Elder abuse

[broyod]

I'm a private carer. Today a client confirmed what I had been suspecting that her son has been physically abusing her. He has undiagnosed mental health problems and his mother is frightened by his outbursts. I have witnessed some of his rantings but not the violence. I've seen the bruises and taken photos. His wife and small child live there also. My client does not want me to report this at all. I'm worried for everyone's safety. What should I do?

You need to tell your Designated Safeguarding Lead. However if she has capacity, it is likely that the LADO will not act unless she gives consent. It's a nightmare. You still need to tell your DSL as that is your legal responsibility.
Maybe suggest she has cameras installed?

Didn't you undertake care of the elderly training, prior to working with the elderly?

I used to do a carers job before.

You have to report physical abuse. It's in your safeguarding training.

It doesn't matter if she told you in confidence, or if you are worried it will cause trouble with her son.

Her life is what is most important. Physcially hitting an elderly person can easily cause their death

Why have you contacted the NSPCC? They can take ages to call you bs k even if it was appropriate.

Just get on the phone to adult social services, you can report anonymously.

Are you employed directly by the family or do you visit as part of a formal care package? If the latter, him cancelling care calls is another red flag. You can’t sit on this for any longer.

You also have to report this to your employer

It's vital.

You could save her life

I can't understand why you've phoned the NSPCC. That's not appropriate. As others have said, you have to raise it as a safeguarding issue, you can't sit back and do nothing.

I contacted the NSPCC because there is a young child living there who I have concerns over.

I do not have a safeguarding officer. I am a self employed carer. Employed by the elderly lady of this family.

OK.that makes it slightly more complicated

So is it that you are afraid that you will lose your job?

Is that's what's stopping you from reporting to adult services.

Even if you lose your job with this woman, you'll get a job with another caring agency.

Do the right thing!

You need to call adult protection services.

I can only think it's because there is a child there so maybe op thinks this is safer and the only way to highlight the abuse. It still needs reporting to op manager especially now the son has told her to keep away. I'd report to social services, who is taking care of the lady if her son has refused the carer which is not his place to do, I doubt he has poa so the care manager should be all over this.

I think report him but if he ever confronts you say you noticed the bruises but that she never said anything to you because if he thinks she did that woman could be in even more danger

She's self employed. She is the manager.

Yes just seen her update, a self employed carer should receive safeguarding training so should know who to report abuse to, we don't know who signed the contract and arranged a private carer.

I used to be, too.

You need to report this to Adult Social Care.

And the police.

You get safeguarding/ training in care whether you work in a care home, in the community or in housing support. I’ve also had it in every volunteer role. You have to report it legally and morally. You know this. No ifs or buts about it. You can lose your job for not reporting it.

You are a carer and carers should have someone to report it onto ( you must ) what would happen if someone under your care was hospitalised? Do it now

Self employed or not you still have to report it.

She's self employed.

But yet she definitely still should report it

If you don't report it, you are complicit in the abuse.

From the Safeguarding training I have done (child not adult but I am assuming the same) safeguarding HAS to come first and you have to report it, its not a choice for you to make. Once you are aware you must report

Ok, that covers you safeguarding concerns relating to the child, now you have to report to Adult Social care as well.

You MUST report this. As a CARER surely you KNOW this. WTF.

You cannot keep this secret and you should have told her that at the point that she told you.

You have a duty to report it, even if it does mean they don't want you to continue the role.

Report it.

Have you never done safeguarding training? I know private carers don't have to be registered with CQC, but honestly, you should never have promised to keep something confident which is a safeguarding concern. In Australia, it's illegal not to report safeguarding concerns. In the UK, it's still just a professional duty of care, but you really have to report it. Speak to your local adult social care team straight away for advice.

And failing in your duty as a carer which is not safe for your clients. I can understand that you don't want to make it worse but it will just continue. You could report to her GP or district nurses who could visit

What a dilemma- but your client’s confidentiality isn’t as important as keeping her safe from physical harm ( are these definitely injuries from him, not where she has knocked her legs ?

A fellow student at college ( last century!) was being bullied by a security guard making the student afraid to come in to college.

We persuaded her to report it.
Security guard lost his job and the student ( who had been horribly verbally abused) never returned to do her A levels .
I do wonder if we’d been better off not telling her to report :( ?