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?

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

Thats absolutely NOT true Dana safeguarding of vunerable adults has the same legal status as safeguarding of chiodren and teens.

Every organisation dealing with vunerable adults must have the same sort of safeguarding policies and regulation as those working with children

Police take the safeguarding of vunetable adults as seriously as they do children.

Every coucil must have an adult safeguarding team as part of their social care departments

There is no differece legally! What is sad and worrying is you feel that there is morally a difference i'm thankful to see the majority dont feel like you .

Too often you hear of people (adults and children alike) being let down, being left in a vulnerable position when something could have been done

You are absolutely NOT unreasonable and I would have done the same thing. Someone telling you that it's not your business is a grade A wanker. You've done the right thing, don't let people make you doubt yourself.

This is a safeguarding issue and you are totally right, this needs to be reported. If nothing is wrong then at least a vulnerable person has been checked up on but if there is an issue, you've protected them.

You're absolutely right to report this.

From the other side, someone once reported me to SS when my toddler somehow got out of the house when I was in the shower.

SS turned up on my doorstep (to their credit they were lovely). It was a shock at first but I was really pleased that someone acted on their concerns for my child instead of 'minding their own business.'

But your are responsible for your child.ypu have legal duty to look after them .Not so an elderly relative, yet nevertheless on this case they did turn out to rescue him.You can force appropriate care on a child.Not necessarily the case with a ' confused' elderly

Report it,

@Dana reporting this isn't to punish the family but to try and ensure that a vulnerable person is getting their needs met

If my child turned out to be a vulnerable adult, and a family member was showing such horrid behaviour in public then I’d be glad of the SS intervention.

Thank you for caring

Danna they turned up and abused tje relative. Your posts are actally really upseting that you think like this.

You can enforce appriote care on elderly people and social serves very often do.

As i said before adult safegauding is taken verg seriously by councils, social services, and police

Prehaps look up the 2014 care act

I worked in a safeguarding related field...

An alert is simply that, it alerts ss that people are concerned and can help build a picture. For example a vulnerable man had several put in .
1)corner shop reported man was often comming in and buying lots of cigarettes, and giving them to others outside
2) one of his carers reported that he was burning through large sums of money
3) neighbour reported that lots of dodgy looking people were in and out of his flat

Ultimately each report on its own is nothing illegal or that warrants immediate action, however all of them combined allows a picture to be built.

You're simply raising it as a concern. This means social services are aware, doesnt meant that youre saying they need to be arrested or that the man is outright being abused.

Safeguarding can be a good way of not only starting investigations into abuse but also get other agencies involved. Ive seen it result in more suitable housing, increased mental health care etc and support for families because it means people are aware that things are difficult.

The case above resulted in the man involved getting increased support.

You can enforce appriote care on elderly people and social serves very often do
Wrong. Only can be forced to accept care if the person is sectioned by 2 doctors.

Ss will do nothing.

By 'abusing' him do you mean told him off for wandering off half dressed.
Howling with laughter at the thought of social services giving a monkeys about that.

You absolutely should call social services. I'm a great believer in saying something if you believe something is wrong you could also contact the police for a welfare check and explain your suspicions about the financial aspect of things.

I have a DB with significant MH issues and who has been assessed as autistic recently. He’s 51. (He without doubt also has PTSD following abuse as a child, same as DSis and me).

It’s harder to get help for vulnerable adults. SS doesn’t help if family take responsibility for their family member. We’ve had to back off from my DB so that he gets SS support. He is with MIND as well.

I don’t know whether SS will do much (we’ve banged our heads against brick walls for years so I’m a bit sceptical), but if he is on their records they do need to know that the family is not coping and could do with extra support.

Sorry for my gloomy outlook, our experience where my DB is concerned has made me very sceptical.

OTOH, SS were great where my DH’s DGF was concerned. He’d recently lost his DS (DH’s DF, who had been killed in a car accident), and then his DW, who had died of a broken heart, I think. He had to go into hospital for a few weeks, then a SW was assigned to him, who I honestly can’t praise highly enough.

So I don’t want to be too discouraging.

By 'abusing' him do you mean told him off for wandering off half dressed.

No I mean screaming at him, calling him names, calling him an embarrassment, saying he was selfish, forcing him into a car when he didnt want to go. All this when they knew people could see and hear them, what will they do when there are not witnesses?

Anyway, reported and SS agreed that it was definitely a safeguarding issue, they will be following it up.

Well done, OP, you did the right thing. Hopefully SS will take action.

Dana28 Again you stated "Not necessarily the case with a ' confused' elderly". Nowhere has the OP indicated that this is an elderly person possibly suffering from dementia, just that they are a vulnerable adult.

A "family member" could be anything from a son/daughter, brother/sister, parent or more distant relationship - e.g. the closest "blood relative" my second cousin has is me, as our mothers were cousins.

Wrong. Only can be forced to accept care if the person is sectioned by 2 doctors

Oh really can i sue my social services then because all of my care has been 'enforced' on me with precicelly NO import from any doctors. They've chosen the care providers, tje care providers have xhosen my team of support workers, admitadly i chose my key worker.

As has been pointed out vunrable adult could actially mean some one as young as 18, i'm classec as a vunerable adult and i'm 38. My ex lived in supported accomedation much as described by the op, and is 45.
My forner best friend from our residental college moved straight in to supported accomadation as described in the OP at 17 and a half. Again care selected and enforced by socual services.

Howling with laughter at the thought of social services giving a monkeys about that

Well thankfully unlike you social services, have a damn sight better understanding of safegaurding than you and were concerned.

I would be howling witj laughter at your replys if they werent so concerning

Oh really can i sue my social services then because all of my care has been 'enforced' on me
Well it depends how long ago and what the law was then.If it had happened now, then yes.Nobody should be forcing these decisions on you.

Dana What really has the mental health act got to do with the OP question?
The fact is the OP witnessed a scene in which an individual (who she happened to believe, rightly or wrongly- we weren't there so can't judge, was not in a position to best look after himself) was subjected to a form of substantial and unacceptable abuse from a person of whom she knows the identity, and knows to be a family member.
If anyone witnessed a scenario in which they felt unnecessary abuse was taking place, who ever between they would be within their rights to call the police, however out of pure concern the poster decided to act on the side of caution and ensure the man was checked by social services in case of danger which is the right thing to do. Some times, for whatever reason, Someone doesn't have a voice of their own and it is up to the collective good of society to be that voice. Its what makes a better world. I'd like to think you have some one to stand up for you if you ever really need it

OP I commend you. well done. A few more good people in the world who act on their instincts wouldn't be such a bad thing. Update us please.

Absolutely voice your concerns. Vulnerable people are everyone's responsibility, especially if they cant speak out for themselves.

*02:10Dana28

Oh really can i sue my social services then because all of my care has been 'enforced' on me
Well it depends how long ago and what the law wasthen.Ifit had happened now, then yes.Nobody should be forcing these decisions on you*

Last year dana and perfectly legal - its you thatvhas the law wrong