To ask if there is any situation you as a parent or carer would try and intervene in a grown child's employment?

[furiousfly]

I am a carer for S.
S is autistic and has learning difficulties and is on the learning disability register.
S is over 18 but a young person.
S struggles to advocate for themselves.
S used to be on a work experience placement at work but then was given a casual contract. S normal hours are fine but the additional hours they are pit down for during busy seasons are in a much more challenging setting.
S work make no reasonable adjustments for them despite the company being fully aware of S needs before they started.
S is often put in situations where I worry they are unsafe at work. S is often left in the setting with just work experience or other casual inexperienced workers in a very challenging setting.
With help S has raised issues numerous times and the company always says the right thing but never follows up on what they promise.

Is there ANY situation you would intervene?

I think it would depend on two things

1. Does S want and consent to me intervening
2. Are they in danger.

If 1 is yes, then I would intervene.

If 2 is a yes, then (even if they don't agree) I would intervene if they didn't understand the danger or couldn't manage the danger and keep themself safe

💐💐

Following with interest to see responses.

S is an individual so it's impossible for us to risk assess.

My kids (no SEN) always surprised me with what they could do, they were ready before I thought they were, and I came to know that challenges were good for them. yes sometimes the outcomes weren't great but they learned resilience & coping skills from the "failure" moments too.

Like I said, impossible for us to know if S. is in mortal peril or just might have a rough time but could come out with more confidence & ability afterwards. You can't always protect them, and it's not good for them to always be protected, that's for sure.

Depends on what the nature of "unsafe" is. Physically unsafe and unable to get thenselves out of the situation quickly then yes, I would intervene as it sounds like the workplace would only listen after an accident. Unsafe as in - it's a pub with mouthy drunk clients then I would probably let them work it out themselves.

I think I would only intervene if they were in danger, could you contact ACAS on their behalf? If it's a zero hour contract do they have to accept the extra hours? Does S tell you they feel unsafe or is this your assumption?

Thank you!

Not mortal danger, no risk of a machine falling on them at work type situation.

S has been sexually assaulted, bit, hit, pushed into a wall by clients who have high needs while being left with only casual/work experience staff.
S work has on multiple occasions acknowledged that a senior and trained member of staff needs to be there and promises they will be but it never happens.
There are other issues that are too outing but S worries that if something was to happen as a result of inexperienced or casual staff not being able to fully manage then S would be scapegoated as the longest staff member and take the fall for it all despite being a vulnerable employee.

Yes, I would intervene. Ideally S should be supported to enable them to advocate for themselves. The level of support needed for that to happen might be quite high.

S should also report to the Care Commision (? I think?) because theres a very serious safeguarding issue to the clients here.

I think given your update, I'd discuss with S about leaving. It sounds like a v poor work environment and he deserves to work for a (much) better employer. I'd hope that after our discussion S would resign today, and not serve his notice period because he's at risk of multiple forms of assault if he goes back. At the very least, if he wanted to serve his notice, then I would get involved, yes, because I'd worry about a further sexual assault or other significant safeguarding concern. However, if possible, I'd hope he would choose not to go back.

I also second involving the CQC or whistleblowing, or encouraging s to use these channels.

I think the only relevant factor here is whether he has capacity.

So you say he’s autistic and young for his age but are we talking about an adult with the mental age and capacity of a young child, or are we just talking about an adult who is immature but still an adult?

Because there is a difference.

As much as you may want to protect your child with a disability, if they’re an adult, holding down an adult job, you really can’t intervene.

If it’s a severely learning disabled adult who is on a placement for disabled adults, then you can intervene.