The social worker has no control over he can reside (as long as it's not in the home until your daughter is older).

Let me ask you, what would you personally like to do to help with the reunification process? My daughter has continued contact with her dad whenever possible. I plan to take things slowly, and as she feels comfortable. I've told her that we don't take the next step until she is ready. We all knew he wouldn't be allowed back until she was at least 18, so we have plans in place for where he could go if he is released before then. If he isn't released until afterwards, then we would work slowly into him moving back home (if she still resides here). We plan on family counseling to help us all through the reunification process. When I shared this with CPS, they were comfortable with our plan, seeing that I had our daughter's safety and comfort my first priority.

Thank you for your reply.

My husband currently visits us every weekend under a safety plan, I supervise him 100% of the time & he can't stay with us. I know children's service are currently happy with my protective capabilities, as the girls aren't classed as at risk, despite their regular contact with dad.

In terms of my preparation, they're sending me on a 10 week course - 'women as protectors' which will allow them to evidence that they have 'educated me to the risks' of contact with my husband. It's a bit of a joke really, as I've already read all the theory they cover on the course, plus I'm a teacher & as such do child protection training every 2 years!

No, the social worker can't dictate the town where he lives, but she's made it v clear that if she's not happy with anything we do, she will escalate the girls' level to 'at risk', which makes life a whole lot more difficult. My husband's probation officer also wants him to stay put for now, which is v frustrating as the course they are sending him on is located between where we both live - he can move & still maintain attendance on the course.

Social work are very difficult sometimes. I imagine your long term plan will be similar to mine with the end result being "a normal family life", if that's what you want the they must help you to achieve that. They will go through risk factors and how to reduce them and what the next step will be. They work closely with your husbands associations and will calculate his level of risk which will reduce after his course has started.

The best idea is to both stay where you are the now, that way they can assess what's working, what isn't and you tell them the travel isn't working. They can give you ideas how to make it easier.

They are a bit daunting at first but I don't mind my social worker anymore.