To record someone in my home without their consent?

[RunningInChaoticCircles]

This is DS’s social worker who came to my home for a meeting. I had an idea that the meeting was be used for nefarious purposes and I was right.

Got it all on video and put in a complaint as have evidence of what was said and was able to go it for exact words. Told them I recorded it.

Council have said I must delete the recording immediately as social worker did not consent.

I checked and from what I read it is not illegal to record someone in YOUR home without their consent (I certainly wouldn’t do it to anyone else apart from council employees!) and keep it for your own use.

Who’s right and WIBU?

How often are we recorded without our consent as we go about our, hopefully, lawful business? When a crime is committed the police collect all kinds of CCTV evidence and even Ring videos to use against the criminal. Is this illegal too then?

Likewise. So many roles are recorded via various means, I'm amazed some social workers are so horrified at this prospect. Especially when dealing with such crucial, sensitive matters, why on earth wouldn't a recording be beneficial?

I'm furious for both you and your daughter. So sorry.

some years back SS told me it was illegal to record sw visit.
So I didn't but regretted that as at a formal complaints heaaring, and in their paperwork SW's lied about me.
Really barefaced lies with no reality. Their word against mine.
They destroyed my trust in them and caused trauma and panic attacks.

I will never forget the shock of professionals lying about a very disabled woman who desparately needed help. They just wanted to withdraw help and care to save money.

I say go ahead and record. This can be shown "informally" to various people and also give you confidence in youself.

This. Disgusting. Tell why you're being investigated then OP

I'm a teacher and until recently I'd have backed the SS to the hilt.

Same. I always used to listen to things like this with a huge pinch of salt.

I’m not a teacher and I’ve never been reported or had any dealings with social services for my own children, but I used to be a foster carer.

Towards the end of my time fostering, it got to the point where I would only communicate with my young people’s social workers via email or if my supervising social worker was present due to the lying, arse covering, buck passing and blaming of everyone and everything else possible.

I quit in the end as I just couldn’t live like that. We were supposed to be working together for our young people.

The actual wearing of bodycams would be reasonably straightforward compared to the practical problems.
Child protection social workers are often used to being recorded during safeguarding interviews, and having formal not taking during case conferences and court proceedings.

I'm amazed that social workers don't wear body cams as a matter of course for their own safety as much as anything else. Last time I went to a bank the staff were wearing them.

So what was discussed in the meeting @RunningInChaoticCircles wasn't then what the sw said happened

So you have 'proof' of what was said and wasn't said

Def don't delete it and get a copy of it

@daffodilandtulip sorry to hear what happened

Because videos can be edited, your image distributed in a way that could cause you personal harm and recordings can be taken out of context or different audio etc applied. I'd be refusing to Lone work someone who intended to record me because I'd be vulnerable to them manipulating the footage. Doesn't mean I'm unprofessional I'm not going to do or say anything different but why would I leave myself personally and professionally vulnerable.

It was videoed through a strategically placed iPad on our living room so it would be evident if I doctored it. DS actually suggested it as he was annoyed that it had been stated previously that he was interested in going to this college when he had only said he’d think about it to shut them up which is something he commonly does (ASD).

Social care had shared information outside of the council organisation without his consent for no good reason which I had complained about and is against their own rules which is what I challenged the SW on. This was shared to help the council’s education case as we are going through a Tribunal.

I did offer the council a copy of the video but they have totally dismissed my complaint.

I just wish I’d videoed the SW in a previous visit saying he had other young men like DS on his caseload who are quite happy claiming benefits and gaming all day so in essence why shouldn’t DS be!

That was my thoughts!

Legally, you can't 'eavesdrop' on other people's conversations - that's unlawful.

But it's perfectly legal to covertly record a conversation provided that at least one party to the conversation knows they are being recorded, and that can be the person making the recording.

Stand your ground. Don't delete the recordings. Hold these 'professionals' to account.

This is to protect the confidentiality of the vulnerable children that they work with in part.

Also because social services departments simply have no money for such things even if they wanted them.

No wonder we are leaving the profession in our droves.
Would others be happy to be recorded in their daily job without their consent? (And abused, threatened, attacked etc).
And people agreeing without any details or knowledge of the case - pitchforks at the ready.

What an absolute load of bollocks, yes social workers are leaving because they are being filmed 😂

it’s not becomes of the high vacancies, the unmanageable workloads, extreame long hours, SW being under extreame stress resulting in being burnt out, the micromanaging management, lack of support, lack of resources, lack, poor wage etc etc etc…

As a ex social worker, your talking through your arse.

OP your legally allowed to film in your own home, you can even transcript the recording to be used in a court hearing, (unless it’s changed recently) - you may also depending on the circumstances use the recording if the judge allows it.

Exactly!

Last year over a 1/3 of social workers left the profession, (over 1300 of the social work population ) I can likely say I don’t believe any left because an advocate recorded their meeting.

I find this an odd response.

I worked in a corporate job for over a decade and our meetings were routinely recorded because we covered so much complex information that we'd often refer back to it. And we didn't explicitly ask for consent to record either - why would we? My colleagues had nothing to hide and transparency is helpful to everyone who isn't corrupt.

Frequently phone calls that had legally sensitive content (especially regarding consent that private information could be made public) were recorded simply as a matter of routine.

The stuff I was doing wasn't any more important than some of the work that social workers do. Why would a social worker object? After all, it protects them too.

I’m not being investigated for anything!

Maybe read my posts?

If sw wore body cams the screaming and complaints from service users would be thought the roof!
'They're invading my privacy/it's against my human rights/I'm scared/it's threatening/I say no so it's no'...

But any sensible social worker should consider that a recording of some kind is likely to be made.
Particularly if there is conflict.
They can't be used in any formal way and the client should be informed of that.
But they aren't worth getting stressed over as a worker.

@letspopthekettleon perhaps try reading OPs replies before being so nasty!

This. Disgusting. Tell why you're being investigated then OP

If you filter for just OPs posts you will see she has already answered this. She's not being investigated, she's trying to ensure the correct ongoing support for a young adult disabled child.

The article a PP posted above has an extract from Cafcass' own framework to this effect:

"We should have nothing to fear from covert recording. Our attitude should be, "I am doing my job and I have nothing to hide. I can explain why I said or why I did what I did". This is within the spirit of transparency in the family courts..."

See also - Transparency Project - Parents recording social workers

@MisschiefMaker would any of the people in your meeting have reason to hate you/wish you ill/ruin your career?
Only have to look at this thread to see that because posters have had what they feel to be a poor sw in the past they distrust all sw.
Would you be concerned as pp have said about editing being done?
Fair enough video/record the meeting but for fairness 2 copies should be made.