worried about the children

zaksmum

She would probably be ok to approach, but she does have a family. Two sisters and her mother are around regularly, and the childrens' dad, though they're no longer together.

But really they are as bad as her. They all smoke cannabis even around the kids, who reek of it. And I do think people take advantage of her.

I think I will ring someone. Just not sure who. I'm friendly with the teacher at the eldest child's nursery school - maybe I'll speak to her and see if she could recommend the best authorities to alert.

Mojisola

zaksmum wrote: »

She would probably be ok to approach, but she does have a family. Two sisters and her mother are around regularly, and the childrens' dad, though they're no longer together.

But really they are as bad as her. They all smoke cannabis even around the kids, who reek of it. And I do think people take advantage of her.

I think I will ring someone. Just not sure who. I'm friendly with the teacher at the eldest child's nursery school - maybe I'll speak to her and see if she could recommend the best authorities to alert.

I would phone social services and keep the call private. If you go through the teacher who mentions it in school, it could get passed around and you could have the outraged family on your doorstep.

Alikay

zaksmum wrote: »

I think I will ring someone. Just not sure who. I'm friendly with the teacher at the eldest child's nursery school - maybe I'll speak to her and see if she could recommend the best authorities to alert.

The more local, the better. One of the national helplines will refer it on locally anyway but there could be a delay. If you go on your local authority's website and have a click around the "children and young people's services" area of the site, they should have an emergency number for people who are worried about the safety of certain children. Otherwise try your Yellow Pages/Thomson Directory.

*Louise*

zaksmum wrote: »

But really they are as bad as her. They all smoke cannabis even around the kids, who reek of it. And I do think people take advantage of her.

I think I will ring someone. Just not sure who. I'm friendly with the teacher at the eldest child's nursery school - maybe I'll speak to her and see if she could recommend the best authorities to alert.

You are on the internet, just google your local councils website and they will have links / numbers and email contacts.

I really wouldn't speak to the teacher - you are just leaving it wide open for gossip and it's the fastest way of people knowing you reported them.

tea_lover

I had a similar situation in my previous home. I went on the local council's website and found a number for the childrens' service then made an anonymous call. The man who lived there was quite violent at times so there was no way I wanted it getting back to me.

missmontana

Ring Social Services, better safe than sorry! Could you really live with yourself if something happened to one of those kiddies?

BugglyB

If the police have been in attendance 'most days' then they will already be well known to social services as the police will have made them aware of issues at the address.

OP despite what others have suggested it won't be down to you if anything happens to the children. By all means ring social services if you like but I suspect the response will probably be 'oh them, yeah, we know about them'.

doodoot

BugglyB wrote: »

If the police have been in attendance 'most days' then they will already be well known to social services as the police will have made them aware of issues at the address.

OP despite what others have suggested it won't be down to you if anything happens to the children. By all means ring social services if you like but I suspect the response will probably be 'oh them, yeah, we know about them'.

Totally agree with all of the above.

When Police attend and children are there, they will also give SS the nod.

Unfortunately SS don't always act on information that is given, but this is mainly due to low staffing levels and heavy caseloads.

I'd suggest that you contact the SS and also call the Police whenever anything happens - at least the visits will be logged with SS and may push them to intervene.

zaksmum

Ok, fair point about speaking to the teacher. Mightn't be the safest thing to do as regards repercussions for my family. I'll have a look on the council website to find a child protection office or similar, or just call Social Services. Normally I'd mind my own business though...but if kids are at risk it's different.

daska

zaksmum wrote: »

Ok, fair point about speaking to the teacher. Mightn't be the safest thing to do as regards repercussions for my family. I'll have a look on the council website to find a child protection office or similar, or just call Social Services. Normally I'd mind my own business though...but if kids are at risk it's different.

Can I just point out that it's best to do these things while the problem is occurring, then hopefully it's the police/SS who have seen it first hand. SS can be 'aware' for quite a while before an incident happens that can trigger the response they've been considering for some time. (That's our personal experience with DSD, SS had been waiting to pounce.)