to be furious at Social Worker disclosing to my neighbour that I reported safety concerns about her?

[ChickenVindaloo]

You may have read my thread about being concerned for my elderly neighbour (early 90s, frequently falling, failing to wear emergency buzzer, screaming and crying in distress at all hours). The unanimous verdict was yes, report it to SW dept. I did so.

Today I got a missed call and a ranting text from my neighbour's daughter about "how dare I" report her/her mother? I was at work and could do nothing. I was scared they would be battering my door down or goodness knows what.

I phoned SW dept. They admitted they revealed my name and the full details of my concerns. They suggested I email complaints@(sw depts) about the breach of confidentiality/data protection.

AIBU to be furious and think they are not taking any of this seriously and should I report to information commissioner/press?

I am home now and all is quiet so far...I live alone.

Thanks.

I had to report neighbours to the police once (neighbour being assaulted by adult son) and I was worried that the neighbour would find out it was me. The police told us they would never tell them, and in fact once it all died down the neighbour told me that the police told her that someone walking past the house had heard the commotion and rung them to report it.

In my view, SW should never have revealed to the daughter that it was you who contacted them.

Maybe the daughter moaning because she hasn't gripped this herself....I've found that anyone you call out on anything immediately makes you into the bad guy.

Social services made a mistake, you have every right to complain using the complaints procedure.

Going to the press will achieve nothing other than the naming and shaming of the worker involved. If he or she is really unlucky the nationals will pick it up too. Sounds to me more like you want some kind of revenge rather than want to protect the general public.

Revealing the informant could be really dangerous for some people. I lived in a very rough area and used to phone the police everytime I heard fights outside my house. I hate to think what would have happened to me if the police had ever given out my name.

Although I will think twice in future before "meddling in people's affairs", that poor old lady could be ME one day, alone and vulnerable so yes I will ALWAYS do the right thing and report.

I have texted the daughter back saying I'm sorry for the upset. I have been very supportive throughout and phoned/texted her lots of times when I've heard her mother upset. Sometimes she comes, sometimes she doesn't. She says sometimes her going round makes her more upset.

Revenge on who? The SW dept? Well I'm pretty annoyed yes and I want the guilty party to be bollocked.

But revenge against the family? Absolutely not.

Are you sure they told her it was you? Or did she guess from what information you gave?

You still did the right thing. I hope she gets the care she needs now.

You call and text the daughter, I wouldn't be surprised if she guessed it was you and then told you the social worker revealed your name just to smoke you out

And I say Bless You, Chicken. I know the daughter finding out is stressful, but please please know that you have done a truly wonderful thing. As my own grandmother would have said; "You've earned another jewel in your Heavenly crown". Many may disagree, but I feel that we are our brother's (or sister's) keeper and that looking out for the vulnerable is a cornerstone of civilized society.

I worked with the elderly and saw and heard about some things that I would not wish on my worst enemy. And it would probably stun you to know how many families turn a blind eye to the needs of elderly relatives and get furious when they find out that a concerned neighbour or police has raised concerns. How can someone not care about an elderly mother, father, grandparent? How can they be so inhuman?

Yes. Revenge on the person who made mistake.

Report to your local rag, let the daily fail pick it up and plaster their name and photo alongside an entirely fabricated story. If you're really lucky they might get door stepped at work.

Or just, you know, follow the complaints procedure and let them have a fair disciplinary hearing.

The SW if they did reveal the name which I'm beginning to doubt just needs reminded that could have consequences, but sounds likes she could have said a neighbour reported some concerns by way of an explanation for being there and the obvious person was OP

I spoke to the SW who revealed my name and she admitted she did so. She clearly had absolutely no understanding of why that was wrong. She does need a disciplinary/training, yes. She should not be in such a position of power/responsibility with such a basic level of incompetence.

The fact you want to go to the tabloids speaks volumes about your act of kindness

Quick

OP's says she won't report it to newspapers

People don't always understand that the disciplinary procedure (triggered by a complaint) is about accountability and improving the service, not telling tales.

I would urge you to follow the proper channels in making your complaint. If they make a mess of it then absolutely make your concerns known to a wider audience - that is one of the functions of the press.

No, the SW and her manager have admitted they revealed my name "because Mrs X asked us who it was".

Thank you to all the supportive posters. I could never look at myself in the mirror if for example she had fallen and then died alone on the floor. Or set the place on fire.

I have always criticised people turn away and do nothing when they see cruelty or injustice. But now I sort of see the temptation.

No one is going to get bollocked OP if you didn't make it clear you wanted to remain anonymous. The SW didn't do anything wrong if you didn't, they can only go off the information they are given.

If my manager received this complaint you would receive a polite letter back in response acknowledging you are upset but the complaint itself wouldn't be upheld.

A basic level of competence would have been checking the remain anonymous box. I think you were right to report if you had concerns but you're BU to want a SW disciplined over this

The post at 19.00 made me think that she had changed her mind yoda

I think people need to understand the implications of contacting the press.

Well it does appear the SW dept accept they did something wrong, seeing as how they are doing an "internal investigation" and logging it as a breach of confidentiality.

It's against common sense and also discourteous to pass information on and not warn you!

The social worker didn't understand why she shouldn't have kept things confidential? Good grief, that's appalling - and incredibly stupid. This is a safeguarding issue.

What if (God forbid) your poor neighbour has been suffering 'elder abuse' from the family member?

You did the right thing.

It sounds like confidentiality has been breached, and I hope you follow through with a complaint about SS procedures when they receive reports such as yours.

I hope your neighbor's daughter calms down and realizes she and her mother need more help than they are getting, wanted or not.

So what's your problem then if they already said they would look into it?

If my manager received this complaint you would receive a polite letter back in response acknowledging you are upset but the complaint itself wouldn't be upheld.

And that's why people get frustrated when their concerns aren't taken seriously.

Because "looking into it" doesn't necessarily suggest that they're taking it seriously enough. I'm not complaining about a crap meal in a restaurant. I'm trying to gauage (with my thread on here) just how seriously this should be taken.

I've been lucky enough never to have been in touch with SW dept before so trying to assess. Whilst also shitting myself that I'm about to get a brick through my window.