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.

The vast majority of adult social care work is relatively benign. We get lots and lots of referrals from concerned neighbours, family members, or professionals saying they think Mrs Z needs support.

My typical day is spent ringing people like Mrs Z saying things along the lines of...

'Hi Mrs Z it's hatgirl I'm one of the SWs from MN county council, I'm ringing because we have had a referral for you from your friend/daughter/district nurse suggesting you might benefit from a care assessment to see if there is anything we can do to help you at home, would it be okay if I came out to see you tomorrow to have a chat about it? Good ok, see you at 2pm'

Unless friend/daughter/district nurse has specifically said they don't want to be identified as having made the referral generally people see nothing wrong with that or consider it as having broken any kind of confidentiality.

People are mainly decent and dont go round threatening to put a brick through the window of someone who was trying to help. We would usually expect if someone was concerned about something like that happening that it would be clear in the initial referral that they wanted to remain anonymous and why, and that would be respected.

I'm not saying we don't occassionally make mistakes, we do, I've been involved with a situation where someone clearly said they wanted to remain anonymous and the SW just didn't see it on the referral. They rightly got bollocked and were very upset at the mistake they had made and sincerely apologised in person.

But surely hatgirl, it would be safer to have confidentiality as default and ask each caller individually if they mind their name being used?

This happened to us. We frequently heard next door neighbours young child screaming help at night, being left unattended for long periods of time and never leaving the house (amongst other things). Rang ss for advice, few weeks later neighbour on doorstep screaming at us. She was told specifically it was us. She admitted that she had to get rid of her dog because she could be even cope with a dog and that she was not coping with a child...luckily child then began to attend nursery etc and situation appeared to improve. Was not impressed with ss for naming and shaming though

I agree confidentiality should be the default. I have worked with sw in the past and that's how they operated.

People are reluctant to report anyway (fear of reprisal/confrontation, fear of making matters work for potential victims of abuse, fear of being thought 'meddling' - wtf! By the way pre 'meddlers' abusers got away with far more!)

Putting reporters at risk is just plain stupid.

Regarding this particular mother and daughter I wouldn't assume.

Daughter could be negligent/abusive/financially motivated/mentally ill herself

Mother could have in the past been abusive/neglectful and that's why the daughter is finding it hard to sympathise/be motivated to help her.

Victim blaming is rather revolting.

How can the OP know what adult SS systems & processes are, and how they stack up against the public understanding is? The person that should know that is the person who is actually qualified and experienced in that profession. And it's a completely reasonable expectation that the professionals doing this day in day out will ask all the questions needed to get all the info needed.

OP, I'm afraid I've found adult as in my area to have absolutely no respect for others confidentiality, whether that's a concerned person or the adult needing care. Apparently it's fine to breach confidentiality and data laws with no accountability.

I'd definitely advise you to go through their internal complaints system as they will be very happy to ignore any complaints that haven't gone through the right channels (& if I were being particularly cynical is say some people might be happy when complaints don't get made in this way as then they can be ignored and not recorded or included in stats).

I'm so glad you did report this poor lady as it sounds like she needed more care than the daughter can give her. Hopefully it will lead to help.

You did the right thing. And I can completely understand why you'd be dubious about complaining to the very people who gave away your details. I can also understand why the shock and upset of them having done this might make you want to go straight to publicity.

I don't see why it's your fault or why mentoring the press means you're suddenly a bad person!

You did the right thing. And if you can face it, complaining will (eventually) have a positive effect as well.

Well yes, although I can't speak for all local authorities anyone who rings/submits an online form to the one I work for will be asked if they want to remain anonymous.

They mainly don't have any wish to remain anonymous. If they do it is marked on the referral.

Most people have no problem with the people they have referred knowing who referred them because most of the stuff we deal with is fairly run of the mill adult social care.

OP You did the right thing love. Hope your complaint gets resolved soon.

One of the reasons we have the press is to make public bodies accountable. It's a valuable function and stops them being able to operate in secrecy.

It is wrong and damaging to vilify people for making the press aware of occasions when public bodies are not being accountable.

Try living in a country where there is no free speech and see if the equivalent of SS gives a toss about your complaints.

hatgirl exactly. You and I are on the same page. We are not excusing breaches of confidentiality but people on here seem to think that we have a plethora of people who want to remain anonymous when it's simply not the case. The vats majorly of these sorts of contacts are from concerned neighbours or shopkeepers or others in the local community who want to share information that we might not otherwise be receiving.

You did the right thing, you can sleep at night knowing you reached out for help.

Thanks all. I've been on the phone to my mum, just had to talk to someone as I feel a little emotional after the stress of today. (And last night, she was screaming a lot so it wasn't a good night sleep-wise for me).

My referral was pretty sensitive because it basically said she was a danger to herself and others, is distressed day and night and that she/the family needed intervention. No-one wants to be told their mother is to be put in a nursing home especially against her wishes. So it wasn't a run of the mill "x thinks you might need a little help".

Chicken Don't worry, you did the right thing but I promise you, it is still very common. This is especially true given that we are dealing with more complex cases in all areas. I can't tell you how many times I deal with calls like yours. Honestly, it's not a big deal and it is run of the mill to us in that we see if all the time but obviously it doesn't feel like that to people who are outsiders. Hopefully, the woman will get the help that she needs. :)

Chicken one day, when she is receiving the support she must so desperately need, the daughter will possibly silently thank you.
You are effectively forcing her hand in an untenable situation.
It is so awful when an elderly person is convinced they are safe and can cope, especially when they feel betrayed by their loved ones for needing help/ relocation.
You have done the right thing. Certainly no meddling

(name changed to respond to this as I don't want it linked to my posting history)

I work in mental health care for older people.

Well done for taking some action when raising concerns with the family - the obvious appropriate first step - did not achieve anything.

So often in our work we may know or suspect someone is vulnerable but not have the evidence to take action. Someone like you reporting concrete information can make a huge difference.

I am horrified your confidentiality was not respected. I don't know what to say about that - with some families it could cause huge problems if they knew who reported a problem, though often they could guess anyway. Please follow the complaints procedure to stop something like this happening again and to ensure staff training is raised as an issue.

Well done OP, I hope you take this further. Social Services need to take data protection seriously. Hopefully they will be fined.
I dont think any instance of a breach of data protection should be taken lightly. It stops people reporting for one thing.

Regarding your current situation with your neighbour.

Who can you call every time she is screaming? That must be horrendously distressing for you, your neighbour and anyone else who can hear her.
I would be worried about a "the boy who cried wolf" type of situation. Screaming is just ignored but what if she actually needs help?

Is it worth asking non emergency police for their advice? They may then also refer this lady to SS

Im a sw in another country and here the person who is reported has a right to know who reported them. It is not a breach of persondataloven. Unless you report anonymously ie on the phone. Oh and you are required by law to report child abuse and neglect if you know it is happening.

It is a bit rubbish that you arent warned that your name isnt protected though. Is there nothing on the website to this effect?

I know lots of people are shouting common sense but that doesnt trump legal proceedures.

I am sorry that this is stressing you out, if there are any threats please report to the police. I think the daughter probably feels very undermined, but thats not an excuse. They need help and you absolutely did the right thing.

How is your new job btw? And how far have you got with the reference thing? Im still rooting for you!

One of the reasons we have the press is to make public bodies accountable. It's a valuable function

No. the press is not an effective way of ensuring accountability. It's dangerous.

There's are other ways in which public bodies are accountable - people should follow those. The press is a last resort.

I didn't think referrals like this were kept quiet? Unless you somehow did it anonymously?

Is it worth asking non emergency police for their advice? They may then also refer this lady to SS

There's the MN 101 obsession again. No crime has been committed, it's nothing to do with the police.
The social services referral has already been made, by the OP.

OP you did the right thing. In my line of work I see so many vunerable Elderly people living alone, who to me over the years of seeing them, obviously need a lot of help and assistance that the family can't provide. It's obviously distressing having to look at care homes when the person doesn't want to move but sometimes it's the kindest decision.
The daughter is probably feeling guilty for not being able to help her mum and is projecting this to anger with you.
Unfortunately it's a taboo that the families of people with dementia are entitled to their own lives and free time.
The home care system unfortunatey does not have enough funds to pay for the type of care these people require and a lot is left to the overused emergency services.

There's are other ways in which public bodies are accountable - people should follow those. The press is a last resort.

Who said she wasn't following the official complaints system first?

And yes, it most certainly is a valuable function of the press and it is dangerous not to use it.

people on here seem to think that we have a plethora of people who want to remain anonymous when it's simply not the case

Rubbish. A common fear for most people reporting concerns is that they will come under fire for being the one who 'blew the whistle'.

OP, absolutely you did the right thing in a very distressing situation. I am amazed that Social Services would reveal your identity to anyone. Joe Public, out here, has little confidence in them, anyway, due to the numbers of people - particularly vulnerable children - who slip through the net and die whilst they are being "monitored" by SS.

People report concerns on the understanding their details will not be divulged. SS are perfectly aware of this. It makes me seethe.

Not only is this a serious breach of confidentiality. It's also a safe guarding issue. Her dd could be the type of person to throw a brick through your window,
I'd definitely complain. I fear confidentiality issues like this will make people blind eye. I mean no one is going to put themselves or their own family at risk for someone else. No matter how concerned they are