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So…. We have three highly visible Blink cameras installed at my mums house, she has Alzheimer’s and some other health issues. She’s desperate to stay in her own home for as long as possible, and this is a way that we can help to meet her wishes.
Camera is not covert so report away.
You don’t need ‘Lisa the Witch’’s consent to record in private property.
Tell your sister to kindly step aside and then nuke them from orbit.
I've been through this and it's horrible. I'd go guns blazing all over again if I had to.
Report. "Lisa the witch" has no expectation of privacy in this instance.
Sounds like Lisa needs to be told what isn't acceptable, the hard way.
National or large presence alarm company? If they start playing silly buggers then I'm sure some sort of negative media coverage (TV/newspaper) will contribute to resolving the situation.
How people can behave this way to vulnerable people, or anybody else for that matter, is beyond me. Don't like the job then bugger off and leave it to the people who are capable of caring for folk.
That's terrible, my late nan had a simmilar system plugged into the phone line and a wi-fi necklace type thing with a panic button on it, if she fell and couldn't get up to reach her phone etc.
She's passed away now but she did say more than once that they are a bit blase in terms of phone support and general support etc.
I can imagine they get lot of false alarms, but that's besides the point, you're paying for a service.
Formal complaint time to the alarm company as a minumum.
Is there a professional body you can also make a formal complaint to in paralell?
This might help: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/problems-with-care/problems-with-homecare/
My sister wants to tread more carefully
With all due respect to your sister, the attendant wasn't treading very carefully when they left a distressed OAP alone to cry.
I’ve been through this and it’s horrible. I’d go guns blazing all over again if I had to.
This.
If nothing else, they shouldn't leave like that, they have a duty of care, even if that's calling (you?) as contact, social services or 999 and waiting until the issue can be passed to a more qualified professional.
It is probably a registered service, so reportable via Care Quality Commission or Care Inspectorate
Consent is not required, in private or in public.
Thanks all. You’ve reconfirmed my thoughts, I shall be drafting a very direct letter today, and at the minimum ensure that this specific member of staff never sets foot in my mothers house again. I won’t deny, I will be out for blood. Whilst my mum must likely won’t have remembered the incident, the after effects are still visible 24 hours on.
If social work are involved inform them as well
@ac505 if you're not content with the outcome drop me a DM, I have a media contact you could utilise.
That’s the beauty of this place. Sound consistent advice, several good links and someone able to hook you up with the media to escalate if needed. 👍
I hope your mum is okay and gets the care she deserves.
Formal complaint, to the alarm company.
Inform the social work team (even if you have no social worker).
If you’re mum was sworn at (verbal abuse) then file with the police.
A short update. The local council who oversee the care company and social work have been notified of the events that took place and footage forwarded over to allow investigations to be made. The immediate response of the council upon receipt of the footage appears to be too close ranks with statements being made that care may be withdrawn as I had not notified the care company of camera in or around the property. As far as I am aware , legally there is no obligation to notify individuals or companies of recording equipment conspicuously placed in communal areas around a home (in Scotland), however the care company may (probably will) have a policy in relation to this which will define recording, storage and sharing. I have asked for a copy of the policy and of course will ensure compliance, however I can see this turning into a 5hit show based on initial feedback.
If there are any forum members with specific legal or subject matter experience, I’d be keen to hear your view, sounds like I may need to lawyer up..
Awful, truly awful. One suggestion is perhaps you phoning the Care Quality Commission and give them the whole story. If you go down this route it would be wise to not inform the care home. Would also ask for guidance from the CQC specifically around recording and what your rights are.
Yep, take it to CQC. In England at least, you can also take allegations of abuse to the Local Authority MASH team (Google how to report abuse for local details). If they want to argue about the camera I see that as separate from a staff member being abusive, on which there is conclusive evidence! You can also log it with the police, but they will probably initially refer it back to MASH (or Scottish equivalent
Report to CQC as above. <br /><br />
Sorry but just reading this, and in particular the council’s response has made me angry..
If the councils response is, rather than to investigate, say ‘well you shouldn’t have been filming us abuse your old mum’ then their priorities are hopelessly misplaced. I’d be escalating, and going to the press if I didn’t get a profound apology and appropriate resolution sharpish
disgusting behavior..
Personally your description sounds like it meets the definitions of s38: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2010/13/section/38
this is how most Breach of the Peace’s are prosecuted in Scotland so every cop knows the legislation well. They report people to the fiscal for stuff that seems less alarming. They won’t have the same “what about the employees privacy” worries (the ICO will not be interested in what you are doing). Just because it meets the definition of a crime doesn’t mean it will result in a prosecution the fiscal has alternative options especially if everyone agrees to it.
If you don’t think it’s a crime (or don’t want the hassle / think she might just have been having a bad day etc). Then I’d by talking to the care inspectorate and my local councillor about the response from social services.
I presume since the cameras are not covert they are there with your mothers knowledge (such as that may be) to help the family keep an eye on her rather than to catch abusive carers.
In Scotland so you need the Care Inspectorate. Ask for their advice. <br /><br />
council will have statutory responsibility as provider of last resort so they are obliged to provide care (if assessed as needed) even if private provider stops. Keep a detailed chronology of all events and contacts, if things get worse you will be grateful for having a decent record of everything
Op, that's a bloody horrible situation to be in and it's doubly upsetting that your council seem disinterested at best.
I absolutely know it might not be practical for a multitude of reasons but you can get the panic wrist band/ neck bands that can dial out to a family member/s or friend/ neighbour instead. They will keep ringing the designated numbers over and over until they receive a non automated answer
Basically they cut out the middle "man" but are of course only useful if someone lives locally and can get there sharpish taking work/ distance etc into consideration.
Anyway just letting you know the option exists in case you didn't know.
Either way, I wish you all the best sorting this out asap.
The immediate response of the council upon receipt of the footage appears to be too close ranks with statements being made that care may be withdrawn as I had not notified the care company of camera in or around the property.
Got that in email form? It's pretty clear retaliation for reporting wrongdoing. Bundle that up with evidence of the original behaviour and send it off to the regulator.
By leaving the key in the outside of the door, would this essentially lock your parent in the house? A night latch will still open I think, but some multipoint type locks wouldn't let you unlock the door.
The immediate response of the council upon receipt of the footage appears to be too close ranks with statements being made that care may be withdrawn as I had not notified the care company of camera in or around the property
Disgraceful behaviour. Keep on keeping on and take it as high as you need to, hopefully you'll get this sorted quickly and help other people too. Best
It doesn't hurt to cc your local Member when corresponding.
Short update. First of all thanks to all those that chipped in, some really helpful information.
The negative response to there being cameras at the house deescalated very quickly, I was expecting made up GDPR issues etc, but fortunately not. In fact when this was handed from the council (who subcontract the service and were the ones making noise about cameras) to the response provider directly, they were all for cameras to protect all involved - apparently understanding that cameras may be in use and not to be frightened of them is part of the basic training process.<br /><br />
After review of the footage and disciplinary procedure, the member of staff was dismissed from their job, the ex-staff member said it was a one off/will never happen again, however the response provider couldn’t and wouldn’t take the risk. A profuse apologist to my mum and family, we can move on with her care provision. <br /><br />
Well done for getting this to a satisfactory ending from what is a pretty nightmarish situation
the ex-staff member said it was a one off/will never happen again
I'm sure you know, this is BS of the highest order.
My mum had a string of carers for a short while as her health deteriorated. Most were lovely, a couple needed a slap. If you don't want to do the job, go do something else.
Being caught was a one-off, I suspect. Abusers don't tend to be one and done.
It could well be a one off. someone pushed beyond what they could cope with and losing the plot. Privatized home care relies on very poorly paid carers - often below minimum wage with very little training to deal with what can be a stressful and difficult job. Recruitment and retention of staff is difficult. The result is stressed underpaid staff working well beyond their capabilities and this sort of incident is the result.
Well done OP, good on you for strongly pursuing it and it's pleasing to hear of the outcome.
Exactly what I was thinking Yeej. Pay peanuts etc etc etc.