To report to NSPCC?

[Fearnecuptea]

Hi all,

I'm posting on AIBU as hopefully will get responses. Please only sensible replies as I genuinely don't know what to do. NO trolls thank you. I am hoping that there might be a social worker or similar who can offer advice.

Without giving too many personal details away, I live in a block of flats opposite some social housing houses. As its hot (finally) for the last two days specifically we've had the windows all open. So have the neighbours.

I have a toddler just to preface this- I KNOW what toddler tantrums/ exasperation from adults sounds like. I don't know if I should give neighbour benefit of the doubt but my gut is saying I need to do something, as in report.

Why am I hesitating to call SS or NSPCC? because I'm worried being wrong or it not taken seriously and the kids getting punished for it. I do not want to make this worse.

They have 2 x kids- one looks around 3 (same age as mine) the other around 6. They are CONSTANTLY, constantly being screamed at. Told to go to their rooms. Chased around the house it sounds like. When I say screamed at, it is the ONLY way the parent seems to talk to them and it is literally roaring at them. It is constant. I hear the younger child cry and it is so upsetting.

Its friday afternoon. Should I wait until Monday to call? what if I make it worse/ I'm wrong? ffs it is so rubbish tbh with you. I work from home and am hearing it and its really disturbing me.

Are there any social workers or similar who can offer help? should I be recording/ writing down? I literally don't know. My only concern is those kids and making things better for them.

@Fearnecuptea

In response to the social housing observation- no dig at anyone reading. My thinking was that to actually be eligible for SH in my area you have to fall into narrow criteria. One eligibility criteria includes the vulnerable families. I'm really not here for the politics of that, I literally didn't write the eligibility criteria the government did. Please don't find offence where there is none implied.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Then it wasn't relevant to the post at all.

@CandyLeBonBon if you don't find it relevant then you can just ignore that information. The important part of the post is that the kids need some help, stop nit picking with the OP about bits you've said yourself are irrelevant.

Thanks for your worry for these children OP.

It would be good if you could call the Police next time there is a bad moment, because they will come and their evidence to SS will really help.

They will also get access into the home which could highlight any others concerns.

So next time Mum is really going at them, call 999 and say “I can hear a Mum really screaming at her kids, I hear this a lot but today it is extra bad and I am worried for their safety, she is yelling xxxx at them repeatedly” or whatever.

@Fearnecuptea

In response to the social housing observation- no dig at anyone reading. My thinking was that to actually be eligible for SH in my area you have to fall into narrow criteria. One eligibility criteria includes the vulnerable families. I'm really not here for the politics of that, I literally didn't write the eligibility criteria the government did. Please don't find offence where there is none implied.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

Would you have reported if someone was speaking to their children in exactly the same way in their big, private house? If so, the reference to social housing is irrelevant.

[quote BestOfABadLot]@CandyLeBonBon if you don't find it relevant then you can just ignore that information. The important part of the post is that the kids need some help, stop nit picking with the OP about bits you've said yourself are irrelevant.[/quote]
It sounded sneery, so I called it out. That IS relevant, I think.

Don’t wait for the NSPCC to call you back, just call your local Children’s Services. All NSPCC will do is take details and forward the information to Children’s Services. Just cut out the middle man.

@CandyLeBonBon

You should develop a social filter and be more concerned about whether the children were at risk than whether or not OP is a snob. Your petty 'calling out' puts people off seeking advice here and distracts from the children who may need help. It's possible to not verbalise everything that irritates you.

@Fearnecuptea

In response to the social housing observation- no dig at anyone reading. My thinking was that to actually be eligible for SH in my area you have to fall into narrow criteria. One eligibility criteria includes the vulnerable families. I'm really not here for the politics of that, I literally didn't write the eligibility criteria the government did. Please don't find offence where there is none implied.

Thanks for everyone's advice.

A generous reply. Mine would be a big fuck off to anyone who came on a thread about children at risk and tried to 'call out' the op for mentioning social housing.

I am a retired SW and I think you have done the right thing in reporting. We used to get a number of referrals via the NSPCC. They are very good at collating information and getting it to the right people in my experience.

Hi op. Did you hear any more disturbance today? Any reply from NSPCC?

@pe3k

Hi op. Did you hear any more disturbance today? Any reply from NSPCC?

I didn't get any call back yesterday, I'm hoping within the next few days. Was told it would be on a withheld number between certain hours, but received nothing. Weather was awful torrential rain yesterday so windows closed both sides, didn't hear anything.

Now I've noticed though, I can't unnotice if that makes sense. I really hope those kids are alright is my main thought atm!
This thread has been helpful as I literally didn't know what to do when I wrote it so thanks everyone.