Issue at respite centre (I'm a neighbour) v long, sorry.

[Connundrum]

Just had the last (and worst) in a long long of issues. At the back of my house there's a path that leads up to a park. There are absolutely lots of kids out there all of the time.

On the other side of this path there's a respite and residential centre for children. They have a garden, then there's the path, then there's my garden.

There have always been things thrown over their fence so I put up a 6ft fence in my garden as we have had a few near misses.

Since the winter there has been a lad out there who is supposed to have 2-1 carers (I know this, and actually quite a lot about this lads situation as they talk very loudly when they do supervise him).

I put in a complaint once already because I know so much about his family situation, and the carers dim view of the family, and why, and the lad was out in all weather, snow rain etc, in shorts and tshirt, and the carers were sitting inside watching from the window.

Cut to today, the kids were on their bikes on the path, the lad said hi as he usually does when I'm out there supervising the kids, then he threw a metal knife over the fence that hit my dd and cut her.

I went up to the fence and shouted for his carers, who both came out, phones in hands, one with TikTok on, and told them what had happened and asked why they weren't supervising him, they told the lad off (not his fault at all) and apologised and said they were just sorting something out that's where they were.

I took dd in to sort her cut out, queue screaming from outside. I ran out and the kid was outside again, alone, and throwing multiple handfuls of quite large stones over the fence, hit quite a few of the kids including my 7yo dd, absolutely lots were launched over my fence into my garden.

I shouted for the carers again and they came out saying they couldn't deal with him today and they can't do anything about it and told him off again. He was throwing stones for a good 15 minutes before he decided to go in of his own accord.

Now I'm wondering if I should report again? It's not the kids fault so I don't want him to get into trouble. The problem isn't with this lad at all but with the lack of supervision he has.

I know the odd thing will happen but there are often instances like him being outside alone and older kids walking past and calling him the most awful names, to the point I go out and deal with them because the carers are nowhere to be seen.

The thought of my dcs being cooped up all summer because this poor lad is completely unsupervised and outside is filling me with dread.

I'm worried for my kids, and I'm worried for him.

Is there someone I should be reporting to (I'm in scotland) I don't think I want to report to the centre itself again because I don't want anyone to take it out on the lad either, and, to be totally honest, I have no faith in them at all.

I would 110% call the police.

I am the most low self esteem walkover imaginable. But I would still kick off about this. I would contact as many people as possible.

I see you have already spoken to Social Services but there are more links here learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-protection-system/scotland#heading-top
The Children's Reporter website looks very clear and says 'If you believe a child or young person is at risk (either because of their behaviour or the behaviour of the adults/carers looking after them), you should contact the local Reporter.' That would seem to cover the circumstances that you describe.

I would be ringing and writing a letter of complaint about this situation as 2 issues, he is not been supervised and 2 he is putting your children at risk and they are not doing their job properly. I would probably phone the police and explain the issue to them also as this will be ongoing unless something is done asap. This is shocking behavior but know that many careworkers are working under extreme pressure and trying to look after far too many people in their care and are paid crap low wages. Take photos also of injuries and stones and knife that was thrown over and write to the carehome to the manager of it as well as may not be aware of the situation.

Ok apologies I missed what this meant. I assumed it was due to behavioural issues which was the case with my residential centre next to my parents.

I would still call the police though as they will speak to the centre and if they are deemed to not be doing their job properly then the boy should be removed to a different centre.

If he’s able to throw knives around and even big rocks onto the path and into your garden it’s a danger to others and himself.

Regardless of it being the service users fault you need to call the police situation id clearly not working for him and they will report it to relevant people. In wales you eeport to csiw

I had similar, and a rock landed in my guinea pig's run, thank fuck he wasn't out there at the time. I backed into a private school, which had portacabins the other side of my fence, and another time the kids decided to stand on top and piss over the side. I called the police both times. They could have killed my piggy, and your dd could have been seriously injured.

I'd also have phoned the police.

Call the police . Any child of 10 who thinks throwing a knife at somebody is not a problem should not be in a public place unsupervised. The carers obviously don't give a shit. If it's not resolved I would be going to the local newspaper and My local MP in no particular order

I'm really pleased you have called the police. It's not only about the problems he is causing others - although that is serious. If he was so badly supervised he could access a knife he could have inflicted a serious injury on himself as well. So advising the police so that they can investigate why he was so inadequately supervised that he got hold of the knife is doing him a big service.

I would call the social service emergency number. It will be on their website.

This child needs proper supervision. I am the parent of a child who needs 2-1 and if it was not provided I would be really upset and mortified to hear they had hurt someone due to the correct care being provided.

Social services will be paying for this child to attend if council run so they need to know asap to give appropriate support.

I hope your children are ok.

You should contact the Care Inspectorate and detail the incidents. This is their job to regulate places of care and they are usually very responsive

Any child of 10 who thinks throwing a knife at somebody is not a problem should not be in a public place unsupervised.

He wasn't in a public place 🙄

How did they account for the fact that he had access to a knife. I would be taking it up with the management not the carers, and as another poster said contacting the police.

And was supposed to be supervised, which is the entire subject of this thread.

I'd be absolutely calling the police - why is a 10 year old even able to access sharp blades? That in itself would concern me enough to warrant a call to the police. I don't think for a second that he'd be held accountable, however the police would be able to expedite any referral or report to social services.

The boy may not be responsible for his actions, but the failing of his 'carers' has meant that your child was injured by a knife. I'm sorry to say it but this could have been far, FAR worse than it is, it's only a matter of time if he's already got access to kitchen knives.

You really should report this to the police OP. You're children have been attached with a knife and with stones.
As you say, it's not the fault of the child who attacked them as it sounds like he doesn't have the capacity to control this behaviour. However, the carers who were supposed to be looking after him, and the management of the home are very much at fault. How on earth did a child with these kind of needs come to be alone in the garden with a kitchen knife? After he threw the knife at your daughter, why was he left alone to throw stones at your other child?

This needs to be reported to the police asap so that the police can follow up with social services and other appropriate authorities on these serious safeguarding concerns.

I've spoken to the police, they said they will also contact the relevant people to report my concerns and will also try and get out there tonight to discuss it with the manager. They took an outline of my concerns and have said they will call me back if they need me to provide a statement, and asked if I could provide the details of the other children who were hurt if need be, which I will as well.

Hopefully they are able to get rid of some of the 'carers' and get some decent ones in for him. He really is a lovely lad, it's heartbreaking when he gets abuse shouted over the fence and he cries and questions why the boys are being unkind

The carers literally told him off and said nothing about the knife, I didn't question them because I was busy sorting dd out and then getting the other kids sorted. I wish I had said a bit more to them now.

Don't feel bad about reporting this OP.

Fundamentally we are talking about a very vulnerable child who is not being appropriately looked after.

If he needs 2-1 supervision that absolutely should not encompass being watched through a window or either worker occasionally glancing up from their social media feed.

There is a clear danger to your children and to the child himself. How did he even get hold of a knife? That absolutely should not have happened nor the ability to throw stones.

I'm glad you've spoken to the police and SS. It's right fir you to do both.

This definitely needs reporting to the care commission and your local council. There could be an even more dangerous incident, this lad is patently disturbed, and needs another assessment of needs

Hi @Connundrum you sound really understanding of this poor lad and how it's not his fault.

I'd really encourage you to report to Police Scotland and explain how your issue is with the carers, not the boy himself. This is more likely to achieve the home actually getting things sorted. You've already raised issues directly with the respite care home and nothing has been done, and the carers obviously need further training or additional staff. You can't have your DC cooped up inside especially when it's one of our few lovely days!

Oops sorry I didn't post when I thought I had and see you've gone to the police. You've done the right thing and it'll benefit the boy too x

I'm glad you've spoken to the police and they're going to take it further with other authorities too, though good luck to them speaking to the manager tonight! Most care management has gone by 5pm.
The home is failing to protect the child in question, other children in their care and the general public from harm.
Though this is what happens when care is an 'unskilled' occupation, training is at the bare minimum, staff are treated badly and recruitment is through the floor, in the name of saving or making money. The carers may well be bad ones, but I'd also hazard a guess that the staffing ratio is low and the training isn't great.
This is the reality of social care.

Defo a report to social services and the care inspectorate.
I would also make a report to the police as they will also raise a concern with social services. Without more information I suppose we don't know if the boy knows right from wrong (which is possible regardless of his support needs / diagnosis). Either way, it will flag up that he is not being properly supported and his care needs may need to be reviewed.

The boy will not be blamed. It’s was the fault of the adults - who let him have a knife in the garden when he throws things!

You need to call the Police. It isn't the child who will get into trouble. He is in a specialised home where they are supposed to be meeting his needs. They aren't doing this, so either they need to buck up their ideas and do the job properly or find somewhere that can meet his needs. They are letting this kid down. Don't help them do this by just complaining to the home.