Family Can I Change My Social Worker?

The simple answer to this is no!

You probably do not have a Social Worker. Unless you are a young parent in Care or have a serious disability or learning disability, then you will not have your own Social Worker. The Social Worker in the Care Proceedings will be your child’s Social Worker.

Many parents do not have an easy relationship with their child’s Social Worker as Care Proceedings are incredibly stressful for parents. It is almost inevitable parents will be criticised in some way by the Local Authority and Social Workers have a very difficult job to do. It is part of their job to say unpleasant things to parents. Will it really make any difference if it is someone else? Will they say anything different? Think about why you are not getting along.

You do not have the right to demand that your child’s Social Worker is changed because you do not like them. In UK Family Law the Court has no power to force the Local Authority to change the Social Worker. You can request a change but in my experience a change is unlikely. If you succeed in getting a new Social Worker this will be another change for your child which is not necessarily good for them. If you do wish to request a change of Social Worker for your child then you should speak to the Social Worker first and then to their Team Manager. It is best to put a formal request for a change in writing, either a letter or email and you should keep a copy.

Generally my advice is to cooperate with the Social Worker. You probably will not like them or get on well with them but you should try to establish a working relationship with them.

Very often you will be judged by the Social Worker and also the Court, on your ability to be open and honest. So, bite your tongue and sit on your hands if necessary and try to speak regularly with the Social Worker, focussing your conversations on your child.

Jo Taylor
October 2016