If you are accused of child abuse, whether sexual or violent in nature, or abuse that is supposed to have occurred in front of your children, you may find yourself on the receiving end of a ‘visit’ from Social Services, which may seem casual and friendly but is actually recorded on a computer and remains on a social services file indefinitely.
When facing false accusations from a neighbour or ex partner, it helps to have a structured approach to protecting yourself using our free False Allegations Response Planner.
If Social Services decide not to do anything about it, there will be ‘no action taken’. It is well worth checking what is on the file in these circumstances to make sure that what has been recorded is accurate. You are unlikely to get an apology or thanks for your cooperation.
Further Action
If Social Services decide that they need to take further action, they can hold a ‘core assessment’ meeting where they can direct you to do certain things as a parent. Your child could be put on the ‘at risk’ register. If this happens, it could be that your authority over your child’s welfare may be shared with Social Services, or your child could be taken into care, or adopted into another family.
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Whatever information is on file about your child, it can be seen by medical professionals, health visitors, teachers and school staff, housing authorities, police, public and some voluntary workers who have contact with children, and youth workers. That is why it is important to ensure that whatever is recorded is correct.
Your situation may be slightly different. ask a question below ↓ and our editorial team will reply with our advice.
The Meeting With Social Services
Although this is often sold to people as ‘a little chat’, you should NOT treat it as such. Make sure you bring someone with you who you know and trust as a witness, and make sure you tape record the meeting. Ask everyone there whether they have any objection to you recording the meeting – they should not. Use a ‘conference microphone’ so that you get a clear definition of what everyone says. If you know what the meeting is going to be about, bring any documentation that you think will help. No matter how nice they are to you, remember they are there to do a job – which is to see whether you are an unfit parent or not. They are not paid to be kind to you.
The Good News
As public bodies are terrified of being lambasted in the media, they can have a tendency to over-react to any kind of concern expressed over a child’s welfare. There does not have to be strong evidence in order to trigger a referral to Social Services. Sometimes it is simply an opinion, a suspicion, or an impression that a public employee has, although there are rules and concerns must be ‘evidence based.’
Although this might seem shocking, a considerable number of referrals to Social Services are not investigated at all because they are deemed to be without merit. Although figures vary between local authorities, those that are not investigated at all amount to around 55% of all referrals. If there is genuinely nothing wrong, and the referral has been made mistakenly, or maliciously, just make sure you take the precautions described above. Act professionally, tell the truth and make sure that you do not say anything even in jest that could be misinterpreted.
False accusations are not uncommon where one partner is looking for ways to 'punish' the other. It's not always accusations of child abuse either...often an ex will falsely accuse you of domestic violence or even rape. Our articles:
Being Falsely Accused of Domestic Abuse
and
Being Falsely Accused of Rape
offer some advice about what to do in those situations.
She now lives with ex best friend of 30 plus years and ex business partner, in a high 6 bedroom house in the county. It's been a crappy divorce! As They also did me out of money from the xompa y we sold!
I went to
Collect my son from school only to be told he was off sick. I called her nothing! She has now accused me of sexual abuse and cut off all access to my son! I understand the need for child safeguarding but this in insane. I've been his primary carer for 2.5 years! No contact. How on earth can she get away with this!!! Heartbroken lost and angry!
I have been a single father (full-time) for that last two years. No participation from the mother and her family, no money, no help.
My son was literally 2 weeks from turning 18 when the incident happened.
We got into an argument concerning his school work, he attacked me (pushed me over a recliner causing me to bust my head).
After attacking me, he went outside and called the police when I refused to let him back in till he calmed down.
Police came, I gave them zero info and was not co-operative (didn't want either me or my son to go to jail over a simple argument.)
Police arrest me, charged with child abuse.
Lost my job and haven't been able to communicate with my son since this happened, it's been nearly a year so far doing court dates and etc.
I chose to go to trial because I have not and did not abuse my son. My son turned 18 2 weeks after this incident, and now NOBODY knows where he is.
Court cannot locate him , they have tried to subpeona him twice and cannot locate him.
So, from my point of view, I am a hardworking single father , who was receiving no support and was doing well with my son.
We got into an argument because he wanted to quite school on his last half of his senior year.
He got angry, shoved me , I fell over the recliner and busted my head. I was the one ground when he was over me, I pushed hime off of me, he ran outside , I kicked the apartment door. He called the police and they did what they did.
Now, we have an 18 year old boy who nobody knows where he is at , that didn't complete those last classes.
How did the law enforcement or courts adhesive justice? Who have they helped? How did the community benefit from bringing these charges?
Section 7 has been ordered without facts finding.
What is the likelyhood of an outcome since I applied for shared care as a result of covid19 but these lies came up after the application?
I'm a litigant in person. Any legal expert here please?
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