To report this family for leaving their young dc home alone?

[Hmmmmminteresting]

New family moved in opposite. They're a bit strange. 2 dc age approx 8 or 9 and then another age 3 or 4.
Every morning the DM takes the DP to work at around 6.15 am. Shes gone around 20 mins. Leaves the kids at home, no sign of any lights on so I assume they're in bed and she doesn't want to stir them.
What also makes me nervous is that she doesn't lock the front door. She gets home and just pushes handle down and shes straight in.
Do I keep my nose out or report it?
My close friend has begged me to report however shes a social worker in training!

What are you going to do OP? I really think you should report.

Mackerz. If you see it as lecturing I can only assume it’s hit a nerve for some reason but it really wasn’t intended to.

Many people in our profession have worked incredibly hard to change the perception of HR and I just think it does it a disservice to suggest any HR professional would get involved in someone’s personal childcare arrangements because another colleague didn’t agree with them. Just my opinion, please don’t keep taking it so personally.

Anyway, don’t want to derail anymore.

@dorsetdays

You’ve made a lot of incorrect assumptions from one 6 line post. I hope you don’t behave like that at work.

Can't believe how many people think it's OK to leave a preschool aged child unsupervised in an unlocked house.

This is potentially neglect, the child could come to harm, and I would be surprised if your social worker friend didn't report. Wouldn't she have a duty of care to report to the LADO? (my safeguarding training is a bit out of date, I don't use of day to day so not certain of terms)

Oh and I agree with others that it might be OK to leave an older primary aged child (8 or 9 +) for a short time, depending on maturity.

That child is not old enough to be responsible for a preschool-aged child though.

So.... "approx" age, you've just guessed their ages then?
Also if "They're a bit strange." Stop watching them every morning and get on with your own life.

Oh, just a thought. Maybe she doesn't leave the door unlocked but has an internal Yale lock.

Just a comment on the comments about a potential fire.

Children under around 10yo frequently don't wake to the sound of a smoke alarm. No guarantee they they would even wake up, let alone be able to get out of the house, even if the door is unlocked

I have left my 8 year old at home alone for a very short period, with her agreement and checking she knows what to do in different scenarios. She knows how to use the phone to call my mobile or her Granny if she thought I was too long or needed help.

Whether it is 'fair' or not, what this woman is illegal and is child neglect!

There is no law. Nspcc recommends no under 12 for a long period of time.

Both of my ds's walked to school aged 11, year 6, as recommended by their primary school, in preparation for secondary.

Report. It doesn’t mean punitive action, it might mean giving some help to a family trying to manage. It’s not exactly child protection but they are young (allegedly) and no one knows the understanding and maturity levels if the children. Don’t speak to the family yourself this will be even more unhelpful than social care speaking to them and you have to live there. At least if you contact social care there will be a fair assessment and they might get some advice and support. It won’t go down well - it never does but if you have a concern about a child (and they are children) this can’t be ignored. Imagine what would happen if you did nothing.......

It not illegal @talljelly

My mistake, you can be prosecuted for it though, and therefore surely something you shouldn't be doing...?

Yes if they see them being left alone and at "risk"
I have no idea what they would say was "at risk" Whether the amount of time or the age of the child , where they were left or how etc. No clue.

I think if you haven't got the guts to speak to the person yourself, they've done nothing wrong, and you've reported them they should be told who it was. We were left looking over our shoulders wondering who was so busy watching us. It's a horrible feeling.

If someone has a genuine concern about a child, and they report it, they shouldn't have to be named to the person they have reported. They would spend their whole time looking over their shoulders if that was the case. It would also mean that people with genuine concerns would never report incidents to social services for fear of their own safety.
Either someone had it in for you, or there really were concerns for your children's safety.
If there are safety concerns about a child, the last thing someone should do is go and speak to the person they are concerned about. This gives abusers time to cover their tracks and be more careful about their actions. Enough children slip under the net as it is.

The chance of some random person trying their door to kidnap the children is pretty much non existent. A 9 year old is fine home alone for up to an hour imo and if they’re asleep, they won’t have a clue she’s even gone.

The chance of the 3 year old leaving the house without waking the 9 year old first are pretty high.

I find it astonishing that it is not illegal tbh. Not something I would ever do and in my view the kids are at risk.

Quite surprised by some responses as it does seem at best quite irresponsible to do this, I can only assume more people than you'd think do this.
My DH goes out early each morning to walk the dog and locks the door behind him... I'd feel very vulnerable / un easy if he didn't as me and our DC are still asleep when he goes so vulnerable if someone were to walk into my house without me knowing let alone small children.
I'd report as SS who are professionals and can decide, they may just speak to them ask them to make other arrangements.

Not something I would ever do and in my view the kids are at risk.

Because what you would do or wouldn't isn't case law. It might become at some point, but it isn't at the moment.

Absolutely not!

My mistake, you can be prosecuted for it though, and therefore surely something you shouldn't be doing...?

Yes if something happens or you are reported and when investigated it is deemed the children have been put at risk.

The risk depends on the age of the children,their abilities,the conditions they have been left in,for how long etc.

I find it astonishing that it is not illegal tbh

Did you know it's not even illegal to give your six year old alcohol?

Interesting thread- my first response was a risk assessment one, that on the balance of probabilities they’re safer asleep than being bundled into the car. However after the dripmfeed that police have been round (so yes, they would be known to SS) and other posters saying that being left home alone is an indicator of other forms of neglect...

@IWantMyHatBack

Wouldn't she have a duty of care to report to the LADO?

LADO doesn't deal with parents only those who work or volunteer with children !