Thinking of getting social services involved?

lepetit

As the school has been involved already could we get them to escalate the matter?
Regarding GP how would be go about getting SS involved through them?
We are moving forward with mediation but it is all not happening fast enough for my stepson.
I don't know whether this is frowned upon, only a suggestions, if he simply refused to leave us what could she do to get him back to her if he didn't want to leave?

squirrelchops

I'm sorry I appear to have misunderstood the situation and I haven't read any other posts regarding this.

I thought you meant your step son was suffering some kind of emotional disruption and therefore wanted help to ascertain how living with his mohter affects this. Therefore my reply about the school and GP was to see if he can have a CAF whereby his needs are identified and an action plan put in place to support him.

Social services are not going to get involved in custody or residence battles, only as far as welfare reports or things such as special guardianship/fostering etc etc.

If your son is suffering harm or is a child in need who will not or is unlikely to meet his full development then social services could become involved. This would require a phone call to their customer services department who then pass on referral if applicable to the referral and assessmnet team. But again, if there is no risk then their thresholds mean they will not accept the referral, or they may work with young person for a short period of time then look to passing the case back down to a CAF.

If your son has a CAF it would mean support could be put in place for him and parenting assessment for him Mum and then if the situation went beyong a CAF they could refer to SS from this. However, the CAF is voluntary and his Mum would have to agree.

I hope I have made sense.

squirrelchops

I dont know what would happen if he refused....would presume it would depend on many different things and this is CAFCASS's remit. The age of child is important as their voice is taken into account but only from a certain age I thought. By this I meant the voice of the child is always gained by social serivces but I thought legally a child can decide from a certian age where they want to live and if approprate this decides the matter.

If it went to court and Mum contested then that is when social services may be brought in to do an assessmnet and write a welfare report.

Jojo_the_Tightfisted

Don't forget that kids can be terribly manipulative from an early age - so be prepared, even if you go through the disruption of kidnapping him (which is what it would be seen as by a large number of people) albeit with the best interests of the boy at heart - once in a room with someone experienced with children, he could completely change his tune and deny all knowledge of ever having been interested in moving in.

Not saying this is the case for you, but it is always a possibility as some kids don't understand just how gut wrenchingly traumatic custody issues are for parents (and some do and capitalise on it, but that's another matter).

As long as you are aware of this, if it happens, it's still unpleasant but at least it's not a shock and less of a betrayal than finding out without any prior warning.

daska

squirrelchops wrote: »

I dont know what would happen if he refused....would presume it would depend on many different things and this is CAFCASS's remit. The age of child is important as their voice is taken into account but only from a certain age I thought. By this I meant the voice of the child is always gained by social serivces but I thought legally a child can decide from a certian age where they want to live and if approprate this decides the matter.

If it went to court and Mum contested then that is when social services may be brought in to do an assessmnet and write a welfare report.

It's generally about 12 but it depends on the maturity of the child. And whether there is an existing residency order or contact agreement and whether the NRP has PR etc.

We got accused of kidnapping DSD even though it was SS and the police who removed DSD from her mother and gave her into our care LOL

lepetit

I can say with 100% certainty he would never be manipulative - he just isn't like that, he cares so much about his father, when the school last did an assessment the headteacher said to my fiance that he worships the gorund he walks on, in his son's eyes my fiance can do no wrong etc etc.
I hope his mother will listen to him as we go forward to mediation as she has always tried to say it is my fiance making their son say these things and I hope that seeing him talk to an objective adult will wake her up to the fact that it is all real.

lepetit

For my stepson's sake we really need to move forward into joint residency asap can anyone give me any suggestions?

lepetit

If anyone could give me any advice for going forward it would be much appreciated, we really don't have the money for this but my stepson is desperate to live with his father at least half the time.

Pee

Presumably legal Aid is not an option? Could you have a free half hour with a solicitor or try the CAB? Would be worth speaking to teachers and seeing if they would refer to social services. The good news is that this will get easier as he gets older.

daska

lepetit wrote: »

I hope his mother will listen to him as we go forward to mediation as she has always tried to say it is my fiance making their son say these things and I hope that seeing him talk to an objective adult will wake her up to the fact that it is all real.

Is the lad going to be involved in the mediation? Usually it's only the adults.

You haven't said much about 'mum'. This might have a huge financial impact on her which might well colour how positive she is about any change. Perhaps she needs some reassurance on that side?