I want to report care home to care inspectorate but fearful I’ll lose employment

[Overthis22]

I have worked part time in a small private care home for six months and I am on a zero hours contract. I have witnessed what I would class as abuse, not the physical type, but the removal of personal items as punishment for not doing as they are told, shouting a residents, withdrawing care, removing choice, threatening to remove their pet and so on. They always seem to focus on one poor lady in particular because she is classed as ‘challenging’. I have raised it with the manager and he doesn’t see it as abusive, and thinks that actions should have consequences but it goes against all the training I’ve received. I want to report but I am frightened of losing my only income as they could just stop offering me shifts (zero hour contract) and it’s a small staff team so pretty sure they would know it was me. Feel so sad and helpless.

You have to report them. It is abuse.

Care companies are crying out for staff. You will get another job easily (tbh I would move anyway - it’s not good to work somewhere with a poor culture)

You have to report them. There are many homes that need staff. Apply elsewhere and report. I have a relative with LD. It is so important that abusive care is called out. You also have a moral and legal duty to do so.

Report them anonymously. Well done for being the one to speak up. You can work in many care homes and will walk into another job

You can report anonymously to CQC.

Would help if you had names and times of incidents.

I think that reporting them is morally the right thing to do.

I have also whistleblown more than once and been utterly punished for doing so (to the point of taking my employer to a tribunal).

I'd still do it again, but it's worth considering your own personal position and resilience to cope with whatever happens next.

In my experience people are quick to pressure you into 'doing the right thing' but they don't have to live with the consequences of that.

Absolutely report them. I used to manage care homes and I’d be horrified if my staff had done that and take it very seriously. If the manager thinks that is acceptable That’s a huge problem. They’re adults ffs and removing their things is absolutely abuse.

Also I have a very close relative that lives in a care home who can’t communicate and us very challenging . I’d be furious if I thought they were treated like that.

Prepare for the fact that they will lie, and lie and lie to get themselves off the hook and if they work out it was you they will probably accuse you of being mentally unstable.

There's a whole playbook that will be followed.

Report it, OP. If you don’t this kind of thing will continue.

I saw something during the height of the pandemic when working in care and reported it but it was brushed under the carpet. My lovely friend took it even further- thank f she’s won’t take no for an answer- and it was dealt with.

• she won’t, not she’s won’t

You need to report them - imagine it was your mother.

As for your job - there is a huge shortage of workers in the care sector - somewhere else will snap you up.

I hope you report, it sounds so sad for the woman

I have whistleblown in care homes, and I have been punished, harassed, bullied, and ostracised for doing so. I'd do it again. Every time.

You can report concerns anonymously to CQC, but also to adult social services.

It can feel flippant sometimes to be told "care homes always need staff" , but I'd expand on comments like that and say that care homes always need staff like you who have residents best interests and wellbeing at heart. You are what the care sector needs, and so even if it turns ugly following this, you will secure a position in the field, and they will be lucky to have you.

You need to report it. You will never forgive yourself if you don't.

Plenty of care work out there so look for other roles.

I should add - in previous years staff have whistleblown over support workers behaviour towards my son. That led to two police investigations (waste of time, but hey Ho) and another safeguarding. oh and actually other safeguardingS in a different service as well. [should add nothing like that has happened since moving a number of years ago to his providers, it isn’t everywhere].

anyway we are always grateful to staff who are brave enough to report. We know it isn’t easy.

I have also made multiple reports to the CQC myself - you can do it online. I left my number as I wanted to talk to them (they rang back).

This is awful.
I would ring adult safeguarding, social services and report your concerns. You could l do it anonymously.
You will get another job as you are absolutely doing the right thing

Yes please do report. It's an obligation under Safeguarding rules to report any concerns.

you should get some evidence as well. Footage of their behaviour, voice recordings etc.

Report anonymously.

there has never been a better time for carers to pick and choose where they work. Make the most of that.

I'd actually disagree with this tbh. It's not your job to gather evidence. It's your responsibility to report concerns, it is the inspector assigned job to gather evidence and conduct an investigation.

Also, trying to covertly film or voice record staff being abusive to residents could increase the risk to both the op and to the resident.

They will know it’s me because I have already raised concerns and it’s a small team. It will be obvious.

Report it. I worked in care and reported things. How would you feel if anything happened that you could prevent?

You must report it to the CQC as soon as possible.
If you don't then you're complicit in the abuse, do you really want to stand back and and allow it to continue while you do nothing?
That makes you as bad as the abuser if so.
Please don't worry about losing your job, you will get another one easily and quickly.
The alternative is to get another job asap and then report the abuse.
Whether you stay and report or go and report, the bottom line is, it will be on your conscience if you allow the abuse to continue, can you live with that?
Remember, you have the voice and the choice, the abused don't.

You have to report this.
This resident is living her last days in misery being abused under the guise of caring. It makes me feel sick to my stomach that somebody could mentally abuse an elderly person like this.
I trained as a nurse and I loved caring for the elderly they give so much back.
Why do these people do this job if they don't care. Please report.

You have to report them.
You can always get another job if you are a good carer. But those people don't have a choice to be there or not. Be their voice.
If you want to you could join an agency before you report them so you won't be unemployed for long (I know that some people literally can't afford to not be working and that can be a concern)

Sorry this isn't good advice, there's no need to gather evidence. Report it asap. Unfortunately it's possible they will guess it's you, but you need to get out of that job for your own wellbeing too.