How much money can Children's Services expect you to spend?

rachbc

First of all there isn't a 'Child Protection Register' - a child can be subject to a Children Prcection Plan or a Child in Need Plan - which, if any, of these they go on will be determined after an assessment of the family and its needs.

YOu can't stop going on a plan, nor get off one by buying a sofa, not can you be put on one for having a saggy sofa. A Child Protection Plan will be put in place where it is assessed that a child is at risk of significant harm (either thru neglect, physical, sexual or emotional abuse). The will be an intial assessment, a core assessmetn and then a Child Protection Case Conference where it will be agreed what risk the child is at and work needs to be undertaken to safeguard the child.

Has any of these happened?

I know you say in other threads that your house is very messy - no amount of buying new things will help with that. If you want to change that and feel it woudl improve the well being of your family then ask the SW to help you come up with an action plan of how you are going to tackle it,in a way and at a pace that will work for you. there is no point someone telling you what to do - it needs to come from you to be sustainable! Just like there is no point in for example getting someone in to clear it all out - unless you address the underlying reasons/ behaviours about why it has got so out of hand it will just happen again!

shegirl

Adela31 wrote: »

Obviously, my childrens health is priceless... but a saggy sofa was the least of our worries.

So far its been a new Sofa (£300, its very nice, but I was trying to hold out) a new hoover (the Dyson pull-along style wasnt picking up enough aparently, its gotten a bit old, but I've now bought an upright, £120) the carpet in the hall is old (its the newest one in the house actually, but a bad buy, it frayed so quickly)

But Ultimately, my kitchen "isnt big enough to socialise in" ... can't build an extension on a first floor flat, what can they expect you to spend? Especially if you work part time?

Ok,I've read through your recent posts and it seems you were looking for a sofa before the social worker even came round,so I'd guess that you're so stressed your blaming the social worker for getting it and you bought it quickly because you wanted to look good for when she came round.While that is understandable,doing things you think will help,then looking at it negatively,blaming the social worker and deciding they would've expected it,is not going to help you.

I also noticed that the carpet that wasn't clean enough is over 20 years old.I'd have gone for a new carpet instead of hoover tbh and you should look into that.

I also notice that the frayed carpet is due to a problem you have in your flat with mice.I think the mice are more important than the carpet -including the dead ones you've been finding.You need to get that sorted asap.

I can see you've tried getting support on here with your home and stated it's a 'dump' hence were worried about the social worker coming round.The fact that you are trying is good,but it's not about buying new sofas or hoovers because the carpet is so old it's looking shabby-new hoover won't make much difference now tbh.

You knew the issue was there so you can keep going,it's great that you have.But is there anything else?You've already got yourself support on here due to your flat being a mess,maybe if you consider any other issues then you could get support with that too.You do have to be totally honest with yourself though,not trying to mask things or blame others.You may want to give your oh a kick up the butt too if he doesn't bother helping!

Adela31

I have to now hold up my hands and admit. She was right about the Hoover.

At 2pm I got delivery and set up my shiney new Vax and now its full even though I thought I had hoovered yesterday. I say thought because I used the old one of course, it was like an advert.

Off to get thing one and two from school now, thanks once to again to everyone for being nice and helpful.

thegirlintheattic

OP you need to stop this 'drip' feeding of information. First you say your children are on the child protection register - now you say they are not. Which is it?

With the recent information you have given about Mind, it sounds more like you invited child services in and the SW is not telling you you HAVE to do any of this stuff or your children will be under a child protection plan but it sounds like the SW is trying to help you with the state of the house and your perceived isolation - hence the comments about the small kitchen.

Get back in touch with Mind and ask them to have an advocate present in a meeting between you and children's services and ask at that meeting exactly what is going on re:child protection plan

shegirl

Adela31 wrote: »

I have to now hold up my hands and admit. She was right about the Hoover.

At 2pm I got delivery and set up my shiney new Vax and now its full even though I thought I had hoovered yesterday. I say thought because I used the old one of course, it was like an advert.

Off to get thing one and two from school now, thanks once to again to everyone for being nice and helpful.

Thing one and two?poor kids:rotfl:lol

It's always amazing to see how much a new hoover picks up (they do sometimes dwindle quite quickly though).But if it's been a while and given how old the carpet is,I'd be looking to buy a new one tbh.Nice,fresh,no previous spoiling and hasn't had ickle mice running over it!

SueC_2

Adela31 wrote: »

Off to get thing one and two from school now, thanks once to again to everyone for being nice and helpful.

A small point, I know it's possibly just a term of endearment you use, but referring to your children that way in front of the Social Worker probably won't help.

Alikay

SueC wrote: »

A small point, I know it's possibly just a term of endearment you use, but referring to your children that way in front of the Social Worker probably won't help.

If the social worker has read "The Cat in The Hat" books they won't be bothered at all: It's no different from using any other children's literature related pet names.

SueC_2

Alikay wrote: »

If the social worker has read "The Cat in The Hat" books they won't be bothered at all: It's no different from using any other children's literature related pet names.

But if the Social Worker has read "A Child Called It" by Dave Pelzer they may have a slightly different perspective.

Given that none of us knows what the Social Worker's literary preferences are, it's probably best to play safe.

Swampmonster

My friends children were put on the 'at risk' register for for the same reason as yours and she asked for help with the house and the social worker refered her to Action for Children who helped get it all sorted out.

Good luck

Bubby

Could you get help with clearing your home of rodents and clearing out any clutter from somewhere like homestart? (I can't remember the exact name of the company)

In terms of the birthday party if it is for a 2 year old then a family party is perfectly fine, I didn't have proper children parties until my children were in school. Have you sought help for your depression from your gp?