Literally worried sick :'(

Ms_Chocaholic

savingmummy wrote: »

From what I gather they called to ask for more details regarding the complaint.
I`m assuming though by what you`ve said the initial response team are SS? and not nspcc?

I know calls to Social Services are often screened, in that complex calls are dealt with by a specialist yet less complex ones are dealt with by call handler.

In your friend's case, it appears that the case has been dealt with by a call handler, the specialist team have rang back to clarify a few things before making a referral through to Social Services.

It says on the NSPCC website that they act on your behalf when making a call, yes indeed they do, writing it down and passing to SS or ringing the Police if more urgent.

whitewing

Did your daughter's friend say why she/he didn't call the police themselves?

How did they get your phone number?

savingmummy

Ms_Chocaholic wrote: »

I know calls to Social Services are often screened, in that complex calls are dealt with by a specialist yet less complex ones are dealt with by call handler.

In your friend's case, it appears that the case has been dealt with by a call handler, the specialist team have rang back to clarify a few things before making a referral through to Social Services.

It says on the NSPCC website that they act on your behalf when making a call, yes indeed they do, writing it down and passing to SS or ringing the Police if more urgent.

Oh I see.
My friend and other neighbours had contacted social services directly and got nowhere, so she called nspcc in desperation I suppose and that's when things got going to help the 3 children.


You`d think the slightest report to SS would be taken serious whether it be nothing or a case to be dealing with.
Its quite upsetting like with OP that help is hard to get at times.

Alikay

It might help to put your concerns in an email to the duty team at Social Services childrens dept, maybe copying in the director of childrens services, or police child protection dept. Try and use concise points and examples to indicate your specific concerns rather than a rambling essay and clearly state the reasons why you consider the baby to be at risk of harm. Your computer will keep a copy and they'll have an incriminating "paper trail" if things did escalate later, so they'll want to cover their backsides and follow up on your concerns.

Make sure in the email that you let them know you'd like the baby placed with yourselves if they decide to remove her from her parents care and give full contact details. Follow up with a phonecall within a few hours and don't let them fob you off until they've been and visited the family.

Children have died or been seriously harmed in situations like these which is why millions gets spent on safeguarding measures. You're not being a fussy interfering granny - this is a serious child protection issue.

rubbish_at_usernames

Right ok, police have been round, baby wasn't on her own at that point but they have made a referral. Our daughter's friend has been in regular contact with us because she's so worried about the situation.

Anyway, it turns out the police had been round this morning already and made a referral then so that's 2 referrals in 24 hours from the police. They told us we have to keep doing what we're doing, they'll be keeping an eye as well now the family are on their radar and to keep on at social services because, in their words, unless you jump on social services, they'll do as little as they can get away with because their resources are limited. The officer who dealt with it tonight is going to ring me tomorrow as well when she's back on duty.

There's nothing more we can do for tonight but thank you, all of you for your advice and support. You've helped a lot and I really appreciate it.

piglet25

Can you get other people to call in reports other than yourselves? I am thinking that if a few calls are received from other people they may think differently and not that its a family thing in that you don't like the boyfriend, and they might get off their butts and do what they should have done in the beginning
Edited to say that its very positive that the police have done that, surely they must investigate now poor baby xx

whitewing

Why did the friend not call the police herself?

peachyprice

rubbish_at_usernames wrote: »

Right ok, police have been round, baby wasn't on her own at that point but they have made a referral. Our daughter's friend has been in regular contact with us because she's so worried about the situation.

Anyway, it turns out the police had been round this morning already and made a referral then so that's 2 referrals in 24 hours from the police. They told us we have to keep doing what we're doing, they'll be keeping an eye as well now the family are on their radar and to keep on at social services because, in their words, unless you jump on social services, they'll do as little as they can get away with because their resources are limited. The officer who dealt with it tonight is going to ring me tomorrow as well when she's back on duty.

There's nothing more we can do for tonight but thank you, all of you for your advice and support. You've helped a lot and I really appreciate it.

Yep, like I said,they'll walk away and leave a baby with a druggie father and an unfit mother, all because of procedures and red tape.

Good luck OP, keep fighting for your grandchild, it looks like you are the only hope they have in their little life.

savingmummy

Every report is logged even anonymous ones so encourage people to call as and when they feel worried or see a risk!


Hope its made you feel a `bit` better knowing the police are involved and aware.

determined_new_ms

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if SS have decided to do nothing then that's what they'll do. I have a granddaughter who I have had concerns for since she was born (she's 11 months now). I tried to raise them generally. Then things escalated and I made 2 reports, one to SS directly, which they followed up with a phone call a week later and one via NSPCC. In the end it got turned on to me and I was accused of lying & trying to manipulate the situation to get custody of my dgd. Reports back from my dd that they often say negative things about me to her. I was at a meeting and they were actively giving my dd inaccurate information about housing, my field and when I tried to advise of what the situation really was they were borderline hostile to me.

I wrote a letter of complaint as advised by the NSPCC and got a letter back saying they couldn't discuss the case with me.

Months on now other people are raising concerns, and they are starting to see that there are reasons to be involved.

It has been such a long and worrying period. I really wish you the best. Look after yourself through this x

ETA I only read the 1st page, now can see you've moved this forward.