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Spurgeons and Dad.Info doesn’t investigate reports of abuse or neglect. But below, you can find advice on who to contact if you have concerns about a child or young person.
Reporting a concern
It can be difficult to know what to do if you think a child is at risk. It’s important to remember that if you’ve spotted things that don’t seem right, others will have too. Speaking up can make sure that child gets help as soon as possible.
The sooner you contact your local children’s social care duty team, the quicker they can act. They’re available 24 hours a day, and can make an anonymous report if that feels safer. If a child is in immediate danger, please call the police straight away by dialling 999.
Report child abuse or neglect to your local council
Use these links to get in touch with your local council:
I feel my children are in danger and need some help and advice on what to do now
Hi,
Could you give us some more detail please.
Keep names and details that would identify yourself or children out of the post, but some back ground would help us advise you.
GTTS
Hi thanks for replying, there is a lot to say really, my ex partner takes cocaine and smokes cannabis around my children, its with social services, we had a meeting and she had certain rules to apply to which in 3 weeks have been majorly breached, she agreed to 50/50 custody but as I'm now homeless have no where to take my children, the council wont help me either, since that meeting my one yr old was left alone for 1 hour and 15mins with an unlicensed pitbull, we then had a children in need meeting yesterday and they came up with a whole new plan for her to stick to and for me to go to a 26 week change programme, I've been granted legal aid and am proceeding for 100% custody because my children are in danger, even the social worker and the childrens school have said that I should have sole custody, yet I'm sleeping on floors (not so much sleeping) getting knocked from pillow to post for the things shes done wrong and my children are suffering for it, it breaks my heart
Hi There,
It sounds to me like you are on the right track with social services, Things are always slow with this sort of thing, you need to keep a log of everything that happens and ensure this is handed to SS, don't do it one peice of info at a time, but hand it in at meetings for them to investigate, if you call them every day with info, you risk them getting fed up with you and thinking your just trying to cause trouble for your ex.
Clearly if something like the children being left alone for any time at all comes up then call them and let them know straight away.
I have never had dealings with SS but I know others on here have so I'm sure they will give some advice on how best to deal with them or if there is anything else you can do.
GTTS
Ok thankyou for taking the time to speak to me, just so you know I literally write everything down but have not been given the chance to show them to them, hopefully at the next meeting I will be able to as its a more one on one meeting, so much has happened and I dont know what to do now :s thanks again
I think one of your priorities is accommodation. Have you spoken to the SS about helping you to get a council place? There may be housing associations in your area that may be able to help. The council may also run a scheme to help you with the deposit if you rent privately...it might be worth a visit to the council housing department and discuss the options. Once you have a roof over your head it will make things much easier if you need to keep hold of the children.
If the SS can be convinced that the children would be better with you then they should be able to help with providing emergency housing.
It might also help if you call the Family Rights Group, they are very experienced at dealing with families involved with the SS and may be able to offer you some support. Here's a link to their website
www.frg.org.uk
Best of luck with it.
Hi, I did speak to ss about getting help to find a place and they're saying they cant help, I've spoken to the council and they are saying that they will only help me of the children are awarded to me via court, I did get some good news regarding taking it to court but that's not getting me in a position where if the children are removed from the mothers care I still wont have anywhere to take them, I spoke to my mp and he says I have to concentrate on the next meeting but as a dad that's concerned about the well being of my children now I obviously want them safe guarded now rather than later, ss dont seem to concerned about me having a place to live so I can have my children yet are telling me I must find somewhere as they have no faith in my ex, I'm stuck on a rut and don't know what else I can do :s
What about private rental? Could you borrow the deposit from family? Have you looked into the possibility of a council scheme to give you an advance to pay a deposit? I know they run this scheme in my area.
The CAB might have a list of housing associations.
Did you call the Family Rights Group?