Reported to social services by coworker

[UnsocialServiced]

My frankly bonkers coworker has reported me to SS because she is concerned about my 3 old. I was wfh last week because my DS had a slight temperature. Whilst he was home and I was working he had a day of watching films. (3 films in one day). I'm not saying it was great parenting but I was in the next room could hear him at all times. He also kept coming into chat with me and play in between working etc. Anyway Coworker told me today that she was concerned about DS being ignored and felt she had no choice but to pass her concerns on. What will happen now?

I think that what she has done will have serious repercussions for another family in need. SS are limited and to take up even 5 minutes of their precious time on something so clearly minor Is to deprive a child of children with real problems.

I think that people need to get over this idea of just reporting everything or complaining about everything or generally using our VERY limited public services unless they NEED to. Those public services are on their knees already and the money for them will be stretched thanks to covid. So although she's a stupid cow she's also an incredibly selfish cow and someone else's children could come up real harm because an overstretched SW Was dealing with this.

And please don't bother with the 'well that's their fault for not prioritising' because they have yo spend some time at least following this up. They don't know that she's just a malicious co worker.

Better report myself to SS then. I have the grandchildren here quite a bit, especially in the school holidays, and it's cbeebies all the way here! Obvs in between taking them to the park, going on bus rides, making dens, playing in the paddling pool but still!
My grandson doesn't get to see cbeebies at home very much so it's amazing at grandma's house. I've obviously stunted the growth of all of them, bad grandma.

The colleague says that she contacted SS so that they can offer you help . What does she expect them to do? Send a baby sitter round to care for your son while you work from home? I can't see any other way that they could help in your situation . Ludicrous. I agree . Report her to your line manager AND to HR .

Did I read that right @LaLaLandIsNoFun ? You lost your child due to their mistakes?

If I've read it right, I'm so sorry.

I agree. She's not "a nasty piece of work", she's someone who is worried about child safety and has taken action to safeguard the child.

Bollocks. Child watching TV while mummy works but still interacts with, plays with and feeds child is nothing like a safeguarding issue.

Dd had a GP appointment over the phone and the GP put her on hold so she could deal with her 3 year old. Normal in these times

I'm just not comfortable with the idea that someone should be punished for raising a concern about a child , however naive that complaint may be

So it's perfectly ok to clog up Social Services by complaining about any perfectly normal and healthy activity, just because you're raising a concern?

My dd's HT did that every time I suggested to him that there is a legal obligation to make reasonable adjustment for disabled children and that if a child has a diagnosis it is not for him to decide there is nothing wrong with them. Social Services were not impressed. No doubt they thought of the real work they could be doing instead of being used for punitive purposes.

Safe-guarding a child who is running a temperature from having a duvet day within easy reach of a parent seems...weird. What other safe-guarding issues could be raised here? Safe-guarding against having a sticky plaster put on a cut? Safe-guarding against going to bed at night?

SS will probably give you a call or pop round to discuss it. It’s just a tick box exceeding. Try not to worry, as others have said they are working from home too! I work with SS sometimes and spoke to someone last week who kept getting interrupted by her 4 year old. Life happens

@Thisisnotmyid

SS will probably give you a call or pop round to discuss it. It’s just a tick box exceeding. Try not to worry, as others have said they are working from home too! I work with SS sometimes and spoke to someone last week who kept getting interrupted by her 4 year old. Life happens

I really doubt SS will do either the call or any popping round.

Good job she wasn't around in the late 40s early 50s when I was a child. We just played on our own, indoors and outdoors. Parents had far too much to do, mums in particular without constantly checking up on us every 20 minutes. Looking back my mum seemed to be always cleaning, washing by hand, that took forever poor thing. We just got on with it, people would have looked on in amazement if our parents were always by our side. The world's gone mad.

Another one questioning the real motives of the colleague claiming to be trying to 'get support' for OP. It bothered me enough that I've just signed up to comment.

Agree she's overstepped the mark to put it mildly.

Also, if neglect is genuine is there a safe guarding issue if you give the parent a heads up?

@whatsyournamenow

Yup - you read it right.

It happens. People generally don’t believe you. They accuse you of downright lying or being unable to reflect rather than face the fact that there are social workers out there who will purposefully build a case for whatever reasons.

Anyhoo - get that SAR OP.

And I agree with others - go after the co-worker as this is bullying.

That's what screams bullying and intimidating of a colleague, rather than concern for OP or her child

I hope your employer sees what she did as a sackable offence, OP. I know that if I were your employer I would.

This kind of people are pure poison to any work environment. I imagine her going for an interview to find a new job and she has to explain why she doesn't work at your company any more. Karma at it's best !

They will guilty look at their own 3 year old watching films all day. Maybe a phone call? Honestly it's so busy at the moment and this is such a non issue. You will probably never here anymore.

They might pop round for a chat and make a report
That’s all they did when my ex was beating me up
Decided the kids were ok.
Never heard from them again

@UnsocialServiced

I am worried SS are going to cause trouble. I also don't want anything to do with coworker again I know this isn't rational but I'm so upset she thinks I have been neglectful.

Thats why you need to raise a complaint with HR as people are suggesting... so that if SS were to follow up you can point to it being a inter-personal issue.

SS wouldn't even read to the end of her complaint unless they've been called to you for neglect before. Otherwise its the new normal as people are saying.

If this happend to anyone in my team I would encourage them to raise a grievance and support them all the way. Such malicious behaviour I’d consider bullying and take extremely seriously. I’d also, be very concerned about how said colleague was spending her working time. I’d instigate a disciplinary procedure to address this with a view to dismiss for gross misconduct

OP - your colleague may lie to HR and say she didn't really report you. You need evidence from SAR.

Oh my God I can't believe what I've just read! That's outrageous, agree with PP, absolutely report her the complete witch.

OP - your colleague may lie to HR and say she didn't really report you. You need evidence from SAR.

Then OP will still have grounds for bullying / harassment / causing mischief & distress.

@CheetasOnFajitas

Safeguard the child from too much TV? Don’t be ridiculous. Bear in mind that this is a person who has never met OP’s child Or set foot inside her house (probably but even her street) and who made a report base son a few comments made by OP over a work call.

None of those things matter. How many other threads are there saying "report! You could be the last piece in the puzzle!"? Hundreds.

She shouldn't be sacked for trying to look after a child.

I agree with PP that you should speak to HR. It's pretty malicious

I too would report her to HR for a malicious act.

I think it is a ridiculous referral to SS who won't take it further.
But I cannot see any evidence that it was malicious.
It is better as a SW to sift through a pile of nonsense and catch the one needed referral rather than put people off making a referral.
It sounds like a person with no idea how dc function but that isn't a disciplinary offense.