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Topic: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.  (Read 2229 times)

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A little background. I have been married to my husband (English) for 6 years now. So when we (my daughter and I) applied for our visa's we were given ILE..(I had already taken the Life in the UK test). My husband and I also have a son, who is now 3. We moved to England Nov 2010.
My daughter, C, is 17, born 3 1/2 months premature, has brain damage, short term memory problems, can't separate fact from fiction, deaf, vision problems..developmentally she has stopped, an is assessed as being between 8-10 yrs old.
Before I met my husband, there was a series of events, where it was very possible she had been molested. This did not come to light until I married my husband, and as soon as the perp was arrested we had her interviewed at a special clinic that specializes in interviewing children. She was 13 at the time. We were told not to worry, they were pretty sure she has not been molested.
Fast forward to last week. Well to say all hell broke lose would be an understatement. On Wens she came to my husband an said she had bad memories. He sat and talk to her. She said she had been molested...and how aweful it was. My heart broke. Well because of her short term memory issue, we have to have her write most things down, so we can keep referring back to them. The next day was busy but that night she did write things down. It not only had to do with the perp we feared, but her brother (who is 3 yrs older) ((she said he had been having sex with her since she was 7..that means he would have been 10..an it stopped when she was 11)). Says she molested a 4 yr old little boy when she herself was 7. Then the kicker was she said..
she was asleep and felt someone feel her boob....she wrote it was my husband. When I asked her, she said when she opened her eyes, no one was there but she thinks it was him because he was the only man in the house.
she also says when we went to the zoo (a group of 13) and we were all standing around looking at an animal exhibit...that my husbands hand touched her thigh. When I talked to her, I asked her why this was bad in an unto itself? Large crowds..it isn't unheard of. Well when she continued to write, she has changed her story to he grabbed her butt 2 times.

During the last few days she has come right out and said she wants my husband to leave the house. She doesn't like him. She is grasping at tiny things to try and make him sound like a monster. (such as fussing at her for bullying other disabled children at school). She says she is scared of him.
My husband and I feel like this is a witch hunt. Her stories are becoming more creative as time goes on. He called social services, her social worker was out...explained the situation...2 ladies came that night...we signed a protection order (not sure if that is what it is called) Basically says he will not be alone with her. Then over the following 2 days she has gotten worse. He called social services again, explained her stories are shifting and changing..and we are now concerned what she may come up with to get him removed from the home. The next day, a social worker, sign language interputer, and a cop who is part of child protection came to the house to interview her. Talked to her alone for 45 minutes. Then they talked to us briefly. Basically next Tuesday they are taking her into a special interview suite, where they can video tape what she says. The cop says from what she has learned from C and us, she believes she is overlapping memories. She feels safe leaving C in the home.
Our concern is we don't feel safe. She is now lashing out at me, making up stories about what I have done etc. They are concerned with C's safety, but not about the ability of this family to function as a family unit. Our son is acting out horribly, nightmares etc. I lost over 14 pounds in 5 days..and I have significant medical history to where I cannot afford to lose weight like this.

Basically I am looking for advice...or anything. If anyone has dealt with child protection issues in the UK we need help. We feel helpless.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2012, 05:06:33 PM »
Just need to clairify that the 2 incidents she claims my husband has done was many years ago in the states.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2012, 05:56:28 PM »
I have no advice, but know that many many hugs are coming. I can't begin to imagine how this must be for all of you. With C's medical condition, it must be scary to have overlapping memories and confusion that could be causing her to be having changing memories.
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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2012, 06:02:51 PM »
Thank you so much for your kind words. We are at a complete loss. No idea what is going to happen or what to expect. We just want what is best for C, but want to maintain the family as well. Right now the 2 seem to be at odds with one another.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #4 on: January 27, 2012, 06:30:44 PM »
Can you get in touch with the clinic in the states perhaps they can transfer her file? 

If she is suggestible as you have said it is possible that, sadly, none of this has happened.   Perhaps she saw something on TV or a movie or talked to someone at home who mentioned the original case? 

Obviously it could have happened, please do you best to provide your child with support, but remember yourself as well. 



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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #5 on: January 27, 2012, 10:29:22 PM »
I've not a word of advice, I'm sorry. However, I just wanted to offer my sympathy to you in this horrible situation. I am sending my very best wishes that your entire family will be okay.
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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #6 on: January 28, 2012, 01:46:01 PM »
The only advice I have might be unwelcome. Sometimes keeping everyone happy means keeping them separate. Is there any kind of facility where C can be, and she can be monitored? I know that might not be what you want, but from experience I've found that some people with special needs simply need more than a family home can give them.

I hope everything works out for you and your family, and that things get better.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #7 on: January 28, 2012, 04:10:24 PM »
I am sorry for all of these difficulties. I am a social worker in a disabled children's team. If you signed something with social workers it was probably a 'working together agreement. Your promise that you wouldn't leave her alone with your husband and try to keep her safe.

At this age you should be thinking about transition services. Find out want adult services are available to her. If the accusations do not stop, you may have to make the decision whether you want to live with or without your husband even if just temporarily. This may mean requesting that C go into a residential placement. A very emotional decision for families. This will stir up a whole heap of other questions and councils do not take this kind of thing lightly which is why you need to use the transition angle and find out what adult services are out there. At her age they would consider an adult placement if she is nearer 18, most councils avoid taking children into care at all costs so expect some resistance unless there was strong evidence your husband did something inappropriate.

Unfortunately, CAMHS and Social Care do not work together so you are set for a funding battle to get your daughter the help she needs. I wish you and your family all the best.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #8 on: January 29, 2012, 01:45:31 PM »
Thank you so much for your advice.

We moved into this area last part of Oct. Ever since we have been fighting to get her a social worker. We finally got one to come out about 3 weeks before all this kicked off. He (the social worker) is not even done with the assessment phase yet. He did talk about transitioning into adult services.

Every day that goes by gets worse. It is becoming evident that she is not happy here. I don't even know if she ever was, or if she could ever be happy with us in the future. She is lashing out at me now as well. Honestly we asked social services to see what respite care would entail. We know because of her multiple handicaps she won't be easy to place.

My oldest son and his wife (back in the states) have offered to take her and see if they have any luck. I am not even sure if at this point they would allow us to send her out of the country. Whatever happens, something has to change and soon. Our 3 yr old is acting up horribly, has not managed to sleep all night by his self since this started (and he has done so since birth) He is having horrible nightmares.

I really appreciate everyones kind words. I never in my wildest dreams would have thought we would find ourselves in this situation.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #9 on: January 29, 2012, 02:58:28 PM »
Given your daughter's profound level of disabilities, you should not have had to fight to get her a social work assessment. She has the right to one as a disabled child under section 17 (Child in Need) of the Children Act 1989 and you have the right to ask for one as her carer under the Carers Act.

Social workers start with an Initial Assessment and may go into a Core Assessment if there is a lot of information to collect and people to speak to. Due to the child protection issue, it likely progressed to a section 47 (Children Act) investigation. The social worker should be completing a core assessment. A strategy meeting may be considered and eventually a decision whether this should progress to a Child in Need or Child Protection Plan (used to be called CP register). This would be a tough call to make unless there is evidence that you have not been safeguarding your daughter. The information you provided suggests that you are willing to work with social care services so be assured this is procedure.

Respite (also now called short breaks) care is worth exploring especially as your younger son is affected by her disruptive behaviour. Get CAMHS on board and see if they can get an assessment done of her mental health. I would advise keeping your daughter in the UK so she can benefit from the welfare services.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #10 on: February 01, 2012, 11:45:57 AM »
Again, not from any professional but purely personal experience, I would not send her to your son. Especially with these kind of accusations, you don't want her levelling them at him as well. She needs professional help.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #11 on: February 29, 2012, 09:34:28 PM »
I'm not any kind of expert on this particular subject but my BF has been fighting SS to get his kids back from care all because his mentally unstable ex wife maliciously and falsely accused him of the very same things your daughter is accusing your husband.  It sounds as if the SS caseworker involved in your daughter's case is understanding but someone might decide that all of your children are at risk and decide to take them out of the home.
Feb 2008 met on an online webcom forum
2009 started developing friendship
2010 got accepted to University of Hull
Aug 2011 got student visa
Sept 21, 2011 arrived in Manchester
Jan 23, 2103 visa expired, had to return home
Feb. 2, 2105 complicated divorce is finally granted!
April 20, '15, get hitched


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #12 on: February 29, 2012, 10:30:49 PM »
It sounds as if the SS caseworker involved in your daughter's case is understanding but someone might decide that all of your children are at risk and decide to take them out of the home.

Contrary to popular belief, it is actually very hard to remove a child without parental consent. Even then it is down to the judge to grant a removal order.

Social workers are not in the business to separate families.


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #13 on: February 29, 2012, 10:42:35 PM »
Contrary to popular belief, it is actually very hard to remove a child without parental consent. Even then it is down to the judge to grant a removal order.

Social workers are not in the business to separate families.

The one he's been dealing with hated him and did everything in her power to keep the children from him and reduce his time with his children.  And her supervisor have been unhelpful as well.  We're hoping that this new SS worker will see that he's not a bad man, he is a good father and there's no reason to keep his children away from him any longer... but I have no faith in that.  And it is hard to see the good in a system that has stolen your child from you all due to malicious lies, lies that she admitted to.
Feb 2008 met on an online webcom forum
2009 started developing friendship
2010 got accepted to University of Hull
Aug 2011 got student visa
Sept 21, 2011 arrived in Manchester
Jan 23, 2103 visa expired, had to return home
Feb. 2, 2105 complicated divorce is finally granted!
April 20, '15, get hitched


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Re: CPS, police and investigation...advice needed....so sorry it is long.
« Reply #14 on: March 02, 2012, 01:00:55 AM »
... but I have no faith in that. 

There are complaints procedures for a reason. It doesn't just stop at manager level.


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