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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:
At that age, the court will respect the child's wishes. Suggest you speak to the school and explain the situation. Assuming you have parental responsibility, let your daughter stay with you. She might find it very difficult being with her mother every other weekend. Does she have a phone? You could set up a phrase she can text you if she'd like to be collected.
@champagne thanks very much. The school facilitated her mum removing her from school early, twice on my time, (to avoid a scene at the gates, so I had to back down to de-escalate). I'm sceptical how helpful they'll be. I know her mum, and she'll turn up at the gate next week demanding her, despite what my daughter or I say.
Daughter's mum has two solicitors (she's also a solicitor, and her boyfriend is a barrister) and threaten me with urgent applications and specific issue orders at every turn. My solicitor was about as helpful as a paper bag, so am now litigant in person.
Daughter has a phone, but mum often confiscates it when she's trying to contact me upset. She suffers from anxiety and had to call ChildLine in mum's care. I took her GP who referred to SS, but as I wrote above, they won't touch it since a CAO has now been applied for. She's likely itching to hit a non-mol so turning up at their door unannounced may not work.
am surprised you have not been given a court date after 4 months. you should ring court to chase up, also email.
If you need any guidance as a litigant in person, there is information on the advicenow.org.uk website. I wasn't suggesting turning up at her door but into the future contact might be difficult and your daughter needs to have a way of leaving safely. If she can't call, is there someone nearby she can turn to. If your daughter stays with you and refuses to go back, I don't think there's anything mother can do about it but I might be wrong.
@champagne thanks very much. I bought the guide a while ago from advicenow seems pretty helpful. The difficulty is navigating this current period where court dates are in limbo but daughter has seemingly had enough. If this were the school holidays, it would probably be easier, but she's worried her mum will just turn up at school and take her out again (although this will not serve her mum well in court, I would have thought?). I'm going to discuss with her counsellor at school.
@bill337 just done that now, thanks!