Social Services
We know from Traveller parents who contact us that there is a lot of anxiety and fear about Social Services (or Children’s Services).
Children’s social workers can help parents who have children with disabilities and other additional needs. Where there is a risk of harm, a social worker may introduce a child protection plan. It is important for parents to work with their social worker to follow this plan and if there are any problems with the plan these problems must be explained to the social worker. In this section, we will look at how to work with social workers and what you can do if you feel discriminated against and want to file a complaint.
If you have been visited by a social worker, you may be feeling worried and unsure what to do next.
What is social services?
Social services means a lot of different things to different people. It includes ‘adult social care’, which is the support provided to adults with physical or learning disabilities, or physical or mental illnesses. There are ‘Family Social Workers’ who support individuals and their families through difficult times and ensure that vulnerable people, including children and adults, are safeguarded from harm. This could look like mental health support for your child or support with your child’s Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND). ‘Child welfare social workers’ exist to support your family to make sure your children are safe from harm.
Listen to a Traveller Social Worker talk about what social workers do
Adult Social Care
Adult social care is the care and support for adults who need extra help to manage their lives and be independent – including older people, people with a disability or long-term illness, people with mental health problems, and carers. Adult social care includes assessment of your needs, provision of services or allocation of funds to enable you to purchase your own care and support. It includes residential care, home care, personal assistants, day services, the provision of aids and adaptations and personal budgets.
Family Social Workers
Many children, at some time, will have special educational needs of some kind. If your child struggles at school, they may have special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
SEND is a term used to describe learning difficulties or disabilities that make it harder for a child to learn compared to children of the same age. If you need support with your child’s education, we have an education section on our website and a Traveller Movement education caseworker who may be able to help.
Child Welfare Social Workers
While most parents want to do what is best for their families, they cannot always do it alone.
Child welfare social workers specialise in building upon the strengths within a family and their community to help provide a safe and loving environment for their children.
However, in some instances, social workers must intervene to protect children from harm.
Family Rights Group answers your questions
In this section, we have a series of videos from Family Rights Group answering the common questions we hear from the women we support:
Who is Family Rights Group? (watch video)
My partner has told me the children will be taken if I report the abuse. Is this true?
A social worker has contacted me about domestic abuse – what can I do?
Could my children be removed from me?
If my partner promises not to be abusive, can I let him back into the home?
Listen to a Traveller Social Worker
Click on the question below to hear a Traveller social worker’s response:
Can a social worker remove a child from the home for no reason?
What are the reasons for social worker involvement?
Can a social worker help me and my family?
When can a child be removed from the home?
