Hello a social worker went to my sons school to speak to him but they refused for a teacher to be in the room can they do this?

What was it all about? Where are you located? How old is your son?

What was it all about? Where are you located? How old is your son?

My son is 5 and there is no valid reason that they are investigating me they originally came round because I was on anti-depressants they have had nothing to moan about but they now want to take me to court because they thing my son is being abused.

You say there is no valid reason to investigate you, yet you say you are on anti-depressants. They generally do not open an investigation unless they receive a complaint. And then they are required to follow up on the complaint.

Because they are supposedly trained in dealing with children they may have had the right to question your child alone. Without knowing the specific rules for the agency in your area, we can't say.

If you feel you are being harassed, you can consult an attorney to help you. If there is no abuse for them to find, then let them complete their investigation.

Do they need proof though this is what is worrying me as I don't want to loose my children just because of something they have assumed

Someone reported you to social services. As a teacher, I am a mandatory reporter. Abuse takes place in different forms: emotional, physical, drugs, etc. A social worker's job is to investigate the abuse allegations. If they are unfounded, there will be no case. If you are going to court, they must have decided there is enough evidence.
Teachers are never allowed to sit in when a social worker is interviewing a student. We are reporters, period. We do not investigate and are not allowed to attend any subsequent meetings. A school nurse can attend, but not the teacher.

Do they need proof though this is what is worrying me as i dont want to loose my children just because of something they have assumed

They don't need proof to investigate. If the complaint is credible then they need to protect the child. But they will need proof to remove your child from your care.

If they are taking you to Court ("they now want to take me to court because they thing my son is being abused.") the investigation is over.

If you have actually received a court summons, then you need to get an attorney.

Well no not really as they haven't even been in touch with my doctors surgery for medical records which is obviously the first thing they wouldve done

I have not received a court summons but the social worked has said they are starting legal proceedings. The school has no concerns about my son and I have not been told anything as to what exactly there concerns are they just said they are worried that the kids might be getting hurt. But my children have never had any unusual injuries.

I have not received a court summons but the social worked has said they are starting legal proceedings. The school has no concerns about my son and i have not been told anything as to what exactly there concerns are they just said they are worried that the kids might be getting hurt. But my children have never had any unusual injuries.

I wouldn't be worried about it until you get a court summons. The case worker may just have been trying to intimidate you. But if you do, I would then consult with an attorney.

I have not received a court summons but the social worked has said they are starting legal proceedings. The school has no concerns about my son and i have not been told anything as to what exactly there concerns are they just said they are worried that the kids might be getting hurt. But my children have never had any unusual injuries.

Make sure you click on the reply button so we know who you are responding to. The school may have concerns. It is private if they do. Someone, somewhere is concerned about the well-being of your children. Social services can never tell you who made the initial report. It could be a teacher, family member, neighbor, or even your doctor. Remember, not all abuse is visible.

Is your behavior in general or toward your chldren during our bouts of depression a concern of the Court?

Where is their father in this scenario?

If the social worker is, in fact, threatening you - and I have no way of knowing how she told you Court papers are being prepared - you might have an action to at least stop that conversation. On the other hand, would you rather be surprised by being handed papers?

How do you know your children did not report abuse, didn't say they are suffering some type of abuse or neglect? Did you question them yourself, have a trained social worker question them, something else?

Starting legal proceedings means nothing until they actually do something. What that can mean is that they het access to records or a search warrant for your home to check on allegations if your not cooperating with them. What you need to start doing now is find a lawyer. Be prepared for action against you.

It was my Councillor that got in contact with them as he had to by law because my husband is on anti-depressants as well. But there was nothing mentioned about violence

Who said you committed a violent act(s) against your children? It could be emotional abuse, negligence, anything along those lines.

Taking anti-depressants doesn't cause therapists and physicians to notify child protective services and/or school counselors. Something else had to happen.

I thought the school called protective services. There was a whole discussion about why they did. Now a counselor called chld protective services?

Or did both call?

No I said the school had no concerns the Councillor did because he was worried about my husbands mental state no one phoned them saying my kids are being abused this is just what they have assumed

Let's start again - what exactly was the counsellor's concern? It thought you said you were on anti-depressants, and that's why a social worker was notified.

But it's not you, it's your husband who is the concern?

My husband but they haven't given me any other options they have just said they are taking me to court surely can they do that?

No i said the school had no concerns the Councillor did because he was worried about my husbands mental state no one phoned them saying my kids are being abused this is just what they have assumed

So you knew from the start what started the investigation? And you didn't think that information would help us help you?

So now what do you want to do? I think you need an attorney.

My husband but they havn't given me any other options they have just said they are taking me to court surely can they do that?

If they feel the child is in danger, of course they can. Again, you need to consult an attorney.

If you go to Court I'd try to tell one story - this, your first post, the post everyone took the time to answers, is apparently not the truth - "they originally came round because i was on anti-depressants"

Well I only wanted to know if they could speak to my son alone that is all I asked

Yes, they can - and have. Circumstances, of course, do matter or no one would have asked you.

well i only wanted to know if they could speak to my son alone that is all i asked

Yes, but the circumstances of why they needed to talk to him do matter, so we needed the info. Also this site is a bit different from other Q&A sites in that we try to provide solutions more than just plain answers.