8 year old taken in social services blunder


8 year old’s emotional words after she was taken in social services blunder. 01 November 2007 EXCLUSIVE By James Redgrave Source: Essex Enquirer “ I thought I would never see my parents again.” An 8 year ld girl told teachers “ I thought I wouldn’t see my parents again”, after a blunder by social services almost led to her being taken into care. The youngster was taken from her school, after reports of abuse were made by a gym employee at Next Generation Clubs( NGC) I Gidea Park, to Havering Council. Social services also took the parents two sons-aged 2 and 3- and they were forced to live with foster carers for 3 days. The 3 children were then sent to live with their grandparents for a week- and the mother was only allowed a one hour supervised visit, a day. However, following an investigation, the children were returned to the parents. The authority has since apologised to the family after admitting there were ‘discrepancies’ in the report from the gym. The father, a 36 year old plumber from Hornchurch, accused the gym and the council of ‘turning lives upside down’. “ We’ve done nothing wrong, but people make their own minds up and think there’s no smoke without fire”, he told The Enquirer. “ Until it happens, you don’t realise how easy it is to have your children taken away- even now we’re scared social services could come back.” And he found his wife’s career had been damaged by the allegations. “ She’s an auxiliary nurse and this investigation will stay on her record, even though she was found innocent,” he added. And in a school assignment last May, the daughter was asked to produce a first person account describing ‘FEAR’. In it she wrote of “ terror, horror, panting, heart pulsating, shaking and panting” when “ the door burst open” and “ people took me away.” Ruth Jenkins, Head of Children & Families Social Services at Havering Council, wrote to the family and acknowledged ‘ the distress caused by the actions taken’. She added, “ you have clearly outlined the distress and stress caused you personally and to your whole family and I am sorry for this”. The father is demanding an apology from the gym, but instead has been threatened with legal action for sending e-mails of complaint. Ian Harris, of Howard Kennedy, wrote last July “ They ( NGC) do not wish to have any contact from you…..They regard your contact as harassment….If you approach them again, they would ask me to give serious consideration to an application for an injunction against you.” NGC Gidea Park manager, John Marnoch said, he did not believe the father “needs an apology”. An NGC spokesman said “ By raising our concerns about this child, we were following our correct procedures in the interest of the child’s welfare….We take this responsibility extremely seriously and welcome working with the council to ensure our procedures and policies are adequate and appropriate.” Havering Council declined to comment. END A Fassit repersentative has spoken with the parents referred to above, in this case. There is more to this case! What is concerning, is that as parents, we are in the firing line for malicious and false allegations, as we go about our daily lives; without an iota of proof being required. Neither is there any sanction on those who ‘set up’ innocent and vulnerable parents. Those who make false allegations face no investigations or enquiries. They can make as many false and malicious allegations as they wish, cause absolute havoc, destroy families….And all the while social workers smile, take the children away and say……….“ Go on….What are you going to do about it”. Meanwhile, Gordon Brown and his Labour Party cronies, condemn the Burmese Junta, President Putin of Russia and President Rober Mugabe,…… for Human Rights Abuses……. Cherrie Blair waxes lyrical and visits Pakistan… ‘ to bring Human Rights to the women who suffer abuse in that country’. …..But where are the UK Human Rights, to an ordinary family life? And all the while the huge festering scandal in the disreputable Family Courts, has encouraged those with personality flaws and criminal intent, to develop careers and self importance amongst other Guligans; assured that their conduct is concealed from legal scrutiny, accountability and penalties.
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