AIBU to report concerns after collecting toys from a very squalid house?

[Joeydoesntsharefood25]

Aibu to call social services about the house i just bought some toys off Facebook market place?
Went to collect some toys i bought. House is a state from the outside. Filthy curtains, stuff piled up in the windows, very run down. Man opened door and a dozen flies flew out the house. He handed me the toy took the money and left. And then I was hit with the smell. I looked at the toy and it was wet and sticky. Its a washable surface so I put it in a plastic bag in my car. After a few mins in the car the smell hit me. Animal urine. It was god awful. When I got home I dumped the lot in a bucket and covered it in bleach and hot water. I went to message the man to give him a piece of my mind and he has blocked me. Now I am really worried this man has a kid thats living in that state. An adult can choose to live in squalor but a child or an animal cant. Are there any social workers on here that can advise me? The only clue i have that there is a child is that he was selling toys. Now I am going to scrub myself in bleach because I dont think I will ever feel clean again.

I can't see SS doing anything about that even if they knew for sure a child was living there.

They'd need more than dirty curtains, flies during Summer (flying out of the house??) and some animal wee on a toy I'm afraid.

Sad but true.

I’m a CP social worker and yes I’d be interested. I’d be able to check whether there were children living in the home and whether they were visible to other services and whether there were any other concerns raised. I’d contact the social worker duty team tomorrow and explain my concerns.

Duty team children's services.

Absolutely refer. When I was a duty SW we would have visited, or at least considered it, from your description as they clearly dont see any issue with animal urine and potentially faeces with flies. Yours may be the final piece of the puzzle when added with other concerns raised. At worst your conscience is eased knowing you have at least tried. And you can always go through nspcc if that feels more comfortable to do.

When I tried to report a child doing child labour, not at school, and working for a tarmac driveway company that was doing my neighbour's drive, social services said they couldn't do anything without a name or date of birth for the child, and that I had to log it with the police. So I waited on hold for ages (again) and I logged it dutifully with the police, giving them the vehicle registrations etc. They were more interested in whether the workers had a "different accent" and when I said they had a local accent, they weren't interested at all. That's not to say don't report, but don't hold your breath that anything will come of it.

Yea k look home and report. Every little helps and you could be the difference to the total reports from school etc. if no kids there no biggie

Yes! I’m a SW and as someone said above, we could do checks if a child is living there.

I'd definitely report that.

If you report it something might come of it. If you don’t report it nothing will come of it. At least you would know you tried.

Thanks everyone. It was truly appalling. I dont think thw toys can be salvaged so thats money down the drain but the amount of flies that came out of the house, I mean it was like a horror movie where there is a body decomposing!! I tried to look at the guys profile to see if there was evidence of a kid but its all gaming photos. There appears to be a dog.

Why do people lie on mumsnet, yes they will absolutely be concerned about this!

I have his address and name so will ring duty social worker tomorrow

Thats terrible. But good for you for reporting

Honestly, you will feel so much better knowing you tried to help. Vulnerable children need people like you OP.

Don't be so ridiculous, as if I'd take the time just to post and lie 🙄

I genuinely don't think there's enough for an overstretched service to go on but if the OP thinks there is, then reporting is a no brainer surely?

You don’t be ridiculous!! Stop putting people off reporting this is exactly the kind of thing SS would be interested in.

It may also be an idea to report to the RSPCA. It could be there are animals not being looked after properly.

I'm glad you're reporting this to a social worker.

If you think there's a dog I think you should also report the situation to your local animal rescue. It's horrible to think that there might be helpless children or pets living in such a terrible environment.

@LadyTable of course Social services will investigate this. As a same day priority I would think. Certainly within 48 hours.
@Joeydoesntsharefood25 I would definitely report. It must be grim in that house (probably the neighbours each side too!)

You're right . Ill ring rspca. But i know there is a crated husky howling day and night near me that has been reported loads of times and the rspca have done nothing

Stop reading things into my post that aren't there 🤣

If you're just looking for an argument, it's a bit crass to do it on a thread like this.

Ive worked visiting deprived areas doing home visits and I have been inside some bad environments but I would refuse to step over the threshold of that property.

Yes please report, they can check if there are children in the house. But he’s probably just trying to earn money on the dude and doesn’t have kids. Dirty scruff.

Why can’t you ring this afternoon or this evening?

@LadyTable You really have no idea of the way some children are neglected, and if the home is in this state, chances are the children are being neglected as well.