To report this to social services?

[evmil]

I picked DSS2 and his friend (both 14) up from the cinema about an hour ago. DSS's friend had a really swollen eye socket/cheek (it looked sore and just horrible). I casually asked him how it happened and he said he was arguing with his older brother and he punched him.

Now, i know brothers fight but his brothers are both late 20's (I'm not sure of exact ages) and this is, according to DSS2, not the first time a fight with one of them has left him with bruises. Also, i half joked about telling his mum so she could have a word with his brother and he said 'oh she knows, she says if i wind them up then i deserve it'.

I dropped him off at his and have been home about half an hour and the whole time i have been thinking about his face. I really don't want to interfere/ over react and i know some boys do fight, but i do feel his mum should be taking it a bit more seriously (I know i would be).

WIBU to tell social services or do i just leave it?

Oh god yes tell them!

I wouldn't. If school were concerned then they would have already reported.

I work with vulnerable families and am involved with a lot of Child Protection cases. I would report it. If it was the child's Dad or Mum's new boyfriend who had caused the injury then no one would hesitate to inform social care. There are adults in the home physically assaulting this boy and his Mum is failing to protect him from harm, the fact that it is a sibling who caused the injury is irrelevant.

I would report it. The emotional damage he is suffering is probably greater than the physical. I'm not usually one to suggest social services but I think this is bloody terrible.

Absolutely I would report it, he is a child being physically abused by an adult. If my adult child assaulted his younger sibling I'd be ringing the police myself never mind social services, it is totally unacceptable behaviour and tonteach a child that it was something he 'deserved' for winding somebody up is a disgrace

Yes, report it.

Yes report it.

Thank you all, I am going to report it.

Well done OP, you're doing the right thing.

i would speak to the mum to let her know you have noticed it but report erm i dunno i say speak to her first then make your decision

You don't need to speak to the mum, in fact I wouldn't if I were you. In a case where there is significant harm I would leave it to the experts.
Well done for reporting!

No don't speak to the parent first, this could escalate any further risk. Just ring social services and report.

OP, when you report this, make sure you tell SS that you do not want to be identified to the other family.

A report was made regarding my DCs to SS (they have ASD, scream a lot), a family member was concerned - and I was given a report containing the 'accusers' full name and address, with word for word details of the accusation.

When I questioned this, I was told it was in the interests of 'transparency'.

Bear in mind that if you contact SS after having talked to DSS2's friend then his family will know it was you, irrespective of whether or not you tell SS you don't want to be identified.