arguments.

Needless to say, I felt very disappointed with his conduct, when I eventually found out the true extent of his role in the nightmare ordeal I had experienced for at least well over a year since I first got arrested/bailed/nmo, in early 2023. He even had the cheek to put on a front feigning almost total ignorance, when I had called him the following week in huge distress (mind you he asked me to call him, but only because he wanted to get confirmation of where I was living so that he could tick away whatever "safety" boxes and to inform me to call the relevant benefits agencies etc) but the worst thing of all is that he knew me previously very well and had all the possible evidence you can imagine to prove that I am a totally dedicated and engaged family man. For some reason, it had never once occurred to him beforehand to offer us counselling and help we had actually sought from him and the local authority for things such as child care provisions and housing. Instead, he ended up acting like some sort of an accomplice executioner, in a crime which I had not committed or even knew that I had committed, for that matter.

Ironically, it was only after my arrest and subsequent bail and court enforced exile from my home, that my wife ended up getting a good few help packages from the la, but several weeks in to the first bail period it was drawn to my attention that this social worker had left his post and he was thereafter replaced by the lady which I have been liaising with till this day. I'm just wondering, is it common practice for social workers to be shuttled to different catchment areas when it happens that they become parties to alleged DA incidents with any of the clients that they are (supposed to be) helping?

I'm regularly thinking how this man's own actions of extreme incompetence and ineptitude caused devastation, and how both he and his department within the local authority ought to be held accountable for causing such terrible damage, completely needlessly. Any stories here of no win/no fee type cases against these whatever you want to call them...?

 

[Chi22]

Funny this is the first post I read today.

I am gathering strength to go to the computer and type out a complaint. The social worker in my case claimed that one child made an allegation of harm against me. That allegation was need be made to the school or her mum. I believe the social worker made it up. Together with some other lies told to social services and the police, the social worker took the opportunity to block contact and continue to refuse it for almost exactly one year despite the police starting and closing their investigation with NFA and after speaking to the children who obviously did not support the ex"s claims. And despite the children asking to see me.

I would start with a complaint to your local authority - there is an online form. If it meets the criteria I would make a complaint to her professional body - you can find details here:

Raise a concern - Social Work England

As the regulator for social workers in England, we can only investigate concerns about social workers’ fitness to practise. We cannot investigate concerns about social care services or employers of social workers. Information on whether to raise a concern and the process to follow.

www.socialworkengland.org.uk

I've complained through my soap authority previously and they fobbed me off. As expected really. I have to go through the process and my aim is to bring it before the ombudsman.

 

[Fellowshipper]

'Together with some other lies told to social services and the police, the social worker took the opportunity to block contact and continue to refuse it for almost exactly one year despite the police starting and closing their investigation with NFA and after speaking to the children who obviously did not support the ex"s claims. And despite the children asking to see me.'

Hi mate. Your quote which I've just cited expresses a broadly similar occurrence to mine. Some notable differences obviously, but still same sort of outcome. In my case, the social worker appeared to have advised my wife to approve police bail rather than let me back home, while I was still detained at the station, but it took almost a whole year later for me to realise I'd actually had all charges long dropped by the police. And if I didn't personally chase it up, nobody would have informed me either. The very first cafcass report stated I have a "pending prosecution", and when I asked the cafcass officer where she got that info from, she basically made a cock and bull story that she found it out from the police, but she obviously couldn't provide any evidence. That's when I chased the matter up myself. Like you though, I ended up losing an entire year of fatherhood, but when I found out a crucial part of this was due to the backstabbing actions of this particular social worker, I was like I've already said very very disappointed!

Thanks for that link as well, it certainly looks like a good avenue of pursuit of some justice in the situation! Getting it to the attention of the ombudsman sounds like a great idea especially, the only thing is that my case has since morphed fully into child arrangements and so could I reasonably expect to raise a complaint so late and get a case open?

Although yes, getting the ombudsman to propose imposition of liability for all relevant local authority departments, for their royal cockups in citizens' domestic affairs, before the courts, is well overdue! Granted, many cases where incompetent social workers cock up are difficult to prove, but I belong to those groups of cases where it's provable and especially where answers are definitely due, mainly because we had a mutual working relationship going for a fairly long time, and well before I was experiencing marital problems at home. The way he just ended up doing a dirty on me, however, and for absolutely no good reason, is truly abysmal...

 

[Fellowshipper]

Funny this is the first post I read today.

I am gathering strength to go to the computer and type out a complaint. The social worker in my case claimed that one child made an allegation of harm against me. That allegation was need be made to the school or her mum. I believe the social worker made it up. Together with some other lies told to social services and the police, the social worker took the opportunity to block contact and continue to refuse it for almost exactly one year despite the police starting and closing their investigation with NFA and after speaking to the children who obviously did not support the ex"s claims. And despite the children asking to see me.

I would start with a complaint to your local authority - there is an online form. If it meets the criteria I would make a complaint to her professional body - you can find details here:

Raise a concern - Social Work England

As the regulator for social workers in England, we can only investigate concerns about social workers’ fitness to practise. We cannot investigate concerns about social care services or employers of social workers. Information on whether to raise a concern and the process to follow.

www.socialworkengland.org.uk

I've complained through my soap authority previously and they fobbed me off. As expected really. I have to go through the process and my aim is to bring it before the ombudsman.

So what do you reckon about the chance of getting a case open, even though it's approaching 2 years since my present day reality all started?

 

[Chi22]

So what do you reckon about the chance of getting a case open, even though it's approaching 2 years since my present day reality all started?

I think it wouldn't hurt to do it.

It's now over 2 years since the SW I've complained about worked with my children. But thr case is still in court and back with social services. Without disclosing so much that it identifies me, that social worker blocked 'contact' for over a year and had a profoundly negative impact on thd lives of my children. Whatever the response from the local authority, I'll be taking it further. The complaint to them is a procedural necessity and nothing more.

 

[Fellowshipper]

I am assuming that your case is also similar to mine, in that cafcass basically delegated back all assessment tasks to the already established local authority case workers?

 

[Chi22]

I am assuming that your case is also similar to mine, in that cafcass basically delegated back all assessment tasks to the already established local authority case workers?

No.

Can't really get into here but you can email me if you want short details. It stays with local authority social workers but for reasons but is anyway listed for a Final Hearing. In a way most of the important work has been carried out already.