Mum left 'shaking and intimidated' after son placed on Child Protection Register

The mum of a six-year-old boy with autism and severe learning disabilities said she has been left "shaking" and "intimidated" after her son was placed on the Child Protection Register (CPR).

Danielle McQuillan said she does not understand why Zac was registered and says she had been seeking more overnight respite care to help her cope with his complex needs and to spend more time with her daughters.

Zac is non-verbal and his mum said his behaviour can be extremely challenging, including stripping off his clothes and running away when they are out.

The South Eastern Health Trust, who placed him on the register, has been contacted for comment.

The CPR is a register of children who have been identified as being at risk of significant harm.

Eamonn McNally, senior lawyer at the Children's Law Centre, said his organisation is increasingly seeing the CPR used in cases involving children with complex disabilities and additional needs when they are not at risk.

"We have a number of families with significant needs who are under extreme pressure they're at burn out because of a lack of service and support," he said.

"That shouldn't equate to a registration on the child protection register that should equal support being put in place to keep that family together."

When a child is placed on the CPR social workers will typically carry out unannounced visits to witness the family in a regular day-to-day setting.

McQuillan said these visits can be "intimidating" as she does not know why her son has been placed on the register.

"I've been trying to get some overnight respite as I want to be a mum to my girls as well as Zac," she said.

"I had a disagreement with a social worker about getting a break and they said 'we can't parent your child more than we already do'.

"That really hit a nerve with me as someone who works very hard to be a good parent."

McQuillan said the exchange left her feeling "upset and crying".

The next day, she said, two social workers called to her home to inform her that they would be holding a child safeguarding conference with a view to putting Zac on the CPR.

A child safeguarding conference is organised if a child is considered at risk of significant harm.

It usually involves agencies such as social services, medical professionals and schools, meeting with a child's family to share information, identify risks and outline what needs to be done to protect the child, according to the NSPCC.

The conference involved 17 health and education professionals, according to McQuillan, with each asked to vote on whether Zac should be registered.

The decision was taken to place him on the register.

McNally from the Children's Law Centre, was McQuillan's representative at the meeting.

The organisation has called for a review of the process, describing it as "out of date and not fit for purpose".

The NSPCC said the CPR allows relevant agencies, such as emergency responders and schools, to check if a child they are working with is known to be at risk.

McQuillan said being placed on the register has increased her anxiety and stress.

"It has meant the social workers have turned up unannounced at my home," she said.

"I just feel like I'm being watched for a reason that I don't know."

She said on one occasion she took Zac to McDonald's and returned home to find two social workers parked outside.

"I was shaking, I felt so intimidated," she continued.

I think it's because there isn't a proper reason as to why he's been put on it they're almost trying to find a reason now which is why they're turning up."

McNally said families who find themselves on the register can sometimes feel there has been an overreach by social services.

"And what I mean by that is you have people coming into your home checking you out.

"That doesn't actually add anything to the family, in fact it takes away from the time that they have with their child."