Social work assessment historical mental health
2 answers /
Last post: 15/02/2023 at 2:09 pm
Hi. My son was referred to reporter for failure to attend without reasonable excuse. He has been off a lot with a chronic heath issue. We have put in requesting consent to home educate and awaiting decision. Social work are currently doing an assessment. I was told yesterday that she has included my previous work with social work with was over 10 years ago. She said because she doesn't want it to get like that again. I left due to DV over 10 years ago. I was mentally in a bad place. I am now in such a good place mentally, a million miles away from where i was then. It feels like they are just trying to bolster they're referral because they don't want me to home educate and made that clear. i don't understand why they have to include this now. Or what relevance it has to what is going on. Thank you.
Hi Jenni
I am a family lawyer and specialise in cases involving children so hopefully I can help as you must be going through a stressful time at the moment with Social Services being involved with your family.
When Social Services prepared any report on a family, they will undertake a search of all records and these will form part of the family history. Whilst your history, may not be a relevant or important or have occurred for the last 10 years, they will include a summary of the background. If it does not really relate to what is going on for you at the moment, then it will simply be recorded and then the more current issues looked at. This happens in all assessments and I don’t think it will be used to “bolster” their referral as you suggest.
It can be a good idea to work openly and honestly with Social Services when they are doing their assessment as showing you can cooperate with professionals will put you in the best position possible.
I do hope it all goes well.
All the best
Emma