As a parent, it will be one of your jobs to watch out for welfare concerns for your children. If you suspect there are any concerns, then there will be steps you can take. This article will go over some of these actions, so continue on to learn more.
Talk To Them Alone
Firstly, if you have any concerns related to your child's welfare, it could be beneficial to talk to them alone. They may open up more to you when away from others, as they will feel more secure and safe talking to you.
It may even be that the issue is related to someone you know that would have been in the room if you had brought it up. Take them somewhere they feel safe too so that when you are talking to them, they are relaxed and comfortable.
Report Concerns
One of the first major steps you should take when it comes to having welfare concerns for your children is to report any issues. The issues could be something such as abuse, which will need immediate action. You shouldn't hesitate when it comes to serious issues like this, and the sooner you act, the sooner your child can be effectively cared for.
You can raise immediate issues to the police, or you can report general welfare concerns to the relevant organisations. This should be your priority, so consider picking up the phone to get started and take your child away from any situation that is negatively affecting their welfare.
Talk To Trustworthy People
You will benefit from having the chance to talk to people who you trust. These people could provide you with useful advice on welfare situations, either from their own experiences or from an outside perspective. They may be able to provide you with wisdom that you hadn't considered.
The people you trust could come in different forms. It could be a lifelong friend, a family member or even a family doctor. Someone who is respectable in your community may also qualify. Of course, you will be more likely to know who this person is, so get in contact with them.
Apply For A Non-Molestation Order
Your family may benefit from applying for a non-molestation order in some more severe cases. This action will be taken if you have a partner who is abusing you or anyone in your family. In essence, if there has been any domestic abuse in some capacity. This could be physical as well as emotional, the point being it is damaging in some way.
The main purpose of a non-molestation order is that the person subjugating your family to abuse will be legally required to stay away. This means that certain actions, even just being close to the family home, could be a part of it. It won't just apply to your family home either, it could be relevant to the workplace too or common places you visit.
You won't be able to apply for a non-molestation order alone. You will need the help of expert family solicitors who can help you navigate the courts. They will be able to find out about the situation between you and the abuser, assessing the evidence. This will help prove to the courts what has been happening and what action needs to be taken.
Not all non-molestation orders will be the same. They will be personalised to your own situation, with the help of local authorities and your solicitor. You should seek a non-molestation order via the National Legal Service, who you can contact via nationallegalservice.co.uk. You can contact these experts to find out more about navigating the courts and how you go about seeking the order.
Of course, your first step should be to use child welfare services and report concerns when there are immediate issues. But once you and your family have been removed from danger straight away, then you can seek legal protection to protect your family in the future.
Use Child Welfare Services
There will be a wide range of child welfare services that can protect your children. There will be charities that provide free services in your local area and organisations that can provide resources and advice for you about your options.
You can view this information online or get in contact for a more direct approach and relevant help. There will be more specialised children's services that can provide specific assistance, so it is worth looking around to find something useful to you and your family.
Don't Assume Anything
Lastly, something dangerous could be to assume something is happening, or not happening, at any time. If you assume everything is fine, you could be missing something hazardous or potentially dangerous to your children.
Likewise, you may assume the worse when everything is fine, leaving your child anxious about a non-situation, which can be a problem. Carefully assess each situation so that you can find out what is truly going on, and don't second guess.
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