The police have been told to downgrade calls about mental health emergencies. LINK
This is part of a trend. All public authorities are cash strapped. They are having to cut back and often eliminate expenditures on things that they are not legally obliged to provide. They are often unable to fulfil even those properly.
The police are an example. Their concern is with crime. One service our people often use is to ask them to make a ‘welfare check’ on children when there are concerns about the well-being. When for instance a child of one of our people has simply disappeared. The report we get back is often no more than the child is safe and well. But there was a risk otherwise, though not necessarily of a crime.
Is this under threat? If so, a stink should be made.
SOCIAL SERVICES
Three cases in one branch in one day. Two emergency referrals to social services where there appeared to be a child at risk of ‘significant harm’, simply not responded to, not even a phone call.
At the branch meeting that night. A member produced a CAFCASS ‘safeguarding letter’. In our opinion it should include if anything is known or been alleged for the first court hearing to consider. It should include checks with the police and social services whether they had any information. This safeguarding letter said that CAFCASS had had no response from social services. Let’s hope this was an interim letter with this caveat as it could not be delayed any longer.
How frequently are things like this now happening?
What do you think?
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