Social work what's my rights

[IdenticaltwinMum]

My son's disability social worker called around unexpectedly and says there's a report in for my house being messy. She says she will been to do an inspection. What is she looking for, can she go in all rooms as my bedroom is being used as a storage room until we get a bigger house. What can she do if the house is not up to her very high standards. I'm scared stiff. Thanks.

How messy is it @IdenticaltwinMum? It must be hard looking after your DS but are you keeping food areas clean and the toilets/bathroom?

A disability social worker is child in need not child protection you can decline their services.

You'd be a moron to do that when youve been explicitly told there's been a report against you - red flags galore.

Usually it is about a house being safe.
Are there a lot of unwashed pots and pans?
Very dirty surfaces likely to attract vermin.
Rubbish or kitchen waste in heaps.
Animal mess left on floors.
Hoarding to the point it becomes a fire hazard.
Does dc's bed have bedding including sheets on mattress, is the bedding cleanish.
Can dc move around the house safely.

I'm a social worker who does child protection and court. A messy house isn't something that would be a safeguarding issue unless it was to the degree that it was unsafe. The only houses I've ever been worried about are the ones where there's animal poo everywhere, exposed wires, children not having beds/bedding and the home being very very dirty.

Poor home conditions can indicate a number of underlying issues.

yes she will want to look in all of the rooms

if your home is untidy to a normal extent that is normal

if your home is dirty then that wouldn’t be good

is your home quite messy?

I used to check houses when I was a SW. We wanted to check that the kitchen was clean, tidy and had sufficient food, the sitting room was clean and not unsafe, the bathroom was clean and the child's bedroom was suitable (bed, clean bedding, relatively tidy). I never asked to see the parents bedroom. I wasn't bothered about a bit of clutter or dust. Unless you have been in a completely squalid house its hard to explain where the bar is set. Most houses were absolutely fine even if they weren't up to my own standard of cleanliness or tidiness.

SW will not mind untidyness.
They are going to check that the way you live is safe for your child and if so will be happy. If there are concerns they will make recommendations.Try not to feel threatened and it wouldn't be sensible to turn down a visit.

I wouldn't be assuming that social workers have very high standards of house work, it is about good enough.
Safe and secure with the basics taken care of.

Refusing access would be daft because it would just escalate your case while raising additional concerns.

Just let them see the storage rooms. If a SW is looking over a house they need to see all the rooms.

If she’s never been in your bedroom before then it won’t be that that’s triggered it. What are the kitchen/bathroom like?

Saying that though, RE your bedroom: organised storage is one thing. Wobbly, unsafe piles of things is another.

Is your house messy? If so, how messy? Unsafe messy, or some paperwork on the side and some unfolded clothes kind of messy?

That's what she's coming to assess.

I think it's also checked that exits are clear (in case of fire) so no piles of stuff by outside doors? This came up in a case I was involved in

Do not turn down the visit, major red flag.
Is your house cluttered, dirty?
A bit messy and dusty is not an issue.
Hoarding, animal faeces on floor, dirty nappies left around, piles of unwashed plates, pots etc, piles of dirty/soiled washing, rodents you may have a problem.
BTW the bar for intervention is rather high so you have to be really bad to have any action taken in that area.
Believe me many very dirty houses nobody official will bat an eye at.

I do home visits and as said above, bad smells re. dirt, animal faeces, kitchen and bathroom unhygienic dirty. If it's clean and messy, will look that there isn't fire hazards, piles of papers near heaters, the heaters themselves, if it's winter has to be warm, if it's hot: ventilated.
If disabilities are physical, there has to be open areas to walk, mobilize, sitting and rest areas that are not cluttered. No rugs, cables, etc. that are trip hazards.
Plenty of food, not expired.
As said, bedding in child's bedroom that's not dirty.
If there is a child, enough toys, safe play areas.

SW should be there to support you, they should advise on how to keep your home safe if there are areas to improve and they might do another visit to check that things are improved. Don't be afraid to work with they ask you to change things.