Thinking of getting social services involved?

daska

Social Services will usually get involved only if the child is potentially at risk or in need. Otherwise their advice will be that you have to get legal advice. Don't worry about CAFCASS, my DSD is proof that they aren't fatherphobic.

lepetit

Yeah I have heard that they are - should we get CAFCASS involved?

Basically we really really don't have the money for a solicitor and are hoping it won't go to court really, if she has eyes hopefully his mother can see how unhappy her son is and maybe she just needs a reminder that she isn't all powerful and that actually her son is the more powerful one now because he has voice and is going to use it against her if she doesn't start listening to him.

daska

You can't get CAFCASS involved, they are instructed to report by the court. You do have the option of going it alone or with a McKenzie friend if you can't afford a solicitor. Family courts are not as intimidating as you might fear and the staff are very helpful.

Why do you think SS would get involved?

lepetit

Because he is SO unhappy and suffers what I would certainly emotional/mental abuse and manipulation from his mother.

Broken_hearted

If you want all your lives dragged to hell give them a call.

Blackpool_Saver

Broken_hearted wrote: »

If you want all your lives dragged to hell give them a call.

i tend to agree, see a solicitor instead

angelsmomma

I couldn't afford a solicitor for family court hearing and represented myself.

The judge explained the law in detail as I didn't have a solicitor.

Cafcass were also there at the courts request as I wrote and told them before the case that I wouldn't have a solicitor.

It was not as hard as I expected it to be.

lepetit

Yeah the father we know who managed to get his daughter joint residency through representing himself has certainly said positive things to us.
Surely Social Services would serve his best interests and only be interested in what makes him happier, more content and settled?

keys_2

I know of someone where the father had made complaints to the social services for exactly the same thing . The dad had to make a statement and so did the mother. they then went and visited the child on his own , after that the ykeep an eye on what is going on. So if this is the case im sure they will pick up on that and the problem should be resolved where the child becomes happy at home or a mutaul agreement is made between parents.
So good luck whichever route you decided to take.

squirrelchops

To be honest I do not think this would meet the threshold criteria for most social service authorities within this country to be invloved.

If there are concerns that present themselves at school or via GP it may be that they decide to do a CAF (common assessment framework) which would identify any levels of need he may have but it is seen as a preventative measure and for those below social services threshold.

Social services could become involved though if the issue of residency goes to court and the court need to decide where your step son should reside and they could order a section 7 welfare report to be completed.