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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:
Trying to cut the story short i was with my partner for 6 years had 2 children with her our relationship broke down in 2012 after my daughter was born and mother made it really difficult for me to see my children i didnt see them for 12 months she got involved with another guy instantly after leaving me after a year of not having contact with my children i recieve a call to say social services had taken them into care i ended up getting back with my ex after all that had happened i stuck by her fighting for our children back unfortunatley court made the decision it was in best interest of my children to be placed for adoption!
So now here i am back with my ex and she gets pregnant with my son everything was going well social worker involved really helped alot and said she had no concerns just wanted my ex to see the depression and anxiety team my ex has been so convinced i am cheating on her trying to lock me in the house stop me from leaving for work i didnt inform socoal worker of this as i didnt want to create the distress it would have caused my son is now 8months old my partner decided to go to a family get together 300 miles away from were i live then i get no contact with her for 5 days then i recieve a message to say she aint coming back and making accusations against me of domestic abuse its now been nearly a month of not getting to see my son and i really dont want to make the same mistake i did with my daughter
Hi there
I'm sorry to hear about losing your children in that way and now another has been taken away. Have you been in touch with the Social Worker that had helped you both after your baby was born?
Do you know where your ex has moved to?
Usually the first step is to attempt mediation, but as she is making allegations of domestic violence, this might not be appropriate in your case. who has she made these allegations to? Are Social Service still involved?
If you applied to the family court for a Child Arrangements Order, it would need to be submitted at a court nearest to where your ex is living. This will be difficult for you because of the distance, but that's the way the courts work I'm afraid.
Have a look at the stickys at the top of the legal eagle section, there's lots of info about the court process which you may find useful.
It might also be a good idea if you were to attend a Families Meed Fathers meeting in your area, here's a link to their website where you'll find details about of meetings near where you liv.
www.fnf.org.uk/help-and-support-2/local-branch-meetings
All the best
I have been in touch with social worker and told her about the plans of her not coming back she just said she is on the case i have bot heard from social worker for a week now i did ring friday to find out what she is doing to ensure the welfare of my son as i dont no exactly were about she has gone with him so hopefully she is in contact tomorrow i have also tryed to get in touch with a mckenzi friend to see were i stand and what i can do my ex did measage me last week to say she misses me and wants to come home but then her attitude has changed this week and has said she aint coming back again i been dealing with this for the last month now i dont want to be dealing with all this right now i just miss coming home from work to my son and not alot of aupport around me as my family live 300miles away also
However i do speak to my family on the phone about it but really dont no what to do could i file for a residency order as ss are aware of her depression and anxiety would i have to go to were she has my child is to file this ?? This is the last thing i want to be doing but i really need to ensure the welfare of my son after what she got involved in last time she left me and losing my daughter because of it all i cant go through that again
I totally understand your anxiety, I think at the moment your best bet is to work with the Social Worker, have you shared your thoughts with her? If they feel that the child is at risk now, I'm sure they will discuss this with you, at which point you can ask that they support you in getting residency of your child.
Talk to the Social worker about your fears and perhaps open up to her about your ex's behaviour before she left. It's important you remain strong and child focused, you want them to feel that placing the child with youould be what is in the child's best interests.
See what the Social worker can find out and what their position is, once you are better informed you can decide on the best course of action.
Thank you i will try speak to social worker tomorrow to find out more im really not the kind of person to be fighting against my ex though but i think your defintley right i should of opened up before when it was all happening now i feel that i failed my son by not opening up before and letting it all happen i was just scared i would lose my family by opening up to them now it seems like i lost them anyway
Pleas don't feel that you've failed your son, it's easy to understand why you felt you couldn't tell them, fear of losing your child is strong motivation, my advice is just to be open with them going forward.
Please do keep us updated on how you get on, if you need to make an application to court in the future, we will do our best to advise and support you with it.
Best of luck