Expecting Trouble Protecting Our Children

This programme contains some strong language.

# Twinkle twinkle little star

# How I wonder what you are

# Up above the world so high

# Like a diamond in the sky

# Twinkle twinkle little star

# How I wonder what you are. #

(A little star!)

The hardest dilemma facing social workers

is whether a child should be removed from its parents.

Sometimes, that decision must be made

before the child draws its very first breath.

Annie is a social worker in Bristol.

She has a particular responsibility for protecting unborn children.

She's going to see a couple who lead chaotic lives.

Violence and alcohol have contributed

to their three children being removed at birth.

Now, a fourth is on its way.

Other people have worked with them before

and so we've got a bit of an understanding of the risks involved.

I know that we need to visit the home

with two security officers at all times

and we'll just be making sure that they're aware that we're coming,

so that they've planned appointments and to get some gauge

on what their presentation is like,

how drunk they might be or not, before we arrive.

There's always a certain anxiety, really.

# Close enough to start a war

# All that I have is on the floor

# God only knows what we're fighting for

# All that I say

# You always say more... #

Are you all right if I perch on the end of here?

Cos I need to write stuff down, so, can I sit on the edge?

What, are you going to actually talk to her?

Come and sit down here with me.

Yeah, you guys can sit. I'll just stand, I'm all right(!)

I'm going to write stuff down, so that I can get all the names and everything.

Let's start at the beginning, then.

So, who have you got supporting you at the moment?

-Gino from Newroads?

-Right...

-Gino.

Marva is 23 years old. She's 20 weeks pregnant.

-What's your number?

-It's 01179244...

Shaun has a history of criminal violence.

He's had seven children removed in all.

-DOG BARKS

-Shh!

So, when is this baby due? I know you told me the last time...

-It's March, isn't it?

-14th April.

-Do you know how often you need to go for an antenatal appointment?

-No.

-So at the moment, it's probably not that frequently, is it?

-No.

-As your pregnancy goes on, they'll want to see you more often.

-Yeah.

There's people who's lost their kids for no reason at all, like me.

I've done nothing.

I've been child abused when I was a kid, I've been hurt,

but I'm still fighting it.

I'm grown-up, I'm 29 years of age

and I'm going to pull myself out of my grief

and pull my head out of my ass and I'm going to get myself together

look after my fiancee, myself

and my puppy as well as the baby.

I mean, like, we've got these people here, security guards.

It's like I'm some kind of animal, you know?

I ain't done nothing wrong.

I mean, like, when my babies were born at Southmead,

I mean literally, you know,

two officers just walked in.

Even up till now, I'm not allowed to touch my kids.

I don't understand why.

I'm a good person. Marva's a good person.

It's gave her the baby blues and also, it's still ripped us up.

Marva's never took medication, she's never took drugs.

Marva is a depressant person but she has got a lot of love.

Good boy.

DOG SNARLS

Good boy! Good boy!

Billy! Billy!

This is a good dog.

DOG SNARLS

Doesn't like social workers, you get me?

And how are you feeling? Do you think you might be a bit depressed?

Yeah. I'm always down and grumpy.

So, how are you feeling about the drinking?

-Was happening with drinking with you?

-Not too bad. I feel all right.

You've stopped all the alcohol as well at the same time that Shaun did?

-So, are you able to not drink if he doesn't drink?

-Yeah.

-And if he drinks, then... is that quite hard to stop?

-Yeah.

OK, so we need to keep Shaun encouraged.

DOG BARKS

Sorry, sorry.

Get in, good boy.

Cool. It's all cool.

DOG CLAWS DOOR

Billy, no!

To start off with, it's very much about building relationships,

trying to be supportive, offer them the things that they need.

How they manage their housing, their money, their relationship.

If there's any more violence in their own relationship,

whether they can be calm, stable people,

whether they can provide a suitable home environment for a child.

The dog is another big issue. What will they do with the dog?

That dog doesn't look like a dog that you'd have with a small baby, really.

And certainly in the past,

they haven't been able to provide

even the most basic of care for themselves,

let alone for anybody else.

OPERA MUSIC

My first contact with them

was I walked with the allocated social worker through Frenchay woods

on a snowy, muddy day.

They were living in a tent at the top of a slope

and it defies belief in this day and age,

but what had happened was

that the couple had just been disconnected

and isolated from the norms of society.

Marva clearly had some mental health issues

and Shaun was very, very poorly and disengaging with all services.

That social worker then had lots of meetings

to try and provide adult services, mental health services,

but they clearly were not available and not suitable.

Shaun would not engage.

It was very difficult

because the couple had a tendency to become angry

or Shaun would become angry and Marva was inseparable from Shaun,

so when people tried to take on board assessments of her

and gain her separate view,

she would always want Shaun to be present

and was worried about saying things that Shaun may not agree with.

Now, Annie's responsible for Shaun and Marva's unborn child....

One of 14 cases on her books.

OK, I'm just going into supervision now.

OK, I have just this minute had a phone call

from the emergency department at the BRI

to said that Marva's been admitted,

having taken an overdose last night of diazepam on top of some alcohol.

I was aware that she was in a low mood

but this is a bit of a shock, really.

I didn't know that she was in that low a mood.

Apparently she did try and take an overdose when she was about 10

but hasn't since then.

She has made moves to be separate from him at times

but it's what that means in their relationship and her plans.

Has there been any indication from health professionals

that there's a risk to the baby?

I know that diazepam isn't recommended during pregnancy

and obviously, alcohol isn't either.

I think one thing that's different during this pregnancy is that

Marva has presented to professionals intoxicated

on a number of occasions

and from my understanding, previously,

she was sober when she met with professionals.

-So, that has been a difference throughout this pregnancy.

-Yeah.

A week later, Marva's in another emergency.

Marva was arrested for breach of the peace and taken into custody

and she was kept in police cells overnight

and then released yesterday morning.

They were very worried.

The arresting officer reported that

the house was in a very poor condition

with rubbish bags strewn about and no furniture

and in a real state and also,

Marva was quite unwashed

and her clothing was grubby and stained with alcohol and vomit.

She was clearly very intoxicated and is now about 28 weeks pregnant.

The paperwork says there's a dog that is vicious.

Shaun had the dog on a lead and had it under control.

The neighbours have reported to the housing office that

they've heard him training the dog to attack and kill.

Shaun, are you listening to this?

If it gets hairy, mate, we just don't go in.

As I say, they might not be here,

they might not answer the door.

I did try to phone, but the phone was switched off.

They might not even be here.

-Hi, Shaun. Are you all right for me to do a quick visit?

-Not a good time.

-Not a good time?

-You want to come in?

-Can I? Is that all right?

Crazy state, yeah? Come in here, you, yeah?

-And I've got the BBC here with me.

-And a crew? Oh, for fuck's sake.

You're out to catch me on a real good day.

Where's the dog?

-I ain't got a dog.

-The dog's gone?

-I ain't got room.

-Oh.

-How you doing, Marva?

-All right.

What happened with the police, then?

-Drink.

-She's been drinking a lot of cider. She needs help.

That's the truth, sweetheart. By the way, right, I want a word with you.

-Can I discuss something with you, yeah?

-Mm-hm?

You're actually taking my kids away from me, that's what Marva told me.

Well, it's about how you would provide for your children.

I'd not harm my fucking kids. All right, yeah?

I would never harm my kids. I don't care what anybody says, yeah?

At the end of the day, I sticks up for Marva, I loves her,

I looks after her, OK?

And this is what it brings me. She brings me to drink, right, yeah?

But I do love her, and I care about her but you know what?

I just want to leave her, and that's the truth.

She's six months pregnant with my child, right, yeah?

I'll be honest with you, yeah, six months pregnant, right,

and I don't know if I can go through it again, man, you know?

Like, listen right, because I have had abuse in life,

it don't mean like I'm going to do it to my children,

cos I'd never hurt my children, yeah?

I'm a man, right, yet? I want to buy my kids quad bikes.

I want to buy my kids a scrambler, you know?

Man, I will be honest with you right, yeah,

I can't even work because I'm so fucked up in the head, right, yeah?

I have given up drink for a couple of months, yeah?

Now I'm binge drinking.

It's nothing to be proud about, yeah?

It's just to wash my feelings away

but when you wake up the next morning, it's still there.

It's still there, man.

I had a fucking shit Christmas. I don't mean to swear, yeah?

Marva said she didn't drink over Christmas and New Year?

-Is that right?

-That's true. That is true.

So, how come you were able to not drink then?

Cos I had to give up. I wanted to be strong for my brother.

-Right.

-You know?

So, can you try and be strong for Marva and the baby?

-Annie, it's not that easy...

-I know it isn't.

I'm telling her every fricking day, I'm telling her.

I think the best thing that you could do at the minute

is to try and cut down on the drink, because I don't think...

-You're having a laugh, love.

-I know.

But I know that you can do it for periods of time

because you do, don't you?

Marva's sitting there, chain-smoking,

stubbing out cigarettes on the floor.

She's got the cigarette stubs in her shoes.

It's really difficult to know what can be done for them.

The fact that he's bought these tents is worrying as well because I think

he could disappear at any time, they could disappear at any time.

You do wonder whether you're actually causing more distress

by just being there and then that immediately brings

the association of children that have been lost and the emotional impact.

That's a bit of a worry, really.

Has it actually done more harm than good?

Are they now going to drink even more

because they're upset because I've been round?

So, it's trying to get a balance between completing an assessment,

having accurate information for me to present to court,

in order to be able to protect the child, which is my role,

or is it actually making it worse?

That night, Marva takes an overdose of 64 paracetamol.

# Sandpaper kisses

# Paper cut bliss

# Don't know what this is

# But it all leads to this

# You're gonna leave... #

Two days later, Marva makes a decision no-one expects.

She breaks up with Shaun after nearly four years together.

For the first time,

Annie and Arthur see a chance for Marva to keep her baby.

-How you today?

-Not too bad.

-Did you sleep OK?

-Not too bad.

-A bit better than the night before?

-Yeah, sort of.

OK, so Marva, we're hearing that you've made some big changes.

Having known you for quite a few years now

you and Shaun were previously unseparable.

Just to have a conversation with you in a different room

was difficult - Shaun would have to come too.

So, the changes, the choices you have made are quite big

and we know that, we recognise that.

Now, do we believe you would be able to

appropriately care for a child, safely?

Meet their needs on a daily basis?

Those are questions we're going to be asking of you.

That's what Annie's assessment will be looking at.

What do you think about that?

-I don't know.

-You don't know? It's big stuff, isn't it?

-Yeah.

-And it's very different from what's happened in the past.

-Yeah.

What do you hope happens in the future?

-I have a nice place, have the baby and just be happy.

-Yeah?

-And stay away from Shaun.

-Stay away from Shaun.

So, is Shaun the only thing that would worry us?

You getting together with Shaun,

-is that the only thing that would worry us? I

-don't know.

-What's one of the things that you don't want to start doing again?

-No drinking.

Marva agrees to move to a women's refuge -

a dry house in a secret location.

There was something bubbling up in her yesterday,

a strength of character

and a determination that I haven't been able to see before

and I don't know if it's been that obvious in the previous pregnancies.

It's not something that...

I can see incrementally, for her, there has been progression.

The first time I met them, living in the words in the Frenchay,

in that cold tent, with snow on the ground, slipping and sliding.

Second time, more established in this house.

You know, we just see where we go from here.

I mean, it is very early days, but I think my assessment really

can begin in a way, of her and her abilities to look after herself,

to manage a tenancy, to manage being in a shared home.

Managing finances,

daily living skills, food, shopping, hygiene,

all of the real basic stuff that we haven't been able to test before,

with a view to then, OK, well if she's successful,

we've got about eight weeks before the baby's born.

So, I do think we need to think about

keeping the baby with her as a genuine possibility.

OK. What does it feel like this piece of work, right now?

Well, I'm really excited!

You're very different to how you were this time last week.

-Very different.

-Yes.

I mean, it felt so incredibly hopeless.

But I do feel quite hopeful.

This seems very, very different than it was, so, you know, probably

I'm going to be on a bit of an emotional up and down with it all.

But that's OK, I can do that.

She's got another one as well.

She was taken into the emergency department,

and then they transferred her up to one of the antenatal wards.

-Is she still at the hospital?

-No, she's now not at the hospital.

She was saying she didn't want to come back here,

so she's worked with housing and me,

and we've found her somewhere else to stay.

So she's absolutely fine. She's not been arrested.

She's not been drinking for the last couple of days,

and she's in a reasonable place.

Like I said before, regardless of my heart,

I just want the best for the babies.

And I mean, like, I hope Marva does the best for herself.

I do want to talk to her. I still want contact. You've got to think,

like, she is the mother of my child - well, four kids.

That's partly why we're here,

because we very much want to keep you involved.

-You're the dad.

-We want to bring you up to date

and make sure that you're involved in the plans for baby, OK?

You're Dad, and you have a right

to know what's going on in respect of the baby.

You've got responsibilities for the children,

and you've got responsibilities for this child.

Trust me, I love my kids, but it's just a lot of stress.

OK. There were four, all right?

I was the team manager, and we were talking about the twins,

-with Sonia involved.

-Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah.

I was the team manager

while we were involved with the social work involvement.

I am now the team manager with Annie, OK?

So all your children that you've had with Marva...

-Where's Marva based?

-We can't tell you that, all right?

I mean the hospital.

We'll come to that in a minute. Let's talk about the baby.

I know about my baby. I love my baby, but do you have to put up

with the mother swallowing tablets, the lot - no.

You are in one place all the time.

Don't come to my house disputing about babies

and saying I don't know about babies,

because I have brought up my own kids, OK?

And they've been with their uncles and aunties,

and now it's getting BLEEP.

Don't you tell me I don't know how to even be a father,

because I can be a father.

I haven't disputed...

My kids got taken away from me.

I'm sorry, but I had a big bad bringing up life.

-We need to work with you.

-Do you have kids?

-Yes, I do.

But we're talking about your children,

your child that's expected now.

We want to involve you in the plans for your child.

I just want to see Marva and have a chat with her, like.

I don't think Marva wants to see you,

because she has a choice about that.

Marva's baby is due in just eight weeks.

-How are things going here?

-Good.

It's so lovely to see you smiling.

-Good.

-Did you go to the cinema?

-Yeah.

-What did you see?

-The Fighter.

The Fighter. Was it good?

It was good, actually, but it was mainly about crackheads!

Oh. Well, that was ironic, then.

-How are you getting on with the not drinking?

-Good.

Because obviously, you're not. Any cravings?

Any "Oh, I could really do with a..."?

No. Only when I'm shopping and you see it right in front,

you're like "Oh, I want that".

-But I tore myself away.

-And how are you feeling about not seeing Shaun?

Good.

-So that's working well for you.

-Yeah. It's good.

OK. Shaun has spoken to me on the phone several times.

-And he said that he's looking after himself.

-That's good.

And he has got a phone number,

and he wanted me to ask you if you would like his phone number.

And he has said he would like you to phone. I have to tell you that.

-At the moment, my recommendation...

-No.

..would be, I don't think that's a good idea. But it's your choice.

Yeah.

We have to have a child protection case conference,

because you have had other children who are no longer in your care.

That's what we would do for anybody

who isn't looking after one of their children or a child's been removed.

You'll be able to come to that and say

"For the last four or five weeks, I haven't been drinking.

"I've been going to my antenatal appointments.

"I'm looking after myself."

What I would like to see at the moment

is that we're looking at where you would move on from here.

-And that would be somewhere that's supported for you and baby.

-OK.

Then we would be supporting you with your parenting

and helping you look after the baby.

That completely depends on you,

obviously with the support that we want to give you.

-But it's about keeping up the good work.

-Yeah.

-Yeah? Good.

I don't know how to explain it, but, like, I still love her, yeah.

I've known Marva for 14 years.

I've been with her for three and a half years.

Yeah.

Me and Marva was on the streets for, like, three years.

And basically... how do I explain it?

Basically, I was always kicked out on the street

from the age of 14.

I was beaten from the age of, like, four, which I can still remember.

It's just like bringing up a dog from a little pup,

and, you know, treating it like, put it this way, crap.

And basically, you buy this dog like I did,

and it turns out to be nasty.

You can't teach that dog to be good again.

Some people can, but there's certain dogs you can't.

That's what I was like. I was brought up basically like this.

I used to say, like "Ma, look at me. I'm self-harming myself."

When I was younger, it was thin blades,

but these ones are carpet blades.

I mean, I've done my face, like.

And it just became a habit.

It's a thing in life for me to do, but which I don't do any more.

Just like to tell people out there, you know, I'm saying like kids,

adults who've got their children, appreciate it.

Love your children best. Don't go my way. I made the biggest mistake.

I've lost my children.

Try and fight for them. Just, you know, stay strong.

Don't give up.

I've not seen a change like it.

-That's...incredible.

-Dramatic.

-Absolutely incredible.

-I wouldn't recognise her.

-I know.

I can't believe it. You're like a different woman. You look so well.

Did you hear me out there?

You look brilliant. How are things going?

-Not too bad.

-Yeah? Is it better?

-Yeah.

-Yeah? Are you enjoying it?

-Yeah.

You know what, you've got younger.

You just look so much better.

HEARTBEAT VIA ULTRASOUND

Aren't they sweet?

"Children need love. Children don't always tell us what they need.

"Children need to know that we care about them.

"Parents can show their love by holding hands, kissing."

"I love you." Cuddles.

PHONE RINGS

-Hello, Shaun, it's Annie.

-'You all right, love?'

-Hi, there.

'Sorry, I've just done a four-hour walk. I'm exhausted.

'Smoking too much and drinking too much. I've got to stop drinking.

'I'm more paranoid every time I drink.

-'I slept in the woods last night.'

-Whereabouts?

'I don't know what happened. I don't feel good.

'I've been having chest pains. Every time I breathe,

'my heart hurts. And I'm drinking'.

I think the best thing to do is to go to the doctor.

'Yeah, I'm going to do that now, straight away.'

Did you leave a message on the answerphone here last evening?

-'Yeah, I said tell Marva I love her. I was drunk.'

-Right.

-So what time...

-'I've got too much going on now'.

-I know.

'Too much going on with me, you know?

'Seriously, I've just had enough of it all.

-'It's all getting on top of me.'

-Yeah, I know. It's a tough time.

-Get yourself to the doctor.

-'But you promise me one thing, yeah?'

-'Make sure Marva's OK.'

-Yeah, Marva is OK.

I'm making sure she's OK.

A few days later, Shaun is found collapsed on the street,

having taken 84 paracetamol.

He's due to be discharged later today, which is worrying.

He's been seen by the psychiatric liaison team,

who think he's at a moderate risk of completing suicide.

And apparently, he had a suicide note which he's asked to have back,

which Jackie thinks possibly was to Marva.

But it certainly wouldn't do Marva any good to receive that.

The one last thing about Shaun I need to tell you is that he took

an overdose of paracetamol, and he was taken into hospital last Friday.

He was in hospital for the weekend.

We're doing what we can to contain him, hold him, look after him.

That'd be good for him. He needs a lot of help.

But I didn't want you to find that out in the conference, really.

OK. Can I introduce you? This is Marva.

This is Terence, who's chairing the conference.

I wonder if I could have a word first about how we're doing this.

Is that all right?

The baby could be born any day now.

A case conference will determine its future.

Annie advises that the newborn be placed

on a child protection plan, the highest category of risk.

This conference is really to draw up a plan to ensure

that when the baby's born,

it will be looked after properly,

and try and assess if you're going to be

the person who looks after the baby.

Marva is consistently saying

that she understands that going back to Shaun

would increase the risk factors of alcohol use

and domestic violence,

and has done absolutely everything that could have been asked of her.

So Marva, can I ask you

just one or two questions about the pregnancy?

What is different this time?

I just can't go through giving birth to another baby and giving it away.

Well, obviously I didn't give him away, but...yeah.

And you really want this one?

-Yeah.

-OK.

I want to hear a little bit more about Shaun now.

He did take an overdose last Friday.

He was in the BRI over the weekend.

I've seen him twice since then.

He agrees that the two of you

are not helpful for each other,

and when you're together, things are not good.

Marva, we've heard consistently

how people have said that the two of you together,

-it doesn't work.

-No.

And you've taken a decision that you can make it on your own.

Having heard what Annie's said, does that change anything for you?

Or do you still feel the same way?

-No, I still feel the same way, but it is upsetting.

-Yes, of course.

Do you want a tissue?

Annie's usually very good with tissues.

-Yeah, I do carry a stock with me at all times.

-OK.

Is there anything about Shaun

that you think perhaps we haven't heard

-that you feel we ought to know about?

-No.

No? All right.

So do you think he'll respect what you're saying,

that the relationship is over?

Well, he'll have to, won't he?

OK. Thanks.

Well, we've heard a lot of things about you.

Do you disagree with anything?

-No. When is this over?

-"When is it over"!

In these circumstances, it would be normal for us

to have a child protection plan.

The concern we would have

if things went wrong would be that the child would be neglected.

There should be a residential placement for you to move on to

with your baby in a safe environment whilst the assessment takes place.

OK.

The decision is made. For the first time in her life,

Marva is being given a chance to care for her baby.

What has happened for Marva is absolutely incredible.

It's the stuff that we as social workers hope.

Our intervention, our engagement with the family,

the nature of the relationship we have with the parents,

will change them substantially.

That is what happened.

What she will always have is the memory of a relationship

with a professional that helped her get out of a hole.

Marva's moving in with foster carer Elaine.

She lives with her family at another secret address.

Elaine will look after both Marva and her baby.

None of us would ever have foreseen the way that this case has unfolded,

and what we're working with now is

so entirely different than anything I would have predicted.

Can I have a look? Can I see the bump?

-It's really big! Is it awake?

-No. I don't know.

-I think he's asleep.

-Is that the biggest bump you've had?

I don't know. I still find it quite small.

-When you had the twins, were you a lot bigger?

-No.

-I've got pictures of them.

-Have you?

-Yeah.

My little girl.

Oh, right. Is she adopted or fostered?

-Adopted.

-Are you allowed to see them?

-No.

-Can you write to them and things like that?

-Yeah, I get to write.

I made her a birthday card.

-Do you miss Shaun?

-Sometimes.

-Is it better with or without him?

-Without him.

I'll remind you of that if you ever say "I miss him"!

I'll remind you.

It's better without him. He'll be all right.

He's got to sort himself out.

I've got to sort myself out. He's got to sort himself out.

I have to say for the record, Marva was amazing.

She said "Oh, I think the baby's coming."

I stood in the hallway and I thought "towels",

like they do in those old-fashioned movies.

"You need water and towels". And then I thought "No, you don't,

"you need to deliver the baby. Go back in and just get the baby."

I think he's dreaming.

Marva gave birth to a baby boy on Elaine's bedroom floor

on her very first night there.

The labour was so short that the midwife couldn't get there in time.

They're transferred to the hospital

to ensure that there are no complications

from Marva's alcohol abuse.

I was the first person to hold you!

This will be the first and last baby that I deliver,

because I'm not doing it again!

No!

No, not on the floor.

No! I'm still cleaning up the mess! Yes, I am.

Within hours of the birth, Marva signs a fresh agreement.

She can only keep the baby if she avoids drink...

And Shaun.

Hi, Shaun. Sorry, we got a bit delayed there, having woken you up.

How are you doing?

-All right, I've just got hayfever as well.

-Have you?

-Yeah.

-Look at this.

-It's amazing.

-It's not amazing, it's just somewhere to sit.

-Can I go in?

Yeah. I haven't tidied up.

I'm just literally...trying to wake myself up.

I need to tell you that the baby was born at the end of last week.

He's called BLEEP.

He was born on 7th April.

That's cool.

I've got some photos for you. Would you like those? Yeah?

This was the first day that he was born.

-Bless.

-And we can get you some more photos...

as time goes on.

So quite small, 5lbs 1.

-Well, Marva is small herself, though, ain't she?

-Yeah.

Yeah, Marva's small herself. Wow. Yeah.

-That's a nice name.

-Yeah.

Was Marva straight out?

Wow.

So, would you like to see him?

-Yeah, of course I would.

-OK, because when we've spoken on the phone,

you have been uncertain sometimes.

We all have our ups and downs.

I know, and that's why I've kept coming round with it.

I didn't want to make a final decision.

-I'm really happy about the baby.

-Good.

Tell Marva, OK, to forgive me, yeah?

-I'm not asking for her back, yeah? But it'd be nice to be friends.

-OK.

-I still haven't been with anybody.

-I'll tell her that.

-And it is true.

Because I ain't got time at the minute, you know,

for arsing about, you know what I'm saying?

But I do wish I was informed that she had the baby on the day,

instead of being informed a week later, like.

But I am so happy that she's got herself somewhere,

she's being looked after.

That's cool. Thanks for letting me know.

I ain't going to seek her out,

because, I'm going to be straight up with you, I don't like you, OK?

-I know.

-I'll be straight with you.

I think you're slimy, and that's about it.

-I think every social worker is slimy.

-OK.

I'm being straight up about it.

You're all right to a certain degree, yeah,

but DTA - don't trust anybody.

OK. So I'll send you a text and confirm the time for Friday,

and I'll see you on Friday morning. You know how to get there?

No, you know? Of course I know how to get there, just up the road.

-That's fine.

-I do like you, but I don't...

-It's OK. No offence taken.

-You know what I'm saying?

You probably get it from a lot of people.

Take it easy, yeah?

God bless my little baby! I'm so happy. I feel so happy, trust me.

I feel gobsmacked, like. My jaw's fell out, my tongue's hanging out,

hanging on the bottom of my trainers. Wow.

But fair play to you, Marva.

And I wish you the best, you know what I'm saying? Yeah, respect.

-How many times did he wake last night?

-Twice.

That's all right, we've got a pattern now.

-Two o'clock, and 6.30 this morning.

-Again, the same.

-Are you worried about him seeing Shaun?

-He'll be all right.

Annie'll be there, and there's security there as well.

-Are you worried that he might have been drinking?

-Yeah.

If you can see the profiles, they're identical. The same nose.

That's his favourite position. Comfortable there.

Shaun's allowed to see his son

for an hour a week at a neutral location.

He misses the first appointment.

But when the baby is two weeks old, he's there on time.

All right.

-Seeing my little baby.

-Down the corridor, on the right-hand side.

That was the room where I last seen my daughter. I've been here before.

-All right, Annie?

-How are you doing?

-Nerves. Oh, bless.

I thought he was going to wake up just now, but...

Daddy's here.

Yeah, I love you. I love you so much.

Yeah, Daddy really loves you.

I really do love you.

Yeah!

# Twinkle, twinkle, little star

# How I wonder what you are

# Up above the world so high

# Like a diamond in the sky

# Twinkle, twinkle, little star

# How I wonder what you are. #

(A little star!)

For five weeks, Marva sticks to the agreement,

and the boy thrives in her care.

But it doesn't last.

Hello.

Yesterday, Marva disappeared with her son.

After 14 hours, she was found drunk at Shaun's.

The police brought them back at three in the morning.

Elaine stayed up the rest of the night, feeding the baby.

He was starving.

Now he's happy and content, but I haven't seen her since, so...

-Bit of a surprise.

-Well, yes.

Goodness me.

I'm scared, scared of what the next steps are and what will happen next.

-For Marva?

-Yeah.

Yeah, it's not looking that good at the minute.

I understand your position

and I don't see how you can come back from the fact that there will always be that temptation.

PHONE RINGS

-We bumped into his dad...

-Excuse me.

Hi, Marva.

She's phoning me.

I'll go and knock.

-My first blip.

-It is your first blip.

What is really difficult

is that your first blip has serious consequences.

-Do you remember the partnership agreement?

-Yeah.

We're going to have to separate you and the baby.

Because basically,

we were hoping that we could trust you to be able to keep him safe.

And the two really big risk factors were you drinking

and you going and seeing Shaun, and that's what you've done.

Basically, I've been through, with Marva,

what the consequences of her going to see Shaun were and drinking,

which is that she has to leave

and that we will be finding alternative accommodation

for BLEEP the near future, really.

I was going to be all right, but I'm not.

She really regrets what happened.

And...she doesn't know where she's going to go,

and I'm not able to give her very much reassurance, really.

What does Marva want?

Marva wants another opportunity to stay with him.

But I think she understands that...

That she's messed up big time, and that...

The risk of her seeing Shaun

and of her having a drink was that they would be separated.

She wants to do contact, and to be assessed.

-Want to come and talk?

-Can you come and join us?

That's my pen, sorry.

-What are we going to do, Marva?

-Don't know.

I don't know.

I've had a chat with Arthur.

And sadly, he agrees with me that you need to leave today.

So I've explained to Elaine.

I'll go back to the office and get that form faxed off to him,

wherever my form is.

What I need to explain to you

as well, and we probably ought to write it down

as a new partnership agreement,

is that Elaine is now the primary carer for BLEEP.

While you're here, it's fine for you to be caring for him.

But we'd ask that you don't take him out.

If you did take him out anywhere,

I'd have to get Elaine to call the police straight away.

We're trying to work together

and avoid emergency rushing off to court and the police coming round

and taking out police powers of protection and things.

-It's about us trying to work together.

-Yeah.

OK, so I'm saying that this is to clarify new plans for BLEEP's care

following the breach of the original partnership agreement.

"Marva's agreed that the baby will be looked after by Elaine

"until an alternative foster placement is identified for him."

"Marva will leave".

Is that OK? Do you want to have a look through it before you sign it?

-It's all right. I read it when you were writing.

-I thought you would.

-How are you doing?

-Hmm?

-How are you doing?

-Hmm.

Shall I put that down?

You have a chat with your solicitor, and I'll be in touch.

Do phone me if you want, and I'll be in touch.

You won't be back at the house?

Not today, I don't think, anyway.

OK. Thank you.

I think probably,

that's the most awful thing I've had to do as a social worker.

I'll probably have a good cry.

I'm quite resilient, really.

I bounce back. I have to be, don't I?

I suppose I just hope that I have time to process it properly,

because what can happen is that the demands of the caseload

can kind of overwhelm, and you get whisked into the next thing

without really properly processing what's happened.

And I hope that that doesn't happen,

because I think that's when the impact of the stress

can kind of get to your health if that happens too often.

It feels...today, with the strength of emotion,

it feels very harsh that one lapse, and that's the end of it.

But that is something that I've been telling her all along.

It was fortunate that no harm came to him last night,

that Shaun was in quite a good state.

Part of the worry is that it's completely impossible to predict

how he's going to be at any time and how he's going to react to things.

I guess I'm probably slightly more emotionally attached

than I thought perhaps I was. I was kidding myself.

I've always said if I get to the point where I don't care,

it's time to stop doing this job.

So I have to care.

But it's...painful.

It was...it was the right decision.

I was devastated, because it seemed so brutal. But...

Taking myself out of the situation, it's the best decision for me

and my children, the best decision for BLEEP

and the best decision for Marva.

It just keeps everybody safe, despite the emotions.

It keeps everybody safe. And it was harsh...

because it was all going so well.

The work with Marva has given her, as a young adult,

an opportunity to see what is possible.

We as society, all of us have to accept

that if we want our society to grow and develop, we have to reach out.

We have to be determined to see it is as our responsibility

for the marginalised, to do the best we can.

Next week on Protecting Our Children:

I want my baby back as a baby. I don't want her back when she's two.

I want my daughter.

It's a little bit unconventional.

If you want to know more about the daily lives of social workers,

go to:

Follow the links to the Open University.

# I put a spell on you

# Because you're mine

# You better stop the things you do... #

Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd

e-mail [email protected]