I'm right to call social services aren't I?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

I am sure I am but questioning myself after some comments made to me.

Long story but the short (and for reasons that will become clear, non outing) version is that a vulnerable adult came into my place of work today. After some digging myself and a colleague found out where he lived, a warden controlled flat so no restrictions on going out etc. Miles away from where I work. It was immediately obvious that his health condition means he should no longer be living without more support. He was underdressed in a fairly major way, and didnt know where he was.

I contacted the people who run the facility who contacted his family. A family member came out and was frankly vile. They got him into the car park and was literally screaming at him. That he is an embarrasment, was selfish and didnt care what problems he caused them. It was absolutely horrible. I couldnt intervene as I couldnt leave the building.

I called the facility back and told them what had happened and asked if there was anything they could do and they have passed the information on to his carers who go in several times a day, but that isnt enough is it?

I want to call SS on Tuesday and ask them to a) look into whether he is i the proper setting for his needs and b) whether there is abuse going on as it certainly seemed that way to me. He is known by some people and I have been told that after he went into this flat the family member sold his house and has been living a life not usual to someone on their income, and significantly different to the lifestyle they had before. I know that is hearsay but having seen what I did today, I wouldnt be surprised to find out they were taking his money.

But, despite all this I am being told I should "stay out of it, its none of our business" but surely it is?! When a vulnerable person is verbally abused in public, what the hell will they do in private? Another family member who didnt stop the verbal abuse, just stood and watched, is very involved with something at my place of work so if it came out that it was me who had called SS there would be ructions, but I still feel I have to. I was told I shouldnt risk my job for this man.

I am doing the right thing aren't I?

...and you don't know how often thus happens.maybe they are called out several times a week and the stubborn bigger refuses to go into a care home.
Being cross with someone and telling them so us not abuse

I would also repeat the gossip you heard, but make it clear that this is gossip you were told and don't know if it is true.
Sadly social workers do deal with vulnerable adults where those who will inherit try to stop expensive care being provided.

Dana and you have no idea of what has gone on at other times either. The point of safeguarding reports is that the social workers investigate whether this is a one off incident, or part of a pattern. You still report though as a bystander.

Dana
Your comments are supposition and fabrication.

Pyongyang
I totally agree you should report it. Why do people think you shouldn’t intervene because this is an adult? They are no different from a child or vulnerable teen.

Thee is a huge difference legally and ethically between an adult and a minor child

It isn't usually family that stop elderly person going into care, it is the elderly person who refuses to cooperate.

I think you should report what you've seen, and pass on the gossip, as gossip. And note you are concerned.
I dont think you should ask the questions regarding him having appropriate levels of care, or suitability if accomadation. That is for SS to question, not a lay person.

Yanbu. Definitely report everything you have seen and heard.

So what if there is a huge difference legally and ethically. Both deserve to be safe and well cared for and not subjected to abuse. This was far more than “Being cross”.

I meant to say I would also report the gossip as gossip in case there is an element of truth.

You are absolutely right.

The world needs more people who put humanity above employment.

Dana that is not always true. Sometimes family do stop a vulnerable person going into care to safeguard their inheritance.

I wouldn't report the 'gossip' as it will come across as exactly that, and undermine your report. Stick to what you actually saw and heard.
The comments blaming a vulnerable person for being abused and minimising it, 'cross' really are appalling.

I disagree. I think it is fine to say I was told this, but I have no idea if it is true or not. Gossip often helps social workers get to the truth of what is happening. And it is relatively easy to prove or disprove this particular piece of gossip.

Call them OP - that is exactly what SS is there for. People not sticking their head above the parapet costs lives. People are confusing doing the right thing to help someone with the kind of people who call SS with a personal vendetta against, say, a parent rather than doing it for the benefit of the child.

AbsolFuckinLutely Yes you are right to call. And I Thank You for doing so.

(((((Madd Hugs))))🔆🌻🔆

Vague for obvious reasons. My colleague didn’t report an underdressed child because she was under the impression the family were trying there best with what little they had and she didn’t want to make their life harder. Until she met the dad in a high end car dressed to the nines. She reported it then and the mum and kids got help but my point is she didn’t have the full picture and it wasn’t her place to make the decision about what was happening.

Vulnerable adults have far fewer people looking out for them. Surely it’s enough that he couldn’t have made it home himself? What if you hadn’t thought to call someone to pick him up?

Dana nowhere does the OP say this was an elderly person, just that they were an obviously vulnerable adult. Either way, screaming at either an elderly person or a vulnerable person in the street in n abusive manner doesn't help anything.

I do know elderly people are often stubborn about moving into a care home, sometimes because it's not their home that they've lived in for years and sometimes because they want to safeguard their money for their heirs. Unlikely to be the first in this case, as the person is already in a warden controlled flat and not their own house.

As others have said OP you if you saw a child, or even a pet abused in this way you’d do something about it. Things like this probably go unreported because people are reluctant to get involved, but trust your gut on this.

Also elderly people are often stubborn about moving into a home because so many of them are shit.

Any chance you have CCTV images of this?

You are right to call SS OP. If you see something say something.
Sometimes it could be something little. There might be other people that have said sth too. It matters.

Please call Social Services with your concerns & observations.
You will find a phone number for adult social services
on the local authority website - it is often a 24 hour service & it is so for good reason.

You sound lovely and Safeguarding vulnerable people should be everybody’s concern.

I think if you don’t report it you’ll think about it all the time.

@Dana28 so, judging by your comments, you think that the OP should not get involved and just leave things as they are, rather than have SS assess the situation to ensure all is well? Is that right?