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.

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.
This shows a complete lack of understanding about Data Protection and it worries me that you sound like someone in a position where you are potentially mishandling other people's information.
You NEVER divulge personal identifying information without explicit permission to do so. There can be no presumption of permission.

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

Obviously you know more than the professionals in this thread, so I'm not going to argue with you. I am talking about adult social care btw. Fortunately, most people are genuine - like the OP - and just want to make sure that the adult at risk gets the help they need.

Chicken I hope you do follow this up through their procedure and if you need any help, drop me a PM. It's very important to have this followed up. They need to change their reporting systems and their practices to ensure that other people are not put off. You did a good thing, so I hope you are comforted by that. Lots of people do turn a blind eye for too long. Please keep pressing that it's a breach of the Data Protection Act. They will likely have an entire department dedicated to it. I'm sure you won't but don't mention that it's a safeguarding issue because it is, you aren't the at risk adult in this. Just keep pushing down the DPA line. There will be serious consequences for this, as there should be. Hopefully, the social worker will get a good bollocking and learn a harsh but necessary lesson. It's not nice to say that about a fellow professional but bad practice needs to be stomped out.

Obviously you know more than the professionals in this thread

Er, have you actually read the thread? Many posters have agreed that this is their fear and many professionals have expressed disgust at the lack of confidentiality. In my own personal experience, I have known of very damaging events following a breach of confidentiality of this nature.

I'm not sure what kind of professional you are but it's strange that you don't know how much people worry that a report to SS will get back to the individuals concerned - and also that you're unaware of the potential consequences for the people involved.

I work in mental health care for older people...I am horrified your confidentiality was not respected.

Social Services attitude towards Data Protection is alarming, if anyone thinks this isnt an issue or illegal your training needs updating.
The dept that OP reported to is going to be fined for a breach of the Data Protection Act.

Update. Earlier this evening police and ambulance crew took her away. Screaming. The daughter didnt seem to be there.

Say a wee prayer for them tonight if you are that way inclined.

Separately for those that asked about my reference, I'm waiting for a response from misinformation commissioner.

Oh chicken, I'm so sorry to hear that. These things are never easy but you so desperately hope a solution can be found before it gets to that point.

Hoping that you and your neighbours can breathe a little, horrible though it is, knowing she's being looked after at least tonight. It's shocking how we treat old age in this country - not necessarily anyone's fault but the lack of resources is shameful.

How very sad.

You did the right thing OP. Such a sad situation.

Thanks. I think I will probably sleep better than I have for a long time. For many reasons.

I was sad to see her go. She has lived in this stair for over 50 years and left it for the final time in her dressing gown in the dark. It could have been my own grandmother. The ambulance folk sounded very kind. I think they should have been calling her "Mrs X" though, rather than by her first name. Seemed a little disrespectful. Even though she is probably past caring.

Drat, got locked out my account. This is me, the OP, just getting this back to "threads I'm on".

slenderisthenight, you are funny; suggesting I didn't read but then blatantly ignoring where I said breaching confidentiality is not acceptable and even offering the OP advice and support. I'm an experienced adult social worker, thank you very much. What I said and I will say again is that many people do not usually have a concern about confidentiality not that I don't adhere to it. Of course I do. I even followed up by saying I hoped this bad practice would be stomped out but please do continue with selective reading.

That's really sad but unfortunately, completely necessary. I'm sorry for her and for you. However, you can sleep easy knowing that you probably saved her life. Even if her daughter can't see it right now, it's the right thing for this woman.

It's sad that it's come to this, but I'm glad that government services have appeared to promptly and acted.

The daughter may not thank you, but I'm sure she will be thankful that there are others now sharing the burden of her mother with her. It was clearly too much for her to be handling on her own. She couldn't have been happy with the situation, and her mother was clearly miserable.

I'm really sad for her, but well done you for doing what needed to be done, you are truly a good neighbour.

I will be praying for her, her family, and for you.

Aww thanks all. It's quite emotional really.
One day, that will be many of us, being taken away into nursing care. We can only hope the carers are kind and we are not in too much pain, mentally or physical.
Early night for me.

"Sadly there are some people who don't want social services poking their noses in, because it may mean the person is deemed to need residential care. and if this means the person's house being sold to pay the fees then the inheritance they were hoping for will be diminished."

and then the other side, SS don't do anything and leave people in "appalling conditions" and don't pluck them out of their homes and put them in nursing homes whether they want to go or not. Which, by the way, is against the law but hey, niceties.

So basically whatever happens SS are to blame.

Convenient, that. After all, it's not as if families have any responsibility at all for their loved ones.

Sadly, tocanconclude, families cannot physically make somebody accept help to live on their own when they get beyond coping or make them go into care even though it is better for them. There was a couple of ladies who lived near us who died and weren't discovered for a while which had the whole community up in arms but investigations showed they had refused all help from Social Services and their family. It is just horribly sad.