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Why do people live in squalor???????

102 replies

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 13:53

I have changed my name, so people can't associate the work etc.

I had to go into a young girls house the other day and couldn't beleive it, don't get me wrong, my house isn't a show home, but, it is NOT dirty, it is dusted and vacuumed every day and the dishes done at the end of each day and I am working alot of hours each week and don't really get any help with the housework from dh and have two young children.

This you girl lived with her boyfriend and her 3 children, i walked in the front door and it was foul, there was rotting dog food and maggots on one side (their youngest baby was crawling), I went in the kitchen and had to try and walk in between the dog mess etc and nearly fell,and had to steady myself on the cooker which made me retch, i didnt think it could get anyworse until i went into the living room, but it did, the sofa had no springs, and my feet were sticking to the floor which and her toddlers mess etc all over, it was boiling hot and the windows were taped shut and had mould ALL over the ledges etc. I then had to go see her mother after and stupidly though to myself that it was the girl being disgusting (her boyfriend was high).

The mothers house was even worse, they had a fire blaring in the back garden with a 2 year old running round it poking things in it, then the kitchen had mucky plates, knives, forks spoons all over, the sink itself was black and full of moldy cartons and the flyes were horrendous, the livin room was so bad I had to make excuses and go to the car, there were AT LEAST 6 or 7 moldy take away cartons on the floor, no carpet, things crawling and the sofa was once cream, there were damp patches on the walls and wall paper falling off and there again things crawling and dozens of new and old banana skins on the floor, again the windows were taped shut, i couldn't wait to get out of the house, what got me the most is not really the squalor, but the fact that they let their children run about in this, one little girl ran up to me and grabbed my leg giving me a hug and she was filthy and i could see lice in her hair so she was obviously infested.

I had to sit in the car for a bit to stop feeling sick when I came out and felt really sorry for the kids, the adults know better, there is no excuse when you can get a bottle of bleach for 50p, albeit not good stuff, but strong enough to clean things.

As soon as i came home I had to have a hot shower and doused my hair in tea tree oil and pull and nit comb through just in case and STILL didn't feel clean.

Sorry about this, rant over, but I felt so bad for the kids, no doubt they will grow up to be the same

OP posts:
expatinscotland · 15/07/2005 14:40

That's not just disgusting, that's abuse.

I agree w/aloha, call the NSPCC. Poor souls!

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 14:54

Pixie, i was going there with a work related issue,

Aloha, I can assure you that this is true, the stench alone made me ill

Scummymummy, my line manager was with me and was as equally disgusted, she could see my face and kept sending me out to the car for things.

OP posts:
aloha · 15/07/2005 14:57

Then make the call. Please. there is something seriously wrong here and the children are helpless.

QueenEagle · 15/07/2005 15:02

I have fostered kids who have come from similar backgrounds as you describe.

It is a social services issue - if they can't look after their house, they don't look after their kids either. If the girl was not at school because she "went to bed late and didn't get up til 11" that is out of order.

Something should be done. Now.

ScummyMummy · 15/07/2005 15:02

Refer directly to children and families social services then, Dizgusted. They definitely need to check things out. If you work in a social care type setting you should have some policies and procedures about this and it sounds like they need to be followed pdq. Good luck. It's very stressful/draining dealing with this type of thing, isn't it?

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 15:06

I don't have anything to do with social services and I am at the minute trying to wrack my brains to remember their addresses, it is terrible and i was so upset for the children, the youngest was left screaming in the kitchen for ages whilst the parents ignore him, the mum obviously loves them but has no idea on hygeine, I am going to have to report them, i will do it today if I can remember the addys, i'll let you know how i go on.

OP posts:
aloha · 15/07/2005 15:06

Does anyone remember the baby who died recently from blood poisoning because the mother didn't change the baby's nappy? That family lived in similar circumstances.

Caligula · 15/07/2005 15:07

With truanting going on, the ss should be able to get involved in that case.

Caligula · 15/07/2005 15:08

Oh god yes - that was so awful, I wonder how long you have to leave a nappy on a baby for it to develop septicaemia. It must have had hideous nappy rash for the bacteria to take hold.

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 15:09

Yes aloha i can remember that, and to top it all she was pregnant again if i remember correctly.

Right, I have managed to find the address for the mother but can remember the address for the daughter, and it was the daughter with the kids, (when i went to the mothers, she was visiting).

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 15/07/2005 15:09

Ring them, Diz. You can get their number from 118118. They will have a duty team who will help and tell you what written info they need, if any.

ScummyMummy · 15/07/2005 15:10

OH sorry- misunderstood. Thought you meant the Social Services address not the kids'.

aloha · 15/07/2005 15:10

I think it would be a good, brave thing to make that call.

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 15:12

This is where it gets complicated, the one who was truanting, is the mothers youngest, and the other daughter is the one with the dog mess on her kitchen floor she is about 23, so there is a big age gap, would ss be able to trace that through her mother?

OP posts:
hunkermunker · 15/07/2005 15:13

You won't know if you don't ring them. Ring them now - it's the right thing to do. Those poor children

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 15:13

Would it be classed as an emergency

OP posts:
katierocket · 15/07/2005 15:14

just ring

ScummyMummy · 15/07/2005 15:14

Does your line manager remember the address?
If you really can't think of it just ring Social Services and tell them eerything you do know. They will be able to use the mother's address to trace the daughter.

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 15:15

If i mention it to my line manager i may lose my job, i am on the phone now, but got the wrong no, they are getting me the right no, i am shaking, but can't bear the thought of those kids.

OP posts:
ScummyMummy · 15/07/2005 15:16

Let them decide whether it's urgent. Just say who you are, why you were there and what you saw. Stick to the facts. You are doing the right thing.

ScummyMummy · 15/07/2005 15:17

Why would you lose your job, diz?

Angeliz · 15/07/2005 15:18

i'd report it too.

The people high on drugs makes me say that more than the filth issue. (though that is foul and obviously a health hazard for the poor bairns!!)

Dizgusted · 15/07/2005 15:18

Confidentiality i think more than anything, not been horrible to my line manager, she is lovely, but she doesn;t have any children.

OP posts:
Angeliz · 15/07/2005 15:21

The issue of confidentiality should be over riden at any point children are in danegr surely?
I don't beleive you could be sacked for that!

hunkermunker · 15/07/2005 15:22

If you lost your job for reporting children living in dog shit, the papers would be very interested. You're doing the right thing.

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