Desperately seeking advice.. Should this be reported??

[Darkautumn]

Hi all

Please can someone help me understand if I'm BU or not?

DH works in a care home for vulnerable adults with autism and LD. There's been a few incidents of mistakes with the rota, and staff being a bit unprofessional at times, eg fighting amongst themselves etc.. But nothing to really worry about.

Yesterday DH rang me on his break quite angry and said that one of the women he works with had come in drunk, smelling of booze and slurring her words.

This apparently isn't the first time she's done this. DH said he mentioned it to another colleague and this guy just sort of shrugged it off, saying that it's "been brought up before but as she's best friends with the manager" nothing was done?!

So, DH doesn't know what to do.. I said you should escalate this to the senior manager but apparently she's mates with her too?
There is someone else even higher up...I said we should escalate it then, even higher until its dealt with?

DH is unsure of how to handle it. AIBU in thinking we shouldn't be letting this go?

Yes it most definitely should be reported. You need to report this to your local council and the Care Quality Commission-

www.cqc.org.uk/contact-us/report-concern/report-concern-if-you-are-member-public

Report this, it's safeguarding. He can do it anonymously as a whistleblower (helpful if he leaves his name and number for follow up but says it must be referred to as anonymous) to CQC and to local adult services department. Look up CQC and local Adult services numbers online and ring it through. It will get investigated.

Definitely report.
Those vulnerable adults need protection not staff fighting among themselves or being drunk.

It just makes me so mad that this stupid woman would put vulnerable people at risk like that.. And just because she's matey with someone nothing gets done.

He has to report it, if something went wrong on her shift he'd never forgive himself.

That’s awful. Is it a chain of care homes? Might be worth speaking to someone at head office. It’s unacceptable that she’s getting away with it because she’s friends with a manager.

It's the LA. Can he still report anonymously to the care Commission?

Hi OP, in this instance I would advise reporting as a safeguarding concern directly to adult social care. Sorry I don't know which area you're in but if you Google "adult social care Town" you should find the phone number fairly easily. You will usually speak to a non-qualified first who will take the basic details and then either pass you on directly to one of the qualified duty social workers or make arrangements to phone you back. Make it clear that due to working there you and DH are reporting in accordance with Whistleblowers protection. Then do the same with CQC (number is on their website). He's doing absolutely the right thing. Good luck

Report to CQC. Also the staff handbook should be a guide to the standard of behaviour expected of staff.

Has your dh read the latest CQC report on the home which can be downloaded from the website. Most well run homes would have a copy available for staff and visitors

Yes OP to It's the LA. Can he still report anonymously to the care Commission?

He can do it anonymously as a whistleblower to either agency. It is helpful if he leaves his details confidentially for follow
up (stops registered home manager from claiming "it's probably a disgruntled ex employee/malicious allegation, as btw we sacked someone recently" ).

CQC report safeguarding concern (alert)s to LA anyway. The fact it is a LA provider means it will get speedier resolution, as they have both roles. Different depts though (LA provider for that service v LA social work team investigating. No way that gets brushed under the carpet) . It results in a disciplinary whilst they investigate and even if becomes "he (anon) said/ she said" situ, which ultimately becomes inconclusive (but they will investigate to look for independent evidence) it is recorded on HR details of employee . i.e. any further reports of allegedly turning up drunk get a ramped up response.

Each LA has their own line of management reporting so he could just go above his Manager but in these circumstances it's be understandable for employee to go outside in whistleblow

No LA ever tolerate their staff turning up drunk. No matter if they are friends with the home manager!! Manager's job would be on the line too as a disciplinary as reported to him/her already , unless s/he started a disciplinary.

Sprey to PP, appreciate they are trying to be helpful, but OP's partner does not have to read latest CQC report.
Turning up drunk to work is never acceptable in LA nor any care nor NHS service.

The devil will be in the detail.tjoigh, (smelt of drink... Drunk... Any evidence... But it doesn't matter except for disciplinary action outcome, the allegation alone puts a shot accross the bowso that it might nip it in bud if ultimately becomes inconclusive and that's what your DP will want OP, that it doesn't happen again )

*Sorry to (nor Sprey!) Lol.silly phone!

Safeguarding officer within the company. Reported in confidence.

Ps. I am in the field working for one of those organisations as a investigating professional. So I can say YANBU and yes DP must report it. He will have had safeguarding training so really knows he has to report it , if manager have not acted upon it. Manager ought have sent employee home sick and raised disciplinary

Please report this to the cqc op! My son has severe autism (non verbal) and I use an agency for respite care. I hate not knowing what is going on when he is there. He is so vulnerable just like the people your dh looks after. Please protect them and report this person immediately!

I work in care and he needs to report it - he can go above his line manager if he feels he has to - this is a safeguarding concern and if it comes out that he knew about it and it wasn’t reported then he is at risk of being disciplined as well