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Original poster

Visited parent and house smelt of weed- should I report?

63 replies

smellysaurusmum · 14/06/2024 22:20

I work in one of the caring professions and visited the house of a family where the 7 year old daughter has severe medical needs. The house was a state, daughter was on the floor and moved around by crawling everywhere- she seemed happy and crawled over to me for a cuddle. Nothing in that home seemed like there were any safeguarding needs. However, from the minute I walked in, the smell of weed hit me between the eyes and stayed there until I left. Am I within my rights to report the family for drugs being on the premises or should I let go? I have really empathy for the parents dealing with what they are but also feel duty bound to report them. Having said that, other professionals will have been in and smelled the same and not reported the family- should I let it go?

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 14/06/2024 22:40

Am I within my rights to report the family for drugs being on the premises or should I let go?

I don't understand how you can even ask this? You surely know you're within your rights to report anything you're concerned about?

NerrSnerr · 14/06/2024 22:38

This is not the place to be asking this. You need to discuss it with your line manager.

PrincessTeaSet · 14/06/2024 22:37

If you're not sure, ask your boss.
Ask for this post to be deleted. Completely unprofessional!

Mumofteenandtween · 14/06/2024 22:37

The great thing about safeguarding training is that it teaches you that you don’t have to make difficult safeguarding decisions. All you have to do is report anything that makes you even slightly concerned to your safeguarding lead. They then make the difficult decisions.

HemmAyes · 14/06/2024 22:34

Am I within my rights to report the family for drugs being on the premises or should I let go?

Surely if you work in a caring profession you have done safeguarding training and your organisation has a clear procedure to follow if you have any concerns?
You should be discussing how to proceed with your senior not some random people on Mumsnet

OnceICaughtACold · 14/06/2024 22:33

You really should have a work policy on this.

Never, ever, let “but other professionals must have seen this” get in the way of you reporting something. That attitude is at the heart of virtually every serious case review I’ve ever read.

Tbskejue · 14/06/2024 22:32

There should be a safeguarding lead in your organisation to discuss this with. However yes report it; if you’re breathing it in then so are they

TeaKitten · 14/06/2024 22:31

You should be asking your boss about this not mumsnet.

sevsal · 14/06/2024 22:31

I work in one of the caring professions

What 'caring profession' leads you to home visits with absolutely no protocol to follow for things you might find?

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 14/06/2024 22:30

If you are in a caring profession then you'll have done safeguarding training which will tell you to report any concerns and how to do that within your organisation

You'll also have been told not to discuss clients with others so this post is ill advised

OhHelloMiss · 14/06/2024 22:26

You have safeguarding training surely?

Follow that

KickHimInTheCrotch · 14/06/2024 22:25

Also in your role (whatever that is) you will have policies about stuff like this which you should follow and if you still aren't sure speak to your supervisor.

KickHimInTheCrotch · 14/06/2024 22:23

Who will you report it to? Social services? Does the family already have a social worker? In which case yes you need to share your concerns about how well the child is being cared for and evidence of drug use. If you mean "reporting" it to the police I think that would be a bit heavy handed.