Welcome to the DAD.Info forum: Important Information – open to read:
Our forum aims to provide support and guidance where it can, however we may not always have the answer. The forum is not moderated 24 hours a day, so If you – or someone you know – are being harmed or in immediate danger of being harmed, call the police on 999.
Alternatively, if you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123.
If you are worried about you or someone you know is at risk of harm, please click here: How we can help
I had contact with my daughter today (24th April 11) and ended up taking her to the Hospital.
My daughter was brought by her mum who was not too well in herself. I took my daughter in and my new partner noticed some dry cloggy food down the right side of her face and in her hair. I was going to run a bath for her, when I noticed a bad burse on her left leg. Then noticed her left thumb was twice the size it should be and red, their was a scab over a sore.
Not happy and seeing my daughter was in discomfort I took her to the Hospital to have it checked out. On arrival a nurse took some details, I stated I was worried about my daughter. After taking about my concerns and mentioning that her mum was not well and suffers from depression all I wished for was for my daughter to be checked. The nurse said she had to report this to social services. As I was not the main parent with care.
A doctor did look at my daughter and did say she was not happy when he touched her thumb and it was infected. There was no need at that time for any antibiotics.
This is where it all went wrong. I had already sent my daughter mum a text to say I was at the hospital and why. Then social services called my number to talk to my daughters mum. I had to provide them with her number.
My daughters mum turned up at the hospital, asked to talk to the nurse. Myself, the nurse and my daughters mum was taken into a room. My partner then saying I was dangerous, that I was twisting everything. That the social worker was more worried I had taken my daughter to hospital on a hot day like today.
My contact was cut short and my daughter was taken home by her mum.
I feel I did not do anything wrong, that being a concerned parent with care I only had my daughter interest at heart. I do feel Social Services acted totally unreasonable and should have spoken to myself first about my concerned before talking to her mum.
Would be nice to hear if I had done wrong in this case or if social services acted unreasonable.
Thanks in advance
Hi,
Did the social services tell you directly that they were concerned you had taken your daughter to the hospital, or did you get this message via your ex? It just sounds very surprising for the SS to come up with this 'excuse'. In my opinion, you did everything that a concerned father should have done. I would speak to social services to get an explanation from them, and I'd contact the Children's Legal Centre (not sure what their hours are over the extended bank holidays) to see what you should do next
I thought I would post this update. I had a letter sent to my solicitor for hers. Saying that the overnight contact was not going to take place this weekend, only the normal Contact. Saturday 10 -5 and Sunday 10 – 4. That the events last weekend left my daughter upset and it took her mother over an hour to settle her down. When I left my daughter was not in any way upset.
I got an email mail from my daughter’s mother saying the drop off and pick up location is to change and I am only having her this Sunday. I do not drive and have to use public transport. It will take me over 2 hours to get to this new location by busses. The last time we were in court a Judge presiding stated contact is to say as is. The previous time in court the contact arrangements were written down in a prohibits steps order. My daughters mother will bring her to my local Tesco for me pick her up from I will pay £10 for petrol.
This is all because I took my daughter to the hospital last weekend. She is saying she has to protect her. I am at my wits end worried about all this. I feel I am being controlled as she did in our relationship.
My understanding is, if it has been agreed in court what the contact agreements are and this is noted down on paper and agreed by a judge even if this is stated in a prohibits steps order it is also a contact order. Am I right?
Thanks again.
I'd check this with the Childrens Legal Centre. What reason did her solicitor give for a change in the contact? Neither he, nor your ex can vary the contact from the contact order as it's contempt of court. If the solicitor has said that they are intending to go for a variation in the contact order, then they could probably justify to court restricting the contact until the court hearing, but unless her solicitor has said that they are applying for a variation, then they can't simply go against the order. You definitely need legal advice on the steps you need to take now.
Welcome to the DAD.info forum.
We don’t like to set ‘rules’, but to make sure that you and the other dads are kept safe, we have some requests. When engaging with the forum, please be aware of the following:
- The forum is not moderated 24 hours per day.
- Many of the moderators do so on a voluntary basis. Whilst they may be able to provide some guidance, advice or support, they may not be able to deal with specifics.
- We are not an emergency crisis service so if you or someone else is in immediate danger, please call emergency services.
- If you are concerned about the safety of a child, please click here to find the support you can get for them (link to new page)
- If you are in crisis, please call Samaritans on 116 123. They are open 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
We hope you find this forum a supportive environment and thank you for joining us.