To report my neighbour to social services?

[Kk80]

Moved in to my current house about 2 weeks before christmas.

Next door neighbour is a drug addict, has 6 children (youngest was a tiny baby when I moved in couldn't of been more than 2 months old).

I've tried to ignore what is going on- I'm not perfect myself, I partied quite hard back in my youth before DC.

Part of me feels sorry for her- she is on her own with 6 children 24/7 one of which is confined to a wheelchair and is non verbal. So I get it....she has a tough time.

But the parties are constant until 3/4 in the morning and if the music doesnt wake my DC up the same sports car that whizzes up an down are narrow, 20mph street does. And when she has people there it comes back 4 or 5 times a night. And this is at least 3 or 4 nights a week.

The children look starving, never seem to be wearing different clothes (until recently going back to school and 2 of them at least are wearing uniforms that are too small)

I spoke to the school this morning and the head just rolled his eyes at me. I dont know who else to speak to?

I would absolutely report this to social services. I work in a related area so am not naive about what happens in families in general, yet this would concern me. Nobody here is going to be able to appropriately reassure you that this is okay because they don't know the facts. Imagine if something happened to those children and you had turned a blind eye. I think the only alternative to phoning child protection is to phone NSPCC and get their advice on an anonymous basis first.

I would absolutely report this to social services. I work in a related area so am not naive about what happens in families in general, yet this would concern me. Nobody here is going to be able to appropriately reassure you that this is okay because they don't know the facts. Imagine if something happened to those children and you had turned a blind eye. I think the only alternative to phoning child protection is to phone NSPCC and get their advice on an anonymous basis first.

I know there are systemic issues that led then, and now, to regular phonecalls to the police on a Friday afternoon asking for an officer to carry out an urgent welfare check on children because SS didn't have the time to get there earlier in the week.... The lack of resources across the child protection arena is astonishing as I'm sure you know. It is a national issue, not a localised one.

06ChickenwingChickenwing in the instance the poster is describing that really wouldn't happen. If the children are staring and looking scruffy school will have noted it but a neighbour report backing that up would be useful. Rule of thumb, if you're worried ring SS.

@ChickenwingChickenwing yeah, actually it is how I read it sorry. Now glad I didn't embarrass myself further by adding a PA smiley.

Report to social services, definitely, but the facts only. Nothing about the flashy car or the vague suspicions of drug use. The children appear malnourished, they don't have adequate clothing, they're being kept up by loud parties until 4am 3-4 times a week. That's what you know for sure and is enough to make a report.

Social work manager here in a front door team. We would always encourage you to contact us if you have concerns for children. What you share can help us form a bigger picture about what is happening for a child. As others have said that may be support for the family or sometimes safeguards will need to be put in place.

@ChickenwingChickenwing

worked in the police for a decade, and not once have I known the claims chickenwingchickenwing is making to happen. Especially not on a Friday afternoon of all day

Yes in a Friday afternoon they just ignore reports and let the children go home

If you worked in the police for a decade surely you have the ability to realise that all areas are not the same?

But the legal framework is the same. You can not deny access to a child without the appropriate legal back up.

You don't have to be convinced you don't have to justify your reasons for reporting on a thread of randoms.

We all have a responsibility to report concerns about children to SS. It doesn't matter if they're stretched as a previous poster says - that's spectacularly missing the point.

If you have concerns then call. And i would have called a long long time ago if I was you

@RedHelenB

06ChickenwingChickenwing in the instance the poster is describing that really wouldn't happen. If the children are staring and looking scruffy school will have noted it but a neighbour report backing that up would be useful. Rule of thumb, if you're worried ring SS.

It would happen here but I'm not going to keep going over something when people are just constantly saying it's not true. I know what I do every week at work and in that situation the child would not go home from school until someone had spoke to the parent.

Also, to clarify, I said straight away to report it. I am a from believer in reporting any concerns. The reason I said what might happen was the 'what's the worst that could happen' flippant comment earlier. I wasn't for a minute saying don't report it because of what might happen

Definitely report, it's better to be safe than sorry.

[quote JesusInTheCabbageVan]@ChickenwingChickenwing yeah, actually it is how I read it sorry. Now glad I didn't embarrass myself further by adding a PA smiley. [/quote]

Ah, good of you to post this

You don't need anything 'solid' or 'proof' to make a report to social services. If they think that what you are saying is of high enough concern they will investigate .

In general , the fact that there are random adults coming and going every evening is likely to raise a concern , also the fact that they are playing loud music means your neighbours children are probably not getting enough sleep .

Your concerns may link in with other Concerns that have been raised

I am surprised that the HT rolled her eyes at you .

OP, do report any concerns with facts, and without speculation.

I can only assume Chickenwing is not in the UK. I’m a senior social worker of (too) many years. What they are saying has no basis in UK policy, procedure or legislation. Please do not worry that this can happen to you. I intensely dislike scaremongering.

You have to call child services. The head can’t give you any kind of confirmation that he/she is following up because that is co fire tail. The eye roll could have been towards the mother because the head is thinking of how awful they know she is. Or it could be towards you . You just don’t know.

I can only assume Chickenwing is not in the UK. I’m a senior social worker of (too) many years. What they are saying has no basis in UK policy, procedure or legislation. Please do not worry that this can happen to you. I intensely dislike scaremongering.

You assume incorrectly. I am in the U.K Scotland to be precise. No scaremongering here, that doesn't even fit with the context of my comment.

In that instance ( assuming no other reports) SS would ring and talk to the mother in all likelihood. Depending on answers they may or may not call round
I have never heard of children being detained at school, ever, over 1 anonymous report of this type.

” Certainly here as soon as a report goes in the children would not be allowed into the mother's care until SS had met with her. This may mean a meeting to find out they are ok to go home but further intervention happens. It could mean they go home NFA. It could mean in a Friday afternoon that they go into a temp foster home until Monday if SS cannot contact/meet with the mum.”

Under which piece of Scottish legislation are you acting in these cases?

Just seen you're in Scotland so procedures must be different to England.

^ Yes, they must be but I’d be interested to know what^ they are. It’s very draconian and shocking to think Scottish children’s services have the legal powers to cease access (however temporarily) between a parent/legal guardian and child based on a lay person’s reporting.

Please report. It all adds into whatever information they will have on the family.

@Kk80 you’re not on my estate are you? same things happening round here. yanbu, I would do the same

Report your concerns.

It’s not your job to prove or disprove what she is doing, you are worried for the children in her care and should report if. SS will do the assessment, that’s what they’re there for. You can google your local MASH team and fill in a referral online.

Report!!!!!!