Care home misconduct. Is this abuse?

[Staffielove23]

I work in a care setting looking after older adults with LD, mental health, etc. The other day a guy I look after told me a member of staff had hidden his iPad. At first I thought he’d gotten confused as that seems really restrictive to me. I queried it with said staff member and they had indeed hidden it in the laundry room where he couldn’t reach it because he had behaved badly the previous evening. They said he was trying go outside to walk around the gardens in the snow and the ice, and that he was just generally very rude and not listening. Aibu in thinking that’s abit abusive? There have been other similar incidents happening like that and I’m starting to have serious concerns about safeguarding.

I’d be reporting it because if I found out a relative of mine was treated like this in a care home I’d be furious and would do everything to ensure there was a full investigation into the whole care home.

@Branleuse . I work in care and while I agreed initially with you, it seemed harsh to call it abuse and thought along the same lines regarding training, still agree on shit pay, long hours etc. I just can’t imagine how anyone can think it’s acceptable to punish an older person for taking a walk, by confiscating their belongings. Does someone need training to understand that ?

This is not OK and I would be very concerned that it was one chip of an iceberg. Environments where this sort of bad (abusive) practice is tolerated deteriorate very quickly.

It sounds like your colleague need training in Dignity and Respect.

This has made me feel really sad. How horrible.

I do, and i would not act like this and I would certainly bring it up with managers, but I know the reality of the care industry at the moment, and i think that you just cant get people to do these shifts, and some people dont seem to realise you cant use this sort of strategies like removal of privileges on adults, but there is very little training on how to get tasks done with clients that dont comply, which makes me have some sympathy for staff whove been thrown in the deep end like I was. Actually workin in the industry during this crisis has been a massive eye opener.
Im very much saying here that a lot of carers need better support and training rather than getting in trouble if they fail to complete tasks. I feel like sometimes they cant win. Im definitely not saying that removal of posessions as a negative consequence for behaviours is ok. We do need to speak up about it, but I think going in all guns blazing wouldnt be the answer.

Wow how insulting to us care professionals. Unprofessional, poor boundaries, Thick and rubbish. Best hope You never need any help. Jesus

@BBranleuse i think this is a bit harsh. It's not all careworkers that do stuff like this. It's the bad few that think this is acceptable. There are so many loving and caring carers, it's people like this individual who thought this was right that give us a bad name x

I presume the home is registered with the CQC. So go online to see when an inspection was last carried out, and it will rate the home, staff training etc. You could report this to CQC and it might generate an inspection.

Where I worked a copy of the CQC inspection was pinned up in the staff office. Inspections are probably behind due to covid.

What next, send him to bed early? How dehumanising and belittling.

This needs reporting. It's up to management to decide how to proceed but if this sort of thing happens again then you definitely need to report higher up and consider whistleblowing/CQC.

I agree with @Branleuse that the care sector is incredibly difficult at the moment. Arguably the worst it's ever been. For the sake of extra training, supervision and monitoring, I hope the staff member who did this is able to realise their mis-judgment and become a more inclusive and compassionate carer.

Well if youre determined to misunderstand me and misread me....

Yes it is abusive. How would you feel if someone in your home decided to remove your property because they were annoyed with you? Your instinct that this is abuse is right. The carer needs to understand their role is to provide care and not punish or control.

A lot doesnt mean all, or even most. It means a lot. Majority of carers ive found are loving and caring, but plenty who arent. Also a lot of pressure on carers to get tasks completed somehow.

Anyway,bored now of being deliberately misunderstood.

Sounds horrible.
A friend began working in a care home -and to her massive surprise , loves it.
Says the residents and staff are happy, and that she laughs a lot, both with co workers and staff.

I mentioned it to someone who said “ That home is expensive and private”- and has a good reputation.

If only ALL homes could be like this.
confiscating someone’s stuff is awful.
it’s not a jail, or school.

Edit: Laughs with Residents and co workers.

Of course this is abusive. You need to report it. You should have undertaken safeguarding training to help you know what to do, or have a manager to get advice from if you were unsure.

I am absolutely aware of my safe guarding responsibilities, and duty of care and candour. Everyone is telling me to report it but I had already done this when I wrote the post. My concerns were dismissed by my manager and I started doubting myself, hence why I wrote the post to see what others thought. I have gone above my manager and contacted my regional manager who is going to send a neutral person to investigate. I am hoping for a positive outcome. I am relief staff so they may stop giving me shifts but I don’t care anymore, it’s about doing what’s right for the people we support.

I work with adults with LD and have also worked in an LD supported living place. Definitely report this.

Oh sorry just read your most recent post! Hope the regional manager takes it seriously.

That is most definitely abuse. Residents of care homes can't be 'punished'. They are not children!

You are most definitely the sort of person that is needed in care services.

It's wrong. The service user is an adult, and the care facility is their home.
Definitely report it , OP.

Honestly I don't give a fuck if someone's on minimum wage. I support everyone's right to a living wage and good conditions but If they can't do the job without being abusive go to work in Aldi where you can't do any damage. I've had to report someone

for how they treated DS I the past and I wouldn't accept "I don't get paid enough to not abuse your son" as an excuse fgs. Besides as an unpaid carer I get paid precisely fuck all for what I do and manage not to abuse anyone.

I second this. Thank you for caring OP. We need people like you @Staffielove23

It is definitely abuse, the fact the manager doesn't care is extremely worrying. I wonder what other punitive measures are being done to people in their own home?. Aside from taking his property they are also depriving him of his liberty by not allowing him to leave the property (I'll just add there maybe a DOLs/LPS in place but still a staff member could put a coat on and go for a walk)
Many people living in care with LD have no-one to advocate for them and can't speak up for themselves.
I am an LD nurse of 11 years and have worked in LD services for a further 5 years. Thank you OP for recognising this and reporting it further than the immediate manager. If nothing is done you are able to report concerns to the CQC.