Social services onto me about not having child in nursery! Advice needed

nickyhutch

mrcow wrote: »

Except there's not, as already explained by an experienced social worker on this thread.

Different local authorities have different thresholds for referral.

skintchick

I have only read a bit of the thread, and am not making comment either way, but OP, it might help you more if you went on a home ed forum or similar.

you'd get a different knid of viewpoint than on here, and other people might have some wise words for you that would help.

FBaby

POPPYOSCAR wrote: »

What else is she supposed to think if they have not made her aware of any concerns?

She could ask?

squirrelchops

nickyhutch wrote: »

Different local authorities have different thresholds for referral.

I am the said 'experienced social worker'. Having worked across 3 different Local Authorities I can safely say that the information provided by the OP would not have met threshold in any of those authorities.

I stand by the previous posts I have made that children's services departments (or whatever your local social care dept is called) would not be undertaking an assessment based solely on a parent refusing to send a child to nursery.

Also no social worker would 'pop round for a chat' - they must have completed an Initial Assessment and the OP should have received a copy of this. I say this as there has to be a clear reason for a social worker to undertake a visit coming from a referral.

Pianos- definitely agree - I was out to 'snatch' a child one day but saw the baby grand in the corner and I put down said child and went on my merry way!!!!

Paddles

I know it's easier said than done but try not to let it bother you. They are your children and you are entitled to make choices. I have a few :eek: children and really appreciated the advice with the first one, but didn't really after that - and resented the intrusion to be honest - although my ability to smile and nod is quite good :-) - usually while doing exactly the opposite of what I have just been advised :-)

Anyway just write and complain so you can get it all off your chest and then enjoy your newborn., and congratulations

mrcow

squirrelchops wrote: »

Pianos- definitely agree - I was out to 'snatch' a child one day but saw the baby grand in the corner and I put down said child and went on my merry way!!!!

As so should be the way.

Thank goodness you saw it in time. Heaven knows what would have happened if you'd made such a basic oversight :eek:.

Ms_Chocaholic

Children's Services across the country receive many referrals each day. A Social Worker is not assigned to visit each family on which there has a referral been made, sometimes just a letter will be sent out, sometimes a phone call to offer advice, others do not even get sent to the Teams as they get screened out at the point of referral.

As Squirrel said, for a Social Worker to visit a family they would be arranging to do an IA which suggests that there is something of concern that needs clarification that cannot be done by letter/phone call.

I doubt a referral made to Children's Services stating that a child isn't being sent to nursery (which isn't mandatory) would be sent to the local Team, let alone be the reason for an IA to be completed and I therefore surmise that there is more to this than has been disclosed.

thegirlintheattic

I think fluffnutter might have hit the nail on the head. I'm also confused as to why EWS is involved. I was pretty sure they did not get involved with nurseries.

OP, why not allow the visit, show what a caring parent you are and also ask social services what the concern is.

FatVonD

OP, what was your 3-year-old doing while the HV was there? Was there evidence of any kind of stimulating play around or was she sat in front of Cbeebies? Are any of your large extended family known to social services and, if so, could that maybe have been a trigger?

I opted not to send my son to playschool (or whatever it was called) at 18 months when the rest of my ante natal group friends were, I couldn't see the point in sending him just because he'd reached the age he'd be accepted when I could see kids getting distressed at being left. I did though take him to activities every day, we went to 3 different toddler groups, a music class and visited friends on other days so he had tons of interaction with other kids (both those he was familiar with and strangers.) Perhaps your HV thinks it might be good to mix with non-related kids where they won't be so forgiving if (not saying she would) she bites someone and they're not older family members who might make allowances.

I did send my son to nursery aged 3 though to prepare him for school and also because he loved it. With the best will in the world no parent could provide the range of activities provided by a nursery so why deny her the chance to do all those things?

concerned43

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

Children's Services across the country receive many referrals each day. A Social Worker is not assigned to visit each family on which there has a referral been made, sometimes just a letter will be sent out, sometimes a phone call to offer advice, others do not even get sent to the Teams as they get screened out at the point of referral.

As Squirrel said, for a Social Worker to visit a family they would be arranging to do an IA which suggests that there is something of concern that needs clarification that cannot be done by letter/phone call.

I doubt a referral made to Children's Services stating that a child isn't being sent to nursery (which isn't mandatory) would be sent to the local Team, let alone be the reason for an IA to be completed and I therefore surmise that there is more to this than has been disclosed.

Where I live EVERY referral is investigated - that's the law