0:00:02 > 0:00:05This programme contains some strong language.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07# Twinkle twinkle little star
0:00:07 > 0:00:09# How I wonder what you are
0:00:09 > 0:00:13# Up above the world so high
0:00:13 > 0:00:16# Like a diamond in the sky
0:00:16 > 0:00:20# Twinkle twinkle little star
0:00:20 > 0:00:23# How I wonder what you are. #
0:00:25 > 0:00:27(A little star!)
0:00:31 > 0:00:34The hardest dilemma facing social workers
0:00:34 > 0:00:37is whether a child should be removed from its parents.
0:00:37 > 0:00:40Sometimes, that decision must be made
0:00:40 > 0:00:42before the child draws its very first breath.
0:00:46 > 0:00:49Annie is a social worker in Bristol.
0:00:49 > 0:00:53She has a particular responsibility for protecting unborn children.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57She's going to see a couple who lead chaotic lives.
0:00:57 > 0:01:00Violence and alcohol have contributed
0:01:00 > 0:01:04to their three children being removed at birth.
0:01:05 > 0:01:09Now, a fourth is on its way.
0:01:10 > 0:01:12Other people have worked with them before
0:01:12 > 0:01:16and so we've got a bit of an understanding of the risks involved.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18I know that we need to visit the home
0:01:18 > 0:01:21with two security officers at all times
0:01:21 > 0:01:25and we'll just be making sure that they're aware that we're coming,
0:01:25 > 0:01:29so that they've planned appointments and to get some gauge
0:01:29 > 0:01:31on what their presentation is like,
0:01:31 > 0:01:34how drunk they might be or not, before we arrive.
0:01:38 > 0:01:41There's always a certain anxiety, really.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50# Close enough to start a war
0:01:50 > 0:01:56# All that I have is on the floor
0:01:58 > 0:02:02# God only knows what we're fighting for
0:02:02 > 0:02:05# All that I say
0:02:05 > 0:02:09# You always say more... #
0:02:09 > 0:02:11Are you all right if I perch on the end of here?
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Cos I need to write stuff down, so, can I sit on the edge?
0:02:14 > 0:02:17What, are you going to actually talk to her?
0:02:17 > 0:02:19Come and sit down here with me.
0:02:19 > 0:02:22Yeah, you guys can sit. I'll just stand, I'm all right(!)
0:02:22 > 0:02:26I'm going to write stuff down, so that I can get all the names and everything.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Let's start at the beginning, then.
0:02:31 > 0:02:34So, who have you got supporting you at the moment?
0:02:34 > 0:02:38- Gino from Newroads?- Right...- Gino.
0:02:38 > 0:02:43Marva is 23 years old. She's 20 weeks pregnant.
0:02:43 > 0:02:46- What's your number?- It's 01179244...
0:02:46 > 0:02:50Shaun has a history of criminal violence.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53He's had seven children removed in all.
0:02:53 > 0:02:54- DOG BARKS - Shh!
0:02:57 > 0:03:01So, when is this baby due? I know you told me the last time...
0:03:01 > 0:03:04- It's March, isn't it?- 14th April.
0:03:04 > 0:03:08- Do you know how often you need to go for an antenatal appointment?- No.
0:03:08 > 0:03:12- So at the moment, it's probably not that frequently, is it?- No.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16- As your pregnancy goes on, they'll want to see you more often.- Yeah.
0:03:16 > 0:03:22There's people who's lost their kids for no reason at all, like me.
0:03:22 > 0:03:24I've done nothing.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27I've been child abused when I was a kid, I've been hurt,
0:03:27 > 0:03:28but I'm still fighting it.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31I'm grown-up, I'm 29 years of age
0:03:31 > 0:03:34and I'm going to pull myself out of my grief
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and pull my head out of my ass and I'm going to get myself together
0:03:37 > 0:03:41look after my fiancee, myself
0:03:41 > 0:03:44and my puppy as well as the baby.
0:03:44 > 0:03:48I mean, like, we've got these people here, security guards.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51It's like I'm some kind of animal, you know?
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I ain't done nothing wrong.
0:03:53 > 0:03:57I mean, like, when my babies were born at Southmead,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00I mean literally, you know,
0:04:00 > 0:04:02two officers just walked in.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05Even up till now, I'm not allowed to touch my kids.
0:04:05 > 0:04:06I don't understand why.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10I'm a good person. Marva's a good person.
0:04:10 > 0:04:14It's gave her the baby blues and also, it's still ripped us up.
0:04:14 > 0:04:18Marva's never took medication, she's never took drugs.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22Marva is a depressant person but she has got a lot of love.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25Good boy.
0:04:25 > 0:04:26DOG SNARLS
0:04:26 > 0:04:29Good boy! Good boy!
0:04:29 > 0:04:30Billy! Billy!
0:04:32 > 0:04:34This is a good dog.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36DOG SNARLS
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Doesn't like social workers, you get me?
0:04:39 > 0:04:44And how are you feeling? Do you think you might be a bit depressed?
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Yeah. I'm always down and grumpy.
0:04:48 > 0:04:52So, how are you feeling about the drinking?
0:04:52 > 0:04:55- Was happening with drinking with you? - Not too bad. I feel all right.
0:04:55 > 0:05:00You've stopped all the alcohol as well at the same time that Shaun did?
0:05:00 > 0:05:03- So, are you able to not drink if he doesn't drink?- Yeah.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06- And if he drinks, then... is that quite hard to stop?- Yeah.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09OK, so we need to keep Shaun encouraged.
0:05:09 > 0:05:11DOG BARKS
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Sorry, sorry.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Get in, good boy.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20Cool. It's all cool.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23DOG CLAWS DOOR
0:05:23 > 0:05:26Billy, no!
0:05:28 > 0:05:32To start off with, it's very much about building relationships,
0:05:32 > 0:05:36trying to be supportive, offer them the things that they need.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41How they manage their housing, their money, their relationship.
0:05:41 > 0:05:44If there's any more violence in their own relationship,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47whether they can be calm, stable people,
0:05:47 > 0:05:52whether they can provide a suitable home environment for a child.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58The dog is another big issue. What will they do with the dog?
0:05:58 > 0:06:03That dog doesn't look like a dog that you'd have with a small baby, really.
0:06:03 > 0:06:05And certainly in the past,
0:06:05 > 0:06:08they haven't been able to provide
0:06:08 > 0:06:12even the most basic of care for themselves,
0:06:12 > 0:06:14let alone for anybody else.
0:06:23 > 0:06:25OPERA MUSIC
0:06:34 > 0:06:36My first contact with them
0:06:36 > 0:06:42was I walked with the allocated social worker through Frenchay woods
0:06:42 > 0:06:45on a snowy, muddy day.
0:06:45 > 0:06:51They were living in a tent at the top of a slope
0:06:51 > 0:06:55and it defies belief in this day and age,
0:06:55 > 0:06:58but what had happened was
0:06:58 > 0:07:01that the couple had just been disconnected
0:07:01 > 0:07:05and isolated from the norms of society.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09Marva clearly had some mental health issues
0:07:09 > 0:07:15and Shaun was very, very poorly and disengaging with all services.
0:07:15 > 0:07:18That social worker then had lots of meetings
0:07:18 > 0:07:22to try and provide adult services, mental health services,
0:07:22 > 0:07:25but they clearly were not available and not suitable.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Shaun would not engage.
0:07:27 > 0:07:29It was very difficult
0:07:29 > 0:07:34because the couple had a tendency to become angry
0:07:34 > 0:07:40or Shaun would become angry and Marva was inseparable from Shaun,
0:07:40 > 0:07:45so when people tried to take on board assessments of her
0:07:45 > 0:07:47and gain her separate view,
0:07:47 > 0:07:50she would always want Shaun to be present
0:07:50 > 0:07:56and was worried about saying things that Shaun may not agree with.
0:08:05 > 0:08:10Now, Annie's responsible for Shaun and Marva's unborn child....
0:08:10 > 0:08:13One of 14 cases on her books.
0:08:16 > 0:08:19OK, I'm just going into supervision now.
0:08:19 > 0:08:23OK, I have just this minute had a phone call
0:08:23 > 0:08:27from the emergency department at the BRI
0:08:27 > 0:08:29to said that Marva's been admitted,
0:08:29 > 0:08:33having taken an overdose last night of diazepam on top of some alcohol.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36I was aware that she was in a low mood
0:08:36 > 0:08:38but this is a bit of a shock, really.
0:08:38 > 0:08:41I didn't know that she was in that low a mood.
0:08:41 > 0:08:44Apparently she did try and take an overdose when she was about 10
0:08:44 > 0:08:46but hasn't since then.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50She has made moves to be separate from him at times
0:08:50 > 0:08:56but it's what that means in their relationship and her plans.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01Has there been any indication from health professionals
0:09:01 > 0:09:04that there's a risk to the baby?
0:09:04 > 0:09:07I know that diazepam isn't recommended during pregnancy
0:09:07 > 0:09:09and obviously, alcohol isn't either.
0:09:09 > 0:09:13I think one thing that's different during this pregnancy is that
0:09:13 > 0:09:16Marva has presented to professionals intoxicated
0:09:16 > 0:09:18on a number of occasions
0:09:18 > 0:09:20and from my understanding, previously,
0:09:20 > 0:09:23she was sober when she met with professionals.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28- So, that has been a difference throughout this pregnancy.- Yeah.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40A week later, Marva's in another emergency.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Marva was arrested for breach of the peace and taken into custody
0:09:51 > 0:09:54and she was kept in police cells overnight
0:09:54 > 0:09:56and then released yesterday morning.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59They were very worried.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01The arresting officer reported that
0:10:01 > 0:10:03the house was in a very poor condition
0:10:03 > 0:10:07with rubbish bags strewn about and no furniture
0:10:07 > 0:10:10and in a real state and also,
0:10:10 > 0:10:13Marva was quite unwashed
0:10:13 > 0:10:17and her clothing was grubby and stained with alcohol and vomit.
0:10:19 > 0:10:25She was clearly very intoxicated and is now about 28 weeks pregnant.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32The paperwork says there's a dog that is vicious.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36Shaun had the dog on a lead and had it under control.
0:10:37 > 0:10:42The neighbours have reported to the housing office that
0:10:42 > 0:10:45they've heard him training the dog to attack and kill.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Shaun, are you listening to this?
0:10:47 > 0:10:50If it gets hairy, mate, we just don't go in.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54As I say, they might not be here,
0:10:54 > 0:10:58they might not answer the door.
0:11:05 > 0:11:08I did try to phone, but the phone was switched off.
0:11:10 > 0:11:12They might not even be here.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19- Hi, Shaun. Are you all right for me to do a quick visit?- Not a good time.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23- Not a good time?- You want to come in? - Can I? Is that all right?
0:11:23 > 0:11:25Crazy state, yeah? Come in here, you, yeah?
0:11:25 > 0:11:30- And I've got the BBC here with me. - And a crew? Oh, for fuck's sake.
0:11:30 > 0:11:33You're out to catch me on a real good day.
0:11:33 > 0:11:34Where's the dog?
0:11:34 > 0:11:36- I ain't got a dog.- The dog's gone?
0:11:36 > 0:11:38- I ain't got room.- Oh.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42- How you doing, Marva?- All right.
0:11:42 > 0:11:45What happened with the police, then?
0:11:45 > 0:11:50- Drink.- She's been drinking a lot of cider. She needs help.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54That's the truth, sweetheart. By the way, right, I want a word with you.
0:11:54 > 0:11:56- Can I discuss something with you, yeah?- Mm-hm?
0:11:56 > 0:12:00You're actually taking my kids away from me, that's what Marva told me.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Well, it's about how you would provide for your children.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12I'd not harm my fucking kids. All right, yeah?
0:12:12 > 0:12:16I would never harm my kids. I don't care what anybody says, yeah?
0:12:16 > 0:12:19At the end of the day, I sticks up for Marva, I loves her,
0:12:19 > 0:12:21I looks after her, OK?
0:12:21 > 0:12:24And this is what it brings me. She brings me to drink, right, yeah?
0:12:24 > 0:12:27But I do love her, and I care about her but you know what?
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I just want to leave her, and that's the truth.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32She's six months pregnant with my child, right, yeah?
0:12:32 > 0:12:36I'll be honest with you, yeah, six months pregnant, right,
0:12:36 > 0:12:39and I don't know if I can go through it again, man, you know?
0:12:44 > 0:12:48Like, listen right, because I have had abuse in life,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51it don't mean like I'm going to do it to my children,
0:12:51 > 0:12:53cos I'd never hurt my children, yeah?
0:12:53 > 0:12:57I'm a man, right, yet? I want to buy my kids quad bikes.
0:12:57 > 0:13:00I want to buy my kids a scrambler, you know?
0:13:00 > 0:13:02Man, I will be honest with you right, yeah,
0:13:02 > 0:13:05I can't even work because I'm so fucked up in the head, right, yeah?
0:13:05 > 0:13:08I have given up drink for a couple of months, yeah?
0:13:08 > 0:13:09Now I'm binge drinking.
0:13:09 > 0:13:11It's nothing to be proud about, yeah?
0:13:11 > 0:13:13It's just to wash my feelings away
0:13:13 > 0:13:17but when you wake up the next morning, it's still there.
0:13:17 > 0:13:19It's still there, man.
0:13:22 > 0:13:27I had a fucking shit Christmas. I don't mean to swear, yeah?
0:13:27 > 0:13:30Marva said she didn't drink over Christmas and New Year?
0:13:30 > 0:13:32- Is that right? - That's true. That is true.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35So, how come you were able to not drink then?
0:13:35 > 0:13:38Cos I had to give up. I wanted to be strong for my brother.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40- Right.- You know?
0:13:40 > 0:13:44So, can you try and be strong for Marva and the baby?
0:13:44 > 0:13:47- Annie, it's not that easy... - I know it isn't.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I'm telling her every fricking day, I'm telling her.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53I think the best thing that you could do at the minute
0:13:53 > 0:13:56is to try and cut down on the drink, because I don't think...
0:13:56 > 0:13:58- You're having a laugh, love.- I know.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01But I know that you can do it for periods of time
0:14:01 > 0:14:02because you do, don't you?
0:14:17 > 0:14:20Marva's sitting there, chain-smoking,
0:14:20 > 0:14:23stubbing out cigarettes on the floor.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26She's got the cigarette stubs in her shoes.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29It's really difficult to know what can be done for them.
0:14:32 > 0:14:36The fact that he's bought these tents is worrying as well because I think
0:14:36 > 0:14:40he could disappear at any time, they could disappear at any time.
0:14:42 > 0:14:47You do wonder whether you're actually causing more distress
0:14:47 > 0:14:51by just being there and then that immediately brings
0:14:51 > 0:14:57the association of children that have been lost and the emotional impact.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59That's a bit of a worry, really.
0:14:59 > 0:15:01Has it actually done more harm than good?
0:15:01 > 0:15:03Are they now going to drink even more
0:15:03 > 0:15:07because they're upset because I've been round?
0:15:09 > 0:15:13So, it's trying to get a balance between completing an assessment,
0:15:13 > 0:15:16having accurate information for me to present to court,
0:15:16 > 0:15:21in order to be able to protect the child, which is my role,
0:15:21 > 0:15:24or is it actually making it worse?
0:15:37 > 0:15:41That night, Marva takes an overdose of 64 paracetamol.
0:15:43 > 0:15:46# Sandpaper kisses
0:15:46 > 0:15:49# Paper cut bliss
0:15:49 > 0:15:51# Don't know what this is
0:15:51 > 0:15:54# But it all leads to this
0:15:54 > 0:15:59# You're gonna leave... #
0:15:59 > 0:16:03Two days later, Marva makes a decision no-one expects.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11She breaks up with Shaun after nearly four years together.
0:16:11 > 0:16:13For the first time,
0:16:13 > 0:16:17Annie and Arthur see a chance for Marva to keep her baby.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20- How you today?- Not too bad.
0:16:20 > 0:16:24- Did you sleep OK?- Not too bad.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27- A bit better than the night before? - Yeah, sort of.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32OK, so Marva, we're hearing that you've made some big changes.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36Having known you for quite a few years now
0:16:36 > 0:16:39you and Shaun were previously unseparable.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42Just to have a conversation with you in a different room
0:16:42 > 0:16:45was difficult - Shaun would have to come too.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48So, the changes, the choices you have made are quite big
0:16:48 > 0:16:50and we know that, we recognise that.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Now, do we believe you would be able to
0:16:54 > 0:16:58appropriately care for a child, safely?
0:17:00 > 0:17:02Meet their needs on a daily basis?
0:17:03 > 0:17:06Those are questions we're going to be asking of you.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10That's what Annie's assessment will be looking at.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15What do you think about that?
0:17:15 > 0:17:19- I don't know.- You don't know? It's big stuff, isn't it?- Yeah.
0:17:19 > 0:17:25- And it's very different from what's happened in the past.- Yeah.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28What do you hope happens in the future?
0:17:28 > 0:17:33- I have a nice place, have the baby and just be happy.- Yeah?
0:17:33 > 0:17:36- And stay away from Shaun. - Stay away from Shaun.
0:17:36 > 0:17:39So, is Shaun the only thing that would worry us?
0:17:39 > 0:17:41You getting together with Shaun,
0:17:41 > 0:17:45- is that the only thing that would worry us? I- don't know.
0:17:45 > 0:17:51- What's one of the things that you don't want to start doing again? - No drinking.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57Marva agrees to move to a women's refuge -
0:17:57 > 0:18:00a dry house in a secret location.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08There was something bubbling up in her yesterday,
0:18:08 > 0:18:11a strength of character
0:18:11 > 0:18:14and a determination that I haven't been able to see before
0:18:14 > 0:18:18and I don't know if it's been that obvious in the previous pregnancies.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20It's not something that...
0:18:20 > 0:18:25I can see incrementally, for her, there has been progression.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28The first time I met them, living in the words in the Frenchay,
0:18:28 > 0:18:32in that cold tent, with snow on the ground, slipping and sliding.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Second time, more established in this house.
0:18:36 > 0:18:38You know, we just see where we go from here.
0:18:40 > 0:18:45I mean, it is very early days, but I think my assessment really
0:18:45 > 0:18:49can begin in a way, of her and her abilities to look after herself,
0:18:49 > 0:18:53to manage a tenancy, to manage being in a shared home.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Managing finances,
0:18:55 > 0:18:59daily living skills, food, shopping, hygiene,
0:18:59 > 0:19:04all of the real basic stuff that we haven't been able to test before,
0:19:04 > 0:19:06with a view to then, OK, well if she's successful,
0:19:06 > 0:19:09we've got about eight weeks before the baby's born.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12So, I do think we need to think about
0:19:12 > 0:19:16keeping the baby with her as a genuine possibility.
0:19:16 > 0:19:20OK. What does it feel like this piece of work, right now?
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Well, I'm really excited!
0:19:22 > 0:19:25You're very different to how you were this time last week.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- Very different.- Yes.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31I mean, it felt so incredibly hopeless.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33But I do feel quite hopeful.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36This seems very, very different than it was, so, you know, probably
0:19:36 > 0:19:40I'm going to be on a bit of an emotional up and down with it all.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46But that's OK, I can do that.
0:20:09 > 0:20:11She's got another one as well.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14She was taken into the emergency department,
0:20:14 > 0:20:17and then they transferred her up to one of the antenatal wards.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20- Is she still at the hospital? - No, she's now not at the hospital.
0:20:20 > 0:20:23She was saying she didn't want to come back here,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25so she's worked with housing and me,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27and we've found her somewhere else to stay.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30So she's absolutely fine. She's not been arrested.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33She's not been drinking for the last couple of days,
0:20:33 > 0:20:36and she's in a reasonable place.
0:20:36 > 0:20:39Like I said before, regardless of my heart,
0:20:39 > 0:20:41I just want the best for the babies.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46And I mean, like, I hope Marva does the best for herself.
0:20:46 > 0:20:51I do want to talk to her. I still want contact. You've got to think,
0:20:51 > 0:20:56like, she is the mother of my child - well, four kids.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58That's partly why we're here,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00because we very much want to keep you involved.
0:21:00 > 0:21:06- You're the dad. - We want to bring you up to date
0:21:06 > 0:21:09and make sure that you're involved in the plans for baby, OK?
0:21:09 > 0:21:12You're Dad, and you have a right
0:21:12 > 0:21:16to know what's going on in respect of the baby.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18You've got responsibilities for the children,
0:21:18 > 0:21:22and you've got responsibilities for this child.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26Trust me, I love my kids, but it's just a lot of stress.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28OK. There were four, all right?
0:21:28 > 0:21:32I was the team manager, and we were talking about the twins,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36- with Sonia involved. - Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.
0:21:36 > 0:21:37I was the team manager
0:21:37 > 0:21:42while we were involved with the social work involvement.
0:21:42 > 0:21:44I am now the team manager with Annie, OK?
0:21:44 > 0:21:48So all your children that you've had with Marva...
0:21:48 > 0:21:51- Where's Marva based? - We can't tell you that, all right?
0:21:51 > 0:21:53I mean the hospital.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57We'll come to that in a minute. Let's talk about the baby.
0:21:57 > 0:22:01I know about my baby. I love my baby, but do you have to put up
0:22:01 > 0:22:05with the mother swallowing tablets, the lot - no.
0:22:05 > 0:22:07You are in one place all the time.
0:22:07 > 0:22:09Don't come to my house disputing about babies
0:22:09 > 0:22:12and saying I don't know about babies,
0:22:12 > 0:22:14because I have brought up my own kids, OK?
0:22:14 > 0:22:17And they've been with their uncles and aunties,
0:22:17 > 0:22:19and now it's getting BLEEP.
0:22:19 > 0:22:22Don't you tell me I don't know how to even be a father,
0:22:22 > 0:22:23because I can be a father.
0:22:23 > 0:22:25I haven't disputed...
0:22:25 > 0:22:27My kids got taken away from me.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30I'm sorry, but I had a big bad bringing up life.
0:22:30 > 0:22:34- We need to work with you. - Do you have kids?- Yes, I do.
0:22:34 > 0:22:36But we're talking about your children,
0:22:36 > 0:22:38your child that's expected now.
0:22:38 > 0:22:42We want to involve you in the plans for your child.
0:22:42 > 0:22:44I just want to see Marva and have a chat with her, like.
0:22:44 > 0:22:47I don't think Marva wants to see you,
0:22:47 > 0:22:49because she has a choice about that.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Marva's baby is due in just eight weeks.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06- How are things going here?- Good.
0:23:06 > 0:23:08It's so lovely to see you smiling.
0:23:08 > 0:23:13- Good.- Did you go to the cinema? - Yeah.- What did you see?- The Fighter.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15The Fighter. Was it good?
0:23:15 > 0:23:19It was good, actually, but it was mainly about crackheads!
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Oh. Well, that was ironic, then.
0:23:22 > 0:23:26- How are you getting on with the not drinking?- Good.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29Because obviously, you're not. Any cravings?
0:23:29 > 0:23:31Any "Oh, I could really do with a..."?
0:23:31 > 0:23:36No. Only when I'm shopping and you see it right in front,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38you're like "Oh, I want that".
0:23:38 > 0:23:44- But I tore myself away.- And how are you feeling about not seeing Shaun?
0:23:44 > 0:23:45Good.
0:23:45 > 0:23:49- So that's working well for you. - Yeah. It's good.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54OK. Shaun has spoken to me on the phone several times.
0:23:54 > 0:24:00- And he said that he's looking after himself.- That's good.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02And he has got a phone number,
0:24:02 > 0:24:06and he wanted me to ask you if you would like his phone number.
0:24:07 > 0:24:12And he has said he would like you to phone. I have to tell you that.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17- At the moment, my recommendation... - No.
0:24:17 > 0:24:23..would be, I don't think that's a good idea. But it's your choice.
0:24:23 > 0:24:24Yeah.
0:24:24 > 0:24:28We have to have a child protection case conference,
0:24:28 > 0:24:32because you have had other children who are no longer in your care.
0:24:32 > 0:24:34That's what we would do for anybody
0:24:34 > 0:24:39who isn't looking after one of their children or a child's been removed.
0:24:39 > 0:24:41You'll be able to come to that and say
0:24:41 > 0:24:47"For the last four or five weeks, I haven't been drinking.
0:24:47 > 0:24:51"I've been going to my antenatal appointments.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53"I'm looking after myself."
0:24:53 > 0:24:55What I would like to see at the moment
0:24:55 > 0:25:00is that we're looking at where you would move on from here.
0:25:00 > 0:25:04- And that would be somewhere that's supported for you and baby.- OK.
0:25:04 > 0:25:07Then we would be supporting you with your parenting
0:25:07 > 0:25:09and helping you look after the baby.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14That completely depends on you,
0:25:14 > 0:25:16obviously with the support that we want to give you.
0:25:16 > 0:25:22- But it's about keeping up the good work.- Yeah.- Yeah? Good.
0:25:25 > 0:25:29I don't know how to explain it, but, like, I still love her, yeah.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31I've known Marva for 14 years.
0:25:31 > 0:25:35I've been with her for three and a half years.
0:25:35 > 0:25:37Yeah.
0:25:37 > 0:25:44Me and Marva was on the streets for, like, three years.
0:25:44 > 0:25:48And basically... how do I explain it?
0:25:48 > 0:25:52Basically, I was always kicked out on the street
0:25:52 > 0:25:53from the age of 14.
0:25:53 > 0:25:58I was beaten from the age of, like, four, which I can still remember.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03It's just like bringing up a dog from a little pup,
0:26:03 > 0:26:08and, you know, treating it like, put it this way, crap.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12And basically, you buy this dog like I did,
0:26:12 > 0:26:16and it turns out to be nasty.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18You can't teach that dog to be good again.
0:26:18 > 0:26:23Some people can, but there's certain dogs you can't.
0:26:23 > 0:26:27That's what I was like. I was brought up basically like this.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32I used to say, like "Ma, look at me. I'm self-harming myself."
0:26:32 > 0:26:34When I was younger, it was thin blades,
0:26:34 > 0:26:36but these ones are carpet blades.
0:26:36 > 0:26:39I mean, I've done my face, like.
0:26:39 > 0:26:42And it just became a habit.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46It's a thing in life for me to do, but which I don't do any more.
0:26:47 > 0:26:51Just like to tell people out there, you know, I'm saying like kids,
0:26:51 > 0:26:55adults who've got their children, appreciate it.
0:26:55 > 0:27:02Love your children best. Don't go my way. I made the biggest mistake.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04I've lost my children.
0:27:04 > 0:27:07Try and fight for them. Just, you know, stay strong.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Don't give up.
0:27:26 > 0:27:30I've not seen a change like it.
0:27:30 > 0:27:34- That's...incredible.- Dramatic. - Absolutely incredible.
0:27:34 > 0:27:39- I wouldn't recognise her.- I know.
0:27:39 > 0:27:43I can't believe it. You're like a different woman. You look so well.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46Did you hear me out there?
0:27:46 > 0:27:50You look brilliant. How are things going?
0:27:50 > 0:27:53- Not too bad.- Yeah? Is it better?
0:27:53 > 0:27:57- Yeah.- Yeah? Are you enjoying it? - Yeah.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02You know what, you've got younger.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06You just look so much better.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09HEARTBEAT VIA ULTRASOUND
0:28:29 > 0:28:31Aren't they sweet?
0:28:38 > 0:28:43"Children need love. Children don't always tell us what they need.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48"Children need to know that we care about them.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53"Parents can show their love by holding hands, kissing."
0:28:53 > 0:28:57"I love you." Cuddles.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25PHONE RINGS
0:29:25 > 0:29:29- Hello, Shaun, it's Annie. - 'You all right, love?'- Hi, there.
0:29:29 > 0:29:32'Sorry, I've just done a four-hour walk. I'm exhausted.
0:29:32 > 0:29:36'Smoking too much and drinking too much. I've got to stop drinking.
0:29:36 > 0:29:39'I'm more paranoid every time I drink.
0:29:39 > 0:29:42- 'I slept in the woods last night.' - Whereabouts?
0:29:42 > 0:29:45'I don't know what happened. I don't feel good.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49'I've been having chest pains. Every time I breathe,
0:29:49 > 0:29:52'my heart hurts. And I'm drinking'.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55I think the best thing to do is to go to the doctor.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58'Yeah, I'm going to do that now, straight away.'
0:29:58 > 0:30:04Did you leave a message on the answerphone here last evening?
0:30:04 > 0:30:08- 'Yeah, I said tell Marva I love her. I was drunk.'- Right.
0:30:08 > 0:30:15- So what time...- 'I've got too much going on now'.- I know.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18'Too much going on with me, you know?
0:30:18 > 0:30:21'Seriously, I've just had enough of it all.
0:30:21 > 0:30:28- 'It's all getting on top of me.' - Yeah, I know. It's a tough time.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33- Get yourself to the doctor.- 'But you promise me one thing, yeah?'
0:30:33 > 0:30:37- 'Make sure Marva's OK.' - Yeah, Marva is OK.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41I'm making sure she's OK.
0:30:47 > 0:30:51A few days later, Shaun is found collapsed on the street,
0:30:51 > 0:30:53having taken 84 paracetamol.
0:30:59 > 0:31:02He's due to be discharged later today, which is worrying.
0:31:02 > 0:31:06He's been seen by the psychiatric liaison team,
0:31:06 > 0:31:09who think he's at a moderate risk of completing suicide.
0:31:10 > 0:31:15And apparently, he had a suicide note which he's asked to have back,
0:31:15 > 0:31:18which Jackie thinks possibly was to Marva.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22But it certainly wouldn't do Marva any good to receive that.
0:31:27 > 0:31:31The one last thing about Shaun I need to tell you is that he took
0:31:31 > 0:31:36an overdose of paracetamol, and he was taken into hospital last Friday.
0:31:37 > 0:31:39He was in hospital for the weekend.
0:31:39 > 0:31:45We're doing what we can to contain him, hold him, look after him.
0:31:45 > 0:31:49That'd be good for him. He needs a lot of help.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52But I didn't want you to find that out in the conference, really.
0:32:04 > 0:32:08OK. Can I introduce you? This is Marva.
0:32:08 > 0:32:12This is Terence, who's chairing the conference.
0:32:12 > 0:32:15I wonder if I could have a word first about how we're doing this.
0:32:15 > 0:32:16Is that all right?
0:32:16 > 0:32:19The baby could be born any day now.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24A case conference will determine its future.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29Annie advises that the newborn be placed
0:32:29 > 0:32:32on a child protection plan, the highest category of risk.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40This conference is really to draw up a plan to ensure
0:32:40 > 0:32:43that when the baby's born,
0:32:43 > 0:32:46it will be looked after properly,
0:32:46 > 0:32:49and try and assess if you're going to be
0:32:49 > 0:32:52the person who looks after the baby.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54Marva is consistently saying
0:32:54 > 0:32:58that she understands that going back to Shaun
0:32:58 > 0:33:01would increase the risk factors of alcohol use
0:33:01 > 0:33:03and domestic violence,
0:33:03 > 0:33:07and has done absolutely everything that could have been asked of her.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09So Marva, can I ask you
0:33:09 > 0:33:12just one or two questions about the pregnancy?
0:33:12 > 0:33:15What is different this time?
0:33:15 > 0:33:19I just can't go through giving birth to another baby and giving it away.
0:33:19 > 0:33:25Well, obviously I didn't give him away, but...yeah.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28And you really want this one?
0:33:28 > 0:33:31- Yeah.- OK.
0:33:31 > 0:33:35I want to hear a little bit more about Shaun now.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38He did take an overdose last Friday.
0:33:38 > 0:33:41He was in the BRI over the weekend.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43I've seen him twice since then.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45He agrees that the two of you
0:33:45 > 0:33:48are not helpful for each other,
0:33:48 > 0:33:51and when you're together, things are not good.
0:33:51 > 0:33:53Marva, we've heard consistently
0:33:53 > 0:33:57how people have said that the two of you together,
0:33:57 > 0:33:59- it doesn't work.- No.
0:33:59 > 0:34:04And you've taken a decision that you can make it on your own.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09Having heard what Annie's said, does that change anything for you?
0:34:09 > 0:34:12Or do you still feel the same way?
0:34:12 > 0:34:17- No, I still feel the same way, but it is upsetting.- Yes, of course.
0:34:17 > 0:34:19Do you want a tissue?
0:34:22 > 0:34:25Annie's usually very good with tissues.
0:34:25 > 0:34:30- Yeah, I do carry a stock with me at all times.- OK.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35Is there anything about Shaun
0:34:35 > 0:34:38that you think perhaps we haven't heard
0:34:38 > 0:34:41- that you feel we ought to know about?- No.
0:34:41 > 0:34:44No? All right.
0:34:44 > 0:34:47So do you think he'll respect what you're saying,
0:34:47 > 0:34:50that the relationship is over?
0:34:50 > 0:34:54Well, he'll have to, won't he?
0:34:54 > 0:34:56OK. Thanks.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02Well, we've heard a lot of things about you.
0:35:02 > 0:35:04Do you disagree with anything?
0:35:04 > 0:35:08- No. When is this over? - "When is it over"!
0:35:13 > 0:35:16In these circumstances, it would be normal for us
0:35:16 > 0:35:19to have a child protection plan.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21The concern we would have
0:35:21 > 0:35:25if things went wrong would be that the child would be neglected.
0:35:25 > 0:35:30There should be a residential placement for you to move on to
0:35:30 > 0:35:36with your baby in a safe environment whilst the assessment takes place.
0:35:36 > 0:35:37OK.
0:35:43 > 0:35:47The decision is made. For the first time in her life,
0:35:47 > 0:35:51Marva is being given a chance to care for her baby.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10What has happened for Marva is absolutely incredible.
0:36:10 > 0:36:14It's the stuff that we as social workers hope.
0:36:14 > 0:36:18Our intervention, our engagement with the family,
0:36:18 > 0:36:21the nature of the relationship we have with the parents,
0:36:21 > 0:36:24will change them substantially.
0:36:24 > 0:36:26That is what happened.
0:36:26 > 0:36:30What she will always have is the memory of a relationship
0:36:30 > 0:36:35with a professional that helped her get out of a hole.
0:36:41 > 0:36:44Marva's moving in with foster carer Elaine.
0:36:44 > 0:36:48She lives with her family at another secret address.
0:36:48 > 0:36:51Elaine will look after both Marva and her baby.
0:37:04 > 0:37:09None of us would ever have foreseen the way that this case has unfolded,
0:37:09 > 0:37:12and what we're working with now is
0:37:12 > 0:37:17so entirely different than anything I would have predicted.
0:37:19 > 0:37:22Can I have a look? Can I see the bump?
0:37:25 > 0:37:30- It's really big! Is it awake? - No. I don't know.
0:37:30 > 0:37:35- I think he's asleep.- Is that the biggest bump you've had?
0:37:35 > 0:37:38I don't know. I still find it quite small.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42- When you had the twins, were you a lot bigger?- No.
0:37:43 > 0:37:48- I've got pictures of them. - Have you?- Yeah.
0:37:48 > 0:37:50My little girl.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55Oh, right. Is she adopted or fostered?
0:37:55 > 0:37:59- Adopted. - Are you allowed to see them?- No.
0:37:59 > 0:38:04- Can you write to them and things like that?- Yeah, I get to write.
0:38:04 > 0:38:08I made her a birthday card.
0:38:08 > 0:38:12- Do you miss Shaun?- Sometimes.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15- Is it better with or without him? - Without him.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20I'll remind you of that if you ever say "I miss him"!
0:38:20 > 0:38:21I'll remind you.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24It's better without him. He'll be all right.
0:38:24 > 0:38:26He's got to sort himself out.
0:38:27 > 0:38:31I've got to sort myself out. He's got to sort himself out.
0:38:37 > 0:38:41I have to say for the record, Marva was amazing.
0:38:41 > 0:38:44She said "Oh, I think the baby's coming."
0:38:47 > 0:38:49I stood in the hallway and I thought "towels",
0:38:49 > 0:38:52like they do in those old-fashioned movies.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55"You need water and towels". And then I thought "No, you don't,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58"you need to deliver the baby. Go back in and just get the baby."
0:39:08 > 0:39:10I think he's dreaming.
0:39:18 > 0:39:23Marva gave birth to a baby boy on Elaine's bedroom floor
0:39:23 > 0:39:25on her very first night there.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29The labour was so short that the midwife couldn't get there in time.
0:39:29 > 0:39:31They're transferred to the hospital
0:39:31 > 0:39:34to ensure that there are no complications
0:39:34 > 0:39:36from Marva's alcohol abuse.
0:39:43 > 0:39:46I was the first person to hold you!
0:39:48 > 0:39:53This will be the first and last baby that I deliver,
0:39:53 > 0:39:55because I'm not doing it again!
0:39:55 > 0:39:57No!
0:39:58 > 0:40:00No, not on the floor.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04No! I'm still cleaning up the mess! Yes, I am.
0:40:18 > 0:40:23Within hours of the birth, Marva signs a fresh agreement.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28She can only keep the baby if she avoids drink...
0:40:28 > 0:40:30And Shaun.
0:40:40 > 0:40:45Hi, Shaun. Sorry, we got a bit delayed there, having woken you up.
0:40:45 > 0:40:46How are you doing?
0:40:46 > 0:40:52- All right, I've just got hayfever as well.- Have you?- Yeah.- Look at this.
0:40:52 > 0:40:57- It's amazing.- It's not amazing, it's just somewhere to sit.- Can I go in?
0:40:57 > 0:40:59Yeah. I haven't tidied up.
0:40:59 > 0:41:04I'm just literally...trying to wake myself up.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12I need to tell you that the baby was born at the end of last week.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16He's called BLEEP.
0:41:16 > 0:41:19He was born on 7th April.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22That's cool.
0:41:22 > 0:41:27I've got some photos for you. Would you like those? Yeah?
0:41:27 > 0:41:31This was the first day that he was born.
0:41:31 > 0:41:36- Bless.- And we can get you some more photos...
0:41:36 > 0:41:38as time goes on.
0:41:42 > 0:41:43So quite small, 5lbs 1.
0:41:43 > 0:41:47- Well, Marva is small herself, though, ain't she?- Yeah.
0:41:47 > 0:41:52Yeah, Marva's small herself. Wow. Yeah.
0:41:52 > 0:41:54- That's a nice name.- Yeah.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01Was Marva straight out?
0:42:03 > 0:42:05Wow.
0:42:09 > 0:42:11So, would you like to see him?
0:42:11 > 0:42:16- Yeah, of course I would.- OK, because when we've spoken on the phone,
0:42:16 > 0:42:18you have been uncertain sometimes.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20We all have our ups and downs.
0:42:20 > 0:42:24I know, and that's why I've kept coming round with it.
0:42:24 > 0:42:27I didn't want to make a final decision.
0:42:27 > 0:42:29- I'm really happy about the baby. - Good.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33Tell Marva, OK, to forgive me, yeah?
0:42:33 > 0:42:38- I'm not asking for her back, yeah? But it'd be nice to be friends.- OK.
0:42:39 > 0:42:44- I still haven't been with anybody. - I'll tell her that.- And it is true.
0:42:44 > 0:42:47Because I ain't got time at the minute, you know,
0:42:47 > 0:42:52for arsing about, you know what I'm saying?
0:42:52 > 0:42:58But I do wish I was informed that she had the baby on the day,
0:42:58 > 0:43:02instead of being informed a week later, like.
0:43:02 > 0:43:06But I am so happy that she's got herself somewhere,
0:43:06 > 0:43:09she's being looked after.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12That's cool. Thanks for letting me know.
0:43:12 > 0:43:13I ain't going to seek her out,
0:43:13 > 0:43:17because, I'm going to be straight up with you, I don't like you, OK?
0:43:17 > 0:43:20- I know.- I'll be straight with you.
0:43:20 > 0:43:24I think you're slimy, and that's about it.
0:43:24 > 0:43:27- I think every social worker is slimy.- OK.
0:43:27 > 0:43:30I'm being straight up about it.
0:43:30 > 0:43:33You're all right to a certain degree, yeah,
0:43:33 > 0:43:36but DTA - don't trust anybody.
0:43:37 > 0:43:41OK. So I'll send you a text and confirm the time for Friday,
0:43:41 > 0:43:44and I'll see you on Friday morning. You know how to get there?
0:43:44 > 0:43:51No, you know? Of course I know how to get there, just up the road.
0:43:51 > 0:43:54- That's fine. - I do like you, but I don't...
0:43:54 > 0:43:57- It's OK. No offence taken. - You know what I'm saying?
0:43:57 > 0:44:00You probably get it from a lot of people.
0:44:03 > 0:44:04Take it easy, yeah?
0:44:06 > 0:44:13God bless my little baby! I'm so happy. I feel so happy, trust me.
0:44:13 > 0:44:17I feel gobsmacked, like. My jaw's fell out, my tongue's hanging out,
0:44:17 > 0:44:22hanging on the bottom of my trainers. Wow.
0:44:22 > 0:44:24But fair play to you, Marva.
0:44:24 > 0:44:30And I wish you the best, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, respect.
0:44:44 > 0:44:48- How many times did he wake last night?- Twice.
0:44:48 > 0:44:52That's all right, we've got a pattern now.
0:44:52 > 0:44:56- Two o'clock, and 6.30 this morning. - Again, the same.
0:44:56 > 0:45:01- Are you worried about him seeing Shaun?- He'll be all right.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08Annie'll be there, and there's security there as well.
0:45:08 > 0:45:11- Are you worried that he might have been drinking?- Yeah.
0:45:17 > 0:45:22If you can see the profiles, they're identical. The same nose.
0:45:24 > 0:45:28That's his favourite position. Comfortable there.
0:45:37 > 0:45:39Shaun's allowed to see his son
0:45:39 > 0:45:42for an hour a week at a neutral location.
0:45:43 > 0:45:46He misses the first appointment.
0:45:46 > 0:45:49But when the baby is two weeks old, he's there on time.
0:45:52 > 0:45:54All right.
0:45:57 > 0:46:02- Seeing my little baby.- Down the corridor, on the right-hand side.
0:46:02 > 0:46:06That was the room where I last seen my daughter. I've been here before.
0:46:11 > 0:46:17- All right, Annie?- How are you doing? - Nerves. Oh, bless.
0:46:20 > 0:46:24I thought he was going to wake up just now, but...
0:46:24 > 0:46:25Daddy's here.
0:46:27 > 0:46:30Yeah, I love you. I love you so much.
0:46:30 > 0:46:33Yeah, Daddy really loves you.
0:46:33 > 0:46:36I really do love you.
0:46:36 > 0:46:38Yeah!
0:46:40 > 0:46:44# Twinkle, twinkle, little star
0:46:44 > 0:46:48# How I wonder what you are
0:46:48 > 0:46:51# Up above the world so high
0:46:51 > 0:46:54# Like a diamond in the sky
0:46:54 > 0:46:58# Twinkle, twinkle, little star
0:46:58 > 0:47:03# How I wonder what you are. #
0:47:03 > 0:47:05(A little star!)
0:47:14 > 0:47:17For five weeks, Marva sticks to the agreement,
0:47:17 > 0:47:19and the boy thrives in her care.
0:47:21 > 0:47:23But it doesn't last.
0:47:26 > 0:47:28Hello.
0:47:34 > 0:47:38Yesterday, Marva disappeared with her son.
0:47:38 > 0:47:42After 14 hours, she was found drunk at Shaun's.
0:47:42 > 0:47:45The police brought them back at three in the morning.
0:47:46 > 0:47:50Elaine stayed up the rest of the night, feeding the baby.
0:47:50 > 0:47:53He was starving.
0:47:53 > 0:47:59Now he's happy and content, but I haven't seen her since, so...
0:47:59 > 0:48:04- Bit of a surprise.- Well, yes.
0:48:04 > 0:48:06Goodness me.
0:48:09 > 0:48:14I'm scared, scared of what the next steps are and what will happen next.
0:48:14 > 0:48:17- For Marva?- Yeah.
0:48:17 > 0:48:20Yeah, it's not looking that good at the minute.
0:48:20 > 0:48:22I understand your position
0:48:22 > 0:48:27and I don't see how you can come back from the fact that there will always be that temptation.
0:48:27 > 0:48:28PHONE RINGS
0:48:28 > 0:48:32- We bumped into his dad... - Excuse me.
0:48:33 > 0:48:35Hi, Marva.
0:48:37 > 0:48:40She's phoning me.
0:48:40 > 0:48:42I'll go and knock.
0:48:48 > 0:48:52- My first blip. - It is your first blip.
0:48:52 > 0:48:54What is really difficult
0:48:54 > 0:48:58is that your first blip has serious consequences.
0:48:58 > 0:49:03- Do you remember the partnership agreement?- Yeah.
0:49:04 > 0:49:07We're going to have to separate you and the baby.
0:49:08 > 0:49:10Because basically,
0:49:10 > 0:49:15we were hoping that we could trust you to be able to keep him safe.
0:49:16 > 0:49:21And the two really big risk factors were you drinking
0:49:21 > 0:49:25and you going and seeing Shaun, and that's what you've done.
0:49:31 > 0:49:35Basically, I've been through, with Marva,
0:49:35 > 0:49:42what the consequences of her going to see Shaun were and drinking,
0:49:42 > 0:49:45which is that she has to leave
0:49:45 > 0:49:50and that we will be finding alternative accommodation
0:49:50 > 0:49:53for BLEEP the near future, really.
0:50:00 > 0:50:03I was going to be all right, but I'm not.
0:50:05 > 0:50:10She really regrets what happened.
0:50:10 > 0:50:14And...she doesn't know where she's going to go,
0:50:14 > 0:50:18and I'm not able to give her very much reassurance, really.
0:50:21 > 0:50:23What does Marva want?
0:50:23 > 0:50:27Marva wants another opportunity to stay with him.
0:50:27 > 0:50:32But I think she understands that...
0:50:33 > 0:50:36That she's messed up big time, and that...
0:50:38 > 0:50:40The risk of her seeing Shaun
0:50:40 > 0:50:44and of her having a drink was that they would be separated.
0:50:44 > 0:50:47She wants to do contact, and to be assessed.
0:50:54 > 0:50:57- Want to come and talk? - Can you come and join us?
0:51:07 > 0:51:09That's my pen, sorry.
0:51:09 > 0:51:13- What are we going to do, Marva? - Don't know.
0:51:14 > 0:51:16I don't know.
0:51:18 > 0:51:20I've had a chat with Arthur.
0:51:20 > 0:51:25And sadly, he agrees with me that you need to leave today.
0:51:27 > 0:51:30So I've explained to Elaine.
0:51:30 > 0:51:35I'll go back to the office and get that form faxed off to him,
0:51:35 > 0:51:36wherever my form is.
0:51:38 > 0:51:40What I need to explain to you
0:51:40 > 0:51:43as well, and we probably ought to write it down
0:51:43 > 0:51:45as a new partnership agreement,
0:51:45 > 0:51:50is that Elaine is now the primary carer for BLEEP.
0:51:50 > 0:51:54While you're here, it's fine for you to be caring for him.
0:51:54 > 0:51:56But we'd ask that you don't take him out.
0:51:56 > 0:51:59If you did take him out anywhere,
0:51:59 > 0:52:02I'd have to get Elaine to call the police straight away.
0:52:03 > 0:52:05We're trying to work together
0:52:05 > 0:52:09and avoid emergency rushing off to court and the police coming round
0:52:09 > 0:52:13and taking out police powers of protection and things.
0:52:13 > 0:52:15- It's about us trying to work together.- Yeah.
0:52:21 > 0:52:24OK, so I'm saying that this is to clarify new plans for BLEEP's care
0:52:24 > 0:52:28following the breach of the original partnership agreement.
0:52:28 > 0:52:33"Marva's agreed that the baby will be looked after by Elaine
0:52:33 > 0:52:38"until an alternative foster placement is identified for him."
0:52:40 > 0:52:44"Marva will leave".
0:52:55 > 0:52:59Is that OK? Do you want to have a look through it before you sign it?
0:52:59 > 0:53:04- It's all right. I read it when you were writing.- I thought you would.
0:53:04 > 0:53:10- How are you doing? - Hmm?- How are you doing?- Hmm.
0:53:18 > 0:53:20Shall I put that down?
0:53:20 > 0:53:25You have a chat with your solicitor, and I'll be in touch.
0:53:25 > 0:53:29Do phone me if you want, and I'll be in touch.
0:53:29 > 0:53:31You won't be back at the house?
0:53:31 > 0:53:33Not today, I don't think, anyway.
0:53:42 > 0:53:45OK. Thank you.
0:54:04 > 0:54:05I think probably,
0:54:05 > 0:54:10that's the most awful thing I've had to do as a social worker.
0:54:13 > 0:54:15I'll probably have a good cry.
0:54:24 > 0:54:26I'm quite resilient, really.
0:54:26 > 0:54:30I bounce back. I have to be, don't I?
0:54:35 > 0:54:40I suppose I just hope that I have time to process it properly,
0:54:40 > 0:54:46because what can happen is that the demands of the caseload
0:54:46 > 0:54:50can kind of overwhelm, and you get whisked into the next thing
0:54:50 > 0:54:53without really properly processing what's happened.
0:54:53 > 0:54:56And I hope that that doesn't happen,
0:54:56 > 0:55:00because I think that's when the impact of the stress
0:55:00 > 0:55:03can kind of get to your health if that happens too often.
0:55:06 > 0:55:11It feels...today, with the strength of emotion,
0:55:11 > 0:55:15it feels very harsh that one lapse, and that's the end of it.
0:55:15 > 0:55:20But that is something that I've been telling her all along.
0:55:20 > 0:55:27It was fortunate that no harm came to him last night,
0:55:27 > 0:55:31that Shaun was in quite a good state.
0:55:31 > 0:55:36Part of the worry is that it's completely impossible to predict
0:55:36 > 0:55:39how he's going to be at any time and how he's going to react to things.
0:55:42 > 0:55:45I guess I'm probably slightly more emotionally attached
0:55:45 > 0:55:48than I thought perhaps I was. I was kidding myself.
0:55:52 > 0:55:55I've always said if I get to the point where I don't care,
0:55:55 > 0:55:58it's time to stop doing this job.
0:55:58 > 0:56:01So I have to care.
0:56:01 > 0:56:05But it's...painful.
0:56:25 > 0:56:28It was...it was the right decision.
0:56:28 > 0:56:33I was devastated, because it seemed so brutal. But...
0:56:34 > 0:56:39Taking myself out of the situation, it's the best decision for me
0:56:39 > 0:56:41and my children, the best decision for BLEEP
0:56:41 > 0:56:43and the best decision for Marva.
0:56:43 > 0:56:47It just keeps everybody safe, despite the emotions.
0:56:47 > 0:56:51It keeps everybody safe. And it was harsh...
0:56:51 > 0:56:57because it was all going so well.
0:57:02 > 0:57:07The work with Marva has given her, as a young adult,
0:57:07 > 0:57:10an opportunity to see what is possible.
0:57:13 > 0:57:17We as society, all of us have to accept
0:57:17 > 0:57:23that if we want our society to grow and develop, we have to reach out.
0:57:23 > 0:57:26We have to be determined to see it is as our responsibility
0:57:26 > 0:57:29for the marginalised, to do the best we can.
0:58:02 > 0:58:05Next week on Protecting Our Children:
0:58:07 > 0:58:10I want my baby back as a baby. I don't want her back when she's two.
0:58:12 > 0:58:13I want my daughter.
0:58:13 > 0:58:16It's a little bit unconventional.
0:58:19 > 0:58:22If you want to know more about the daily lives of social workers,
0:58:22 > 0:58:26go to:
0:58:29 > 0:58:33Follow the links to the Open University.
0:58:33 > 0:58:36# I put a spell on you
0:58:40 > 0:58:45# Because you're mine
0:58:50 > 0:58:54# You better stop the things you do... #
0:58:55 > 0:58:56Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:58:56 > 0:58:58e-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk