Alerting social services

[MrsDoubtfire3000]

I feel like I should let social services know about my neighbours, due to their extreme hoarding/rubbish/hygiene/vermin issues.

To briefly explain, the house and gardens are full of rubbish, including rotten food. There is an awful smell coming from the house itself, and mice have been seen running around on the window sills inside. We now have rats in our attic and professionals assume that the source of the infestation is their property.

We have politely spoken to them about it many times over the last 2 years and they always say that they will sort it but they never do, so just think that contacting social services was the best way to get the right support for them to try and solve the issue.

It’s a family of 4, two teenage boys, the youngest of which has stopped going to school for almost a year now.

Needless to say their health is dire, both physically and presumably mentally, and I think they need support. However I also worry that I am getting too involved and that I should mind my own business.

Should I report them to Social Services?

Op of course report!! And school aswell

I would talk to safeguarding at school and see what they say. If they don't take up the reins, then yes, report to social services. They clearly need help, all of them!

Someone definitely needs to go around and carry out a welfare check

Yes
As a social worker I worked with a family with massive horsing and household hygiene issues. There were massive issues underneath. They welcomed the support in the end and a couple of years down the road things were so much better for them

I'm a very much mind your own business sort of person but yes I'd definitely report that

There maybe reasons the child is not at school. Two of mine stopped going through mental health issues but there was constant contact with local authority, mental health services and school. If they are not being checked on. Then. The school is failing in their duty to safeguard a child on their roll. The health issues in the house need reporting to the local council too

You can report to environmental health and your local council too, they will almost certainly have a hoarding specialist and can also enforce action to be taken regarding the vermin and rubbish.

I would have thought they would already be known to social services if one of the kids hasn’t been going to school. But don’t let that deter you from reporting - maybe be reassured that you are not obviously going to be implicated

The rats/rubbish and the children/education are separate issues.

You should report the environmental issue to environmental health.

If you feel you should report the children's welfare concerns, that would be social services.

As above . Plus social services . They all need support .
kids don’t have a voice . You can give them that voice .

The vermin coming into your property makes it your business! Thank you for caring and hopefully someone can help them. Definitely report!

I would speak to your council about the vermin, they may be able to offer more help with that, than social services. But I'd contact social services regarding the welfare of the family. I feel for you, whilst you're obviously compassionate it's not fair you are dealing with rats in your own home attracted by your neighbours filth.

They’re probably all linked.
It is unlikely that someone whose home is in such a state that they have piles or rotten rubbish and rats is providing all the basics they should be for their children. Certainly not providing a safe home environment. It’s also likely that there is an underlying cause.

I'm sure they are linked as in it is the same family, but Social Services don't have authority to enforce environmental matters, and Environmental Services don't have authority to enforce child protection matters.

So the two matters should be reported separately because they won't get addressed if not.

I’m not suggesting social care will deal with the housing issue in the same way the council will, I meant the housing condition is a safeguarding issue that social care should be informed of. Housing is likely to be a significant issue that social care will have to work with if they loose their house, or if the home conditions aren’t safe.

Thanks all

Yes. Because if you don't things are only going to get worse.

Yes, and environmental health, and also the fire brigade. All will be interested in trying to help. Especially environmental health (at your local council).

Hi, I have some sort of poop on the window sill on 1st floor. Any idea what this could be?