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Section 17 - anyone has any experience

B

blindex

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Long story short:
  • I have two children aged 5 and 9.
  • Came out of court in October 2022 (last year)
  • Have been raising co-parenting issues with the mother while she replies back with allegations of harm and abuse (all in writing)
  • Mother won't share with me the GP details despite several requests from me in writing
  • Have made numerous requests and suggestions regarding the welfare of the children which have been all denied by the mother
  • Last week I received a call from Social Services. There was a referral from a domestic abuse charity
  • They decided to speak with the children at the mother's home even before they spoke with the safeguarding leads at the children school who have no welfare concerns whatsoever regarding.
  • I was really upset with that plus I'm having to chase the social worker to understand what is going on, she keeps drip feeding me stuff
  • Today she said she was going to to a Section 17 report. Children and Family Assessment. Anyone has experience with this?
 
Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of “children in need” in their area.


To fulfil this duty section 17 gives local authorities the power to provide support, including accommodation and financial subsistence to families with “children in need”, even if they have no recourse to public funds. The power under section 17 can be used to support the family as a whole and to promote the upbringing of the child within the family unit.
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It sounds like they're classing the kids as "Children in Need" due to being in the middle of some kind of conflict. Work with the social workers and try and keep them onside.
 
Ash said:
It sounds like they're classing the kids as "Children in Need" due to being in the middle of some kind of conflict. Work with the social workers and try and keep them onside.
Click to expand...
I tried to keep Early Help and Cafcass onside in the past and they rolled over me.

I had a very robust conversation with the social worker a couple of days ago and I'm in the process of sending them a firm but polite letter about the complete lack of transparency on their side. I already have a partially upheld complaint against one of their colleagues earlier in the year

I'm keeping everything in writing. Being nice with these folks don't work. Tried that failed, I'm not saying I'll be rude but I have to be firm, firm, firm and child focussed of course.

Would you be able to review my letter to them if at all possible?
 
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Absolutely - happy to do that. And absolutely give them facts and evidence. Firm but polite :)
 
Sorry I forgot to add the link for that quote above. The rest is here

freemovement.org.uk

Briefing: The duty to safeguard children in need and their families at section 17 of the Children Act 1989 - Free Movement

Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of "children in need" in their area.
freemovement.org.uk freemovement.org.uk

It can actually be helpful to have them classed as children in need as SS will keep an eye on what's going on and could suss the Mother's behaviour. But I think ultimately they will tell you to resolve it via the courts. So you may need to make a further application and get a much tighter order.
 
Ash said:
Sorry I forgot to add the link for that quote above. The rest is here

freemovement.org.uk

Briefing: The duty to safeguard children in need and their families at section 17 of the Children Act 1989 - Free Movement

Section 17 of the Children Act 1989 imposes a general duty on local authorities to safeguard and promote the welfare of "children in need" in their area.
freemovement.org.uk freemovement.org.uk

It can actually be helpful to have them classed as children in need as SS will keep an eye on what's going on and could suss the Mother's behaviour. But I think ultimately they will tell you to resolve it via the courts. So you may need to make a further application and get a much tighter order.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this. The initial conversation with Social Services to date has been very, very poor. The basis for the assessment is a fresh batch of domestic abuse allegations by the mother. They already went to see the children on their own and ask about dad, without doing any preliminary checks whatsoever. I'll message you privately but basically this is another opportunity for the mother to manipulate professionals with her on agenda.

Needs Assessments & Education, Health and Care Plans - childlawadvice.org.uk

This how to guide sets out the steps that you can take to request that your child’s special educational needs are assessed and provided for by the local authority. If you have exhausted all options within the local mainstream early year's settings, schools or colleges including the new SEN...
childlawadvice.org.uk childlawadvice.org.uk
 
I believe this website helps support parents dealing with social services. Maybe check it out? Family Rights Group

Helping families Helping children

We work with parents whose children are in need, at risk or are in the care system & with kinship carers who are raising children unable to remain at home.
frg.org.uk frg.org.uk
 
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