When Social Workers become involved with your family, as a Mother your instant reaction is one of a "lioness". The very real fear that your children could be taken away if you are found wanting in your parenting capacity can overwhelm everything else.

 

This is where working with "frontline" organisations such as Families In Care during training is vital.

 

A service such as this works to support parents through their involvement with the Care system at a time they are incredibly vulnerable, upset, feeling criticised, confused, angry even in many cases. Their most valuable selling point to a parent? Whilst they adhere to strict safeguarding procedures, ultimately they are NOT Children's Services. They help a parent to work through the feelings that they are having and understand why there may be concerns about their parenting capacity - without judgement. That then has the result that dealing with Children's Services becomes far easier.

In the support I receive from Families In Care, my feelings are validated, I am spoken to in a respectful and non-judgemental manner and at no time do I feel like a "case". To a parent, this is invaluable (...).