Children interviewed by social workers

Bettybigboobs

Are the kids old enough to not blurt something out, after they have been returned? Surely bringing the children back is a bit risky, if the parents ain't to know anything? Whose to say they ain't quizzing the children now prior to the interview tomorrow?

rachbc

meritaten wrote: »

if parents are to be interviewed tomorrow then advise them to get a solicitor! ASAP - and to ask for one specialising in 'family' law. I suspect this is about abuse and whether your friends are innocent or not - they need legal representation now.

your friends may think they have done nothing wrong, so dont need legal advice. they are wrong! if matters have gone this far, that they are being formally interviewed, then they DO need legal representation - they are one step away from the child being taken from them. their fight begins here.

They are actually many many steps away from having their children taken away - please don't scaremonger. Social care may interview, be assured by the answers they are given and close the case, and even if they believe there is a risk of serious harm to the children there are lots of steps taken before children are removed.

Triker

This may explain what I suspect may have been undertaken;

http://www.childrenslegalcentre.com/Legal+Advice/Child+law/childprotection/Whatisasection47enquiry

I may, of course, be wrong though.

needurgentadvice

Parents have been told not to ask children, I told them not to as well as I guess they'll check whether parents did or not. Yes they're old enough to talk if they chose to.
Parents are stunned to say the least. I know them well, my kids and theirs are best of friends, all under 9.

Thank you all for advice, it is worrying and I just want to support the family at this stage, we've been through every possible scenario we can think of but as it has been said - without knowing the exact details it's hard to think what may have caused this.

I'll update you asap, I'm ok with not being at interview, just the parents asked if I would be and I didn't know if it was a possibility or not.

I mentioned a solicitor to them but also that I thought too it might be a little heavy handed until the details are known, it could be something innocent blown out of context (best scenario I think).

I really feel for them and appreciate everyone's help from all perspectives on this.

ali-t

needurgentadvice wrote: »

Looking for some advice. I'm posting under a different user name and not a troll.

Friends children were interviewed by Social services today, parents told not to collect them from school and they were delivered back home to the parents later on.

Parents due to be interviewed tomorrow.

Parents have no idea what this is over though it is not of a sexual nature. How do they know this?

Really looking for advice from anyone who knows what might be going on, also friend has asked me to be present at the interview as I know the children but I'm not a family member. It is unlikely you will be allowed to be there as it is likely to be a joint police/social work interview depending on the nature of the allegations.

Searching the internet frantically for any advice I can get.

Thank you.


Just to add. Police were present at interview - is this normal procedure? Yes, interviews are usually joint with the police and social work as there needs to be a decision made about whether there will be a police or social work or joint investigation into the alleged incident.

Think one of the children may have said something to trigger this action This is most likely. If the children were at school and said/wrote something concerning or said something to a friend that then passed on the information the school have a duty to act on that and that usually involves informing the local child protection unit/team. A decision would then be made about whether an investigation process needs to happen.

I am curious how your friends know it isn't somthing sexual but is probably due to something the children said.

It is easy for me to say as I am not in the situation but it really is better that concerns are picked up and then proven to be wrong than for things not to be picked up at all. Every time there is a child death or a child harmed in the media social workers get the blame for not taking action quick enough. This sounds like an example of an allegation being made and action being taken quickly.

I hope it is resolved with the child's best interests at heart

needurgentadvice

Parents were told it isn't of a sexual nature. That's about all they know though so far.

pupsicola

Schools have to handle situations like this very carefully. If concerns are raised by a childs behaviour, what they say or any physical marks there are guidelines on what can be said to them to establish what has happened. It would be elevated to the designated child protection person at the school, normally the headteacher. They may choose to involve any number of agencies.

The fact that the chilren have been returned to their parents tonight makes me think there aren't major concerns about them and their care of the children. If there were I dont think that would have happened. I wouldn't recommend getting a solicitor as yet. From your post it appears the parents are astounded this is going on, therefore we assume they have done nothing wrong. Turning up with a solicitor to defend them might suggest otherwise.

Depending on the age of the children and how well they can express what they were asked etc the parents may get some idea of what is going on. I hope all will be okay.

bestpud

If social services took my dd(9) from school and interviewed her before dropping her back home later, she would be distraught and I can say without any doubt whatsoever, I would not need to ask her what happened!!

Are you seriously telling us the children have come home and said absolutely nothing?

faithcecilia

I can't suggest any reasons why this might be happening, but it may be that 'nothing' has happened.

As a child of 6 I was questioned by police and social workers. Someone who used to babysit me, and had in fact taken me swimming, got me changed, etc, was found to have been a child abuser. I was lucky in that he had never once touched me, but the questions had to be asked. My parents had actually been interviewed first as he was also my dad's assistant at work.

I hope things go well for your friends, and especially for the children, tomorrow.

needurgentadvice

bestpud wrote: »

If social services took my dd(9) from school and interviewed her before dropping her back home later, she would be distraught and I can say without any doubt whatsoever, I would not need to ask her what happened!!

Are you seriously telling us the children have come home and said absolutely nothing?

Can't say that hand over heart as I'm not there, all I could do was agree they should not ask.
Think the children were a little 'put out' with it all (to put it mildly).

My son is petrified of police (don't ask me why as I always tell him the police are helpful and kind), and would have been traumatised and told all without me having to ask.