Worrying myself silly being reported to social work after electricity check

[astao]

I had my yearly check on my electricity it’s by a private company not my local council.

I’ve been really unwell and had to pay for things I wouldn’t usually so I’m very skint until my big pay day tomorrow.

my electricity is in emergency credit at £3. My house is tidy ish. They came at half 8 this morning. So my 3 kids were eating breakfast and it was played in messy with their bowls and cereal bar wrappers. My little girl had been up in her room playing with Barbie’s so there were Barbie’s everywhere. The floors were hovered etc

the only thing is I’ve been unwell so the kitchen had so much washing to do. In my basket I had washing that was done to be put away. Then in the laundry basket had tonnes needing to be washed. And another basket waiting to be done at the machine. It wasn’t messy just a lot of washing. Everywhere else was tidy like my bathroom etc.

it’s just the washing mainly the sheer amount I never let that happen and the £3 emergency credit.

does anyone know if they’d report me to social work? Or am I insane?

I’ve just been so unwell my thoughts are a mess I’ve had a migraine for 3 days I’m getting a gp app today.

I think you're overthinking it

On what you tell us, you are miles away from meeting the criteria for social work involvement. They really dont care about baskets of washing.

@dragonbreathsi do have very mess cupboards and they had to go into my gas one. Like loads of coats, shoes and big bits of cardboard I couldn’t have to the skip yet

I think it's your migraine talking.

As a general rule any bleak ideas I have during a migraine turn out to be complete bollocks.

An electricity company employee isn't going to report you to anyone because of a bit of clutter, don't be daft!

I highly doubt it.

@Ketzelewhat about the emergency credit it’s only £3, I know there’s then friendly credit etc. but £3 is very low

Don't worry that doesn't seem close to criteria getting social involved. You are doing great despite difficult circumstances kids have enough food, toys to play with and there is clean clothes available even if it is not perfectly put away. Don't stress yourself at all. Sending love x

The thresholds for social service involvement are nowhere near that I’m sure of it. Try not to over think it all.

Social services or local council safeguarding teams are unlikely to get involved because you have low emergency credit, provided the situation is temporary which in this case it is if you are paid tomorrow. Everything will be OK. Try to get some rest today if you can.

Trust me, it is FINE.

Your DC are fed and have plenty of toys (and clothes by the sound of it).

During the pandemic I was having chemo and was very ill, at home with two children. The house was ravaged as only children can do, and no one could come to help due to lockdown rules and fear of infecting me.

The central heating had to be inspected which meant they had to go into every room. I was mortified and apologised profusely. Some
rooms had literally no clear floor space.

The guys were totally unfazed, they said oh we’ve seen it all, we’ve seen much worse, this is nothing!

Nowhere bloody near.

your kids are eating breakfast - your kids are fed
there’s washing around the place - you are doing laundry.

now if you weren’t feeding your kids or doing any laundry at all maybe they’d consider a referral!

It is totally normal for families to get messy and have cash crises. It happens to me all the time, and I was approved to adopt!

Social services aren't concerned about family life not being perfect. They have more than enough to do with the number of children who are actively abused, unfed, unsafe, or living in total squalor. Squalor means nowhere to sleep, dog shit and drug use paraphernalia on the floor, no food in the cupboards, broken windows and doors etc.

Honestly OP, your mind is racing away with you. You're obviously having a tough time right now; I really hope you feel better soon.

Have you seen ‘the Austin’s’ on social media.. social services aren’t worried about them so I doubt you need to worry 😅

They won't report you. Even if they do then as long as your children are fed, clothed, have beds, don't have a history of unexplained injuries and you're not obviously suffering from significant drug addiction or similar then a social worker won't care.

You’re worrying too much. They don’t care about people’s personal belongings / how they live. If they saw signs of actual neglect (we’re talking bruises, cockroaches, safety hazards) then they might do.

You are MASSIVELY overthinking it, yes.

OP this is what normal homes look like on a regular basis.

Emergency credit is there for a reason.
Of course you would not have had time to get electricity if it has ran out the day before.

I have been in a lot of homes and some are way busier than others.
Of course if they go to a single persons home it’s going to be much tidier than visiting someone with 3 kids.

I’d be more concerned if it looked like a show home and there were kids in the house.

The criteria for an involvement from children’s social services is centred around these things. Physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse and neglect.

I can’t see anything in an untidy house and piles of washing that comes anywhere close to being in any of those categories.

Unless it was hazardous noone is going to bat an eyelid.

In my county, Social Services will only get involved if there is a safeguarding issue or serious neglect, but even then it's designed to be a supportive process and the aim is to keep families together wherever possible. If you're struggling with anything though, please contact your local family hub - they should have a partner in their network who can help you with energy if you need it too

@astao I’m completely confused as to why an electricity reading would lead to a social services visit 😵‍💫

It’s not an electricity reading; it was an electricity check which is totally different. They go in every room of your house and check sockets and light fittings and the circuit board, etc. it’s really intrusive. My HA has to do one every five years by law and I hate it.

That said, there is nothing in your post to indicate any need for social service involvement so please try not to worry, OP.

If it helps, I work for the ambulance service and visit lots of homes. I have a low threshold for making safeguarding referrals but what you describe wouldn’t register as a concern to me. It sounds like my house on a bad day!

No they won't. Repeat 1000 times over.