Unwanted social worker involvement

Boldredrosie

Registered User
Mar 13, 2012
244
0
Hi All
My mum went into a very lovely, well run care home about three years ago. She's nearly 89, has lived with dementia for over ten years, has other health problems and is slowly declining.

Ma is self funding and I arranged the care home with the support of solicitors and a psychiatrist who was not connected to the memory clinic that Ma was supposed to be under the care of. The care home is not in the borough where Ma lived. I had lodged complaints about the memory clinic and local social services in the run up to the move into the home -- they were shockingly bad. I was delighted when we no longer had to have anything to do with either the memory clinic or the social workers.

Part of Ma's physical deterioration has resulted in very fragile skin. She has some pressure sores, which the district nurses have been coming to the home to care for. About two weeks ago, the GP sent her to A&E to check bruising on her foot, which turned out to be a broken bone. Nobody knows how she broke this bone as she's no longer mobile but it's triggered safeguarding issues. I've already spoken to one social worker and now another social worker wants to go through what I said to the first social worker.

I have absolutely no concerns whatsoever about the home and don't believe there are any safeguarding issues at all. The home are quite sanguine about the investigation but I'd really just like to shut it down especially if the previous social work team get involved, which this latest social worker seemed to think was a good idea.

Does anybody have any advice on how to cooperate with this enquiry but make sure it's completed quickly?
 

Sirena

Registered User
Feb 27, 2018
2,324
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The CH have to inform SS if a resident sustains an injury. My mother had several falls and a safeguarding SW rang me every time, it's routine. Once SS even referred her (pointlessly) to the Falls Team. If the CH is a good one, they will already have all the necessary measures in place - hence why they are sanguine about it. All you can do is reiterate how confident you are in the CH.
 

Boldredrosie

Registered User
Mar 13, 2012
244
0
The CH have to inform SS if a resident sustains an injury. My mother had several falls and a safeguarding SW rang me every time, it's routine. Once SS even referred her (pointlessly) to the Falls Team. If the CH is a good one, they will already have all the necessary measures in place - hence why they are sanguine about it. All you can do is reiterate how confident you are in the CH.
The hospital referred it to social services. Yes, I know it's important. I just want it to not drag on and I definitely do not want the previous social work department involved.
 

Jessbow

Registered User
Mar 1, 2013
5,678
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Midlands
If a bone in your mothers foot is broken, and no one knows how, however please or displeased you are with the cares home, there is a safeguarding issue.

I'd let SW do whatever it is they need to. It might be the case that of you say ''dont contact the old team'', they might wonder if you had something to hide.
 

Sirena

Registered User
Feb 27, 2018
2,324
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The hospital referred it to social services. Yes, I know it's important. I just want it to not drag on and I definitely do not want the previous social work department involved.

I doubt there is anything you can do other than let the process happen.
 

nitram

Registered User
Apr 6, 2011
30,075
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Bury
I can understand you want a quick end to the investigation, however I think you should just relax, cooperate, and let the process carry on to a conclusion.
Nobody is going to sanction you, any sanction would be against the home and if, as you say, they are not unduly worried, there should not be a problem.

The main thing is that you are happy with the care for the last 3 years and continue to be.

On a different tack it would be interesting to know if the home submitted a RIDDOR and if so what they said.
2.3
...
...
Accidents which result in a person not at work (eg a patient, resident or visitor)
suffering an injury and being taken to a hospital for treatment must be reported
without delay, using the quickest means. A report must have been received
within ten days of the accident.
...
...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg220.pdf

 

Sirena

Registered User
Feb 27, 2018
2,324
0
@nitram yes I am surprised it was the hospital who alerted SS, rather than the CH. The SWs who contacted me specified they had been alerted by the CH manager.
 

Boldredrosie

Registered User
Mar 13, 2012
244
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On a different tack it would be interesting to know if the home submitted a RIDDOR and if so what they said.
2.3
Pretty sure they would have -- they're really hot on reporting anything untoward. In fact, they were heartily p-ed off when the first social worker informed them Ma had a grade 3 pressure sore -- they'd been asking the district nurses to classify Ma's pressure sores because they know they need to report them to CQC at grade 3.
 

nitram

Registered User
Apr 6, 2011
30,075
0
Bury
@nitram yes I am surprised it was the hospital who alerted SS, rather than the CH.

In context.
The OP's mum went to A&E to investigate bruising. Elderly, especially on certain medication, bruise very easily (every time my wife had her blood pressure measured it caused bruising which meant the day centre had to photograph it and submit a report). The care home waited to see what A&E said. When A&E detected a fracture they reported it.


 

nitram

Registered User
Apr 6, 2011
30,075
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Bury
In fact, they were heartily p-ed off when the first social worker informed them Ma had a grade 3 pressure sore

On what evidence?
  • Medical notes/info from a qualified clinician.
  • Was present when dressings were removed and made personal decision.
 

Boldredrosie

Registered User
Mar 13, 2012
244
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On what evidence?
  • Medical notes/info from a qualified clinician.
  • Was present when dressings were removed and made personal decision.
Sorry I should have said: the social worker contacted the district nurses who gave him this info but hadn't shared it with the care home, despite staff asking for the information. Remember, it's a care home, not a nursing home so they do need the nurses to tell them what the clinical situation is. Although home staff is present during dressing changes.
 

Boldredrosie

Registered User
Mar 13, 2012
244
0
So district nursing is at fault
Care home is exonerated.
Posssibly. I'm not entirely sure I believe there's fault anywhere in this scenario. She's an elderly woman with dementia and a host of other conditions. She's immobile. Skin like paper. A poor eater. I'm all for care homes and health facilities being scrutinised -- just think in this case it's an investigation that needed drag on. Nobody's been negligent that I can see.
 

nitram

Registered User
Apr 6, 2011
30,075
0
Bury
The district nurse could have referred to a specialist TV (tissue viability) nurse.

As it is the care home appear to have had difficulty in identifying a reportable condition.

Basic problem is that the procedure has to be carried out, normally not necessary, high profile cases where it was wasn't regularly make the news.

 

Allix

New member
Sep 20, 2019
1
0
I had experienced similar problems with SWs and MH teams and having recently moved by Mother into a care home we had another flurry after two years peace, 5 interviews with my Mother in 5 weeks!!!. A safeguarding investigation has a specific process to go through and a form to complete which should at most require one interview with your Mother with you present , interviews with staff and a report. You need to get this done and complete asap then they will all go away. (Not all SWs AMH teams are less than helpful but to my mind they are never spending time on the right things!). I assume your Mother has a special air bed provided to help prevent pressure sores .. I would find the grade 3 pressure sore quite a concern...they should never be allowed to get that bad.. hence the report to CQC...I would expect the care home and district nurses to be well on top of that....
 

Boldredrosie

Registered User
Mar 13, 2012
244
0
I would find the grade 3 pressure sore quite a concern...they should never be allowed to get that bad.. hence the report to CQC...I would expect the care home and district nurses to be well on top of that....
From my perspective the care home is but the district nurses do not appear to be sharing information when asked. They're the clinicians and the home's staff would take its lead from them.