I am worried

My son used to tell me some terrible stories when he worked in the care sector not that long ago.

It really is a worry. The local council are responsible for renewing licenses for care companies, but I'm not sure there's that much monitoring going on.

He left because he found it impossible to provide the safe care people needed.

I'm surprised there's is so little awareness of how bad things are.

I suppose many people receiving care are isolated , possibly without a voice. The people doing the caring need to earn a living. Its a terible state of affairs.

Things happen in the adult care sector that would have people up in arms if it was happening to children.
Coupled with the fact that it is a subject that many people find difficult to contemplate - I include myself so prefer to metaphorically put our fingers in our collective ears and sing loudly, whilest thanking our lucky stars if we and ours are not currently living with these issues personally.

I'm missing part of your concern. Is your daughter paying out of pocket for grocery items for her clients? Are you saying nobody was around in administration to cover her costs? Sorry if I am misunderstanding.

There seem to be two areas of concern - what is happening to the residents’ pocket money and why is it that care workers are being left to buy food etc for the residents out of their own money at weekends, even if they are subsequently reimbursed when someone able to access the petty cash comes on duty. This smacks of very bad management. Your granddaughter can make an anonymous complaint to the CQC -
www.cqc.org.uk/sites/default/files/2023-06/20200420_Whistleblowing_quick_guide_final_update_amended.pdf

Who sadly will do nothing GSM

Germanshepherdsmum good suggestion if CQC were any good but sadly they are as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Is anyone senior on call at weekends?

I would phone them, explain the situation, and put the ball firmly back in their court. (For the time being, while I checked out the policies and procedures regarding cash)

I can guarantee there will be absolutely nothing which allows staff and service users money being mixed and matched, though.

Canadiangran
The support workers are not responsible for buying residents food.

The site has two houses,the smaller where my grandaughter works has 4 residents,the larger house on site has 6,admin is done from the larger house by managers,a code to order weekly food and groceries from lical supermarket had not been generated leaving residents without meals,and essentials,bread,milk etc.

Another support worker fortunately had enough personal money to biy essentials for residents.

Management do not work or reply at weekends.

CQC have been into the home,requires improvement,management weak

Residents seem to have differing benefits etc,but when GD asks questions told she disent need to know.

Primrose53

Germanshepherdsmum good suggestion if CQC were any good but sadly they are as much use as a chocolate teapot.

Then report the matter to the police which can also be done anonymously surely.
If money intended as pocket money for residents is being withheld , that is financial abuse and it is a police matter.
Money intended for purchasing food being withheld should be reported to the local Social Services.

Then report them if nothing comes from that
Take it to the local newspaper anonymously
This is totally out of order and I m sure replicated in many ‘homes’ throughout the country
It needs calling out and scare the owners into sorting themselves out
It’s criminal

You can report anonymously OP, if your granddaughter doesn’t want to.

Unfortunately there is no evidence of financial abuse,just unanswered questions and an on a need to know basis,she has asked too many questions and sadly any whistle blowing will lead to her.

She also needs her job to be able to support herself as she lives alone,if found to be a whistle blower,she would be unable to work in the care sector again,as she has done for the last 8 years,she is now 25.

Has she already questioned some of the practices?

I don't understand how "need to know" can be applied to holding someone else's money.

I think all she can do is let things die down a bit, then report to cqc, or family members, perhaps?

downtoearth, surely your daughter can raise the issue of there not being anyone at weekends to sign off petty cash and the problems this causes?

I hope her co-worker claims her expenses.

A friend of a dd was a clinical psychologist, working with troubled teens who were leaving care.
Several times she had to buy food for those who’d been left with no money and no supplies.
I’m afraid her comments about the social workers responsible for these young people were unprintable.

After several years with the NHS she left and entered private practice - which she’d said she’d never do - but she’d just had enough.

Baggs my GD has raised the issue with management,nothing has changed sadly

This could be happening to any of our loved ones so I think yes, it must be reported. I totally understand that your GD needs to protect her job, good for her that she has tried to address previous issues. I agree with GSM, you could report it anonymously, it would be very difficult for the management (or what passes for it!) to accuse your GD as you don't need to tell her that you have done so. If she was asked her response would be genuine.

downtoearth

Grandaughter is a support worker for people with Autism and special needs.

She is querying where some of the funding goes regarding pocket
money and personal allowances

She has just finished a shift where no one who is above a senior level is able to sign off petty cash,as management does not workweek ends.
A code has not been sent ti buy shopping and foid fir the vulnerable residents..

Another support worker has bought supplies for weekend, my GD not in position to do this when her weekend on duty,I support her financially.

What us happening in our care industry these days.
She us worried about speaking out

Would this not be considered a Safeguarding concern??
If so it should be reported to Social Services

Thankyou all for your replies, I feel torn in protecting my GD,but also knowing of the situation,I have become unwittingly involved.
I shall be polishing up my whistle anonymously.

Morning to all
Just an update on this

GD has just been informed due to ongoing costs houses are due to be closed

I did not have to whistle blow.

Sadly GD will no longer have a job,but even more upsetting 10 very vulnerable people many of them non verbal,with autism and emotional needs are going to lose the only home they know, the familiar faces that care for them, and the stability they need daily to function and be moved to heaven knows where.

All are adults most have no family.

Very sad news

I thought local authorities had a statutory responsibility for such people (with insufficient money to meet it) .

This doesn't surprise me at all. Good quality care is expensive. Local authorities cap the amount they pay per person so it's hardly surprising that third sector or private care companies struggle to maintain services.
Where will the displaced residents go? The large institutions have closed and single tenancies will cost far more than small group homes. This is a rotten situation.

It does sound like very poor management when you consider how much LA's pay for care.. I'm glad your GD will be able to apply for another job somewhere and is obviously a caring responsible person which is so needed. I think homes will have to be found for the residents and hopefully they will be well cared for.