I personally haven't been working within the social care sector for long, Approximately 7 months, but in my short tenure, I have quickly realised that vast experience doesn't equal knowledge, or decorum.
If you feel like something isn't quite right with what your experiencing or witnessing, then please don't let your lack of experience deter you from reporting it.
With experience, complacency often follows hand in hand, short cuts are taken, policies and procedures are ignored. So always follow your gut instinct, it's better to raise a safeguarding concern, and it be looked into with no further action, than to keep quiet.
Any reputable care service should have an in house whistleblowing policy, which again, safeguards your employment. If you follow their policy and find your being victimised which is causing you to be unhappy within the work place, you may have a legal case for victimisation. We can gladly assist you with this, if you're unsure on how to proceed. (Completely free confidential guidance and support for VIP members)
Never feel like your lack of experience makes you unqualified to have an opinion, if you've had adequate training in house or external, you're more than qualified to raise your concerns. Also document anything on your internal systems, such as Nourish. If the CQC get involved, they'll expect to see any concerns documented, remember if it's not documented, it never happened.
The first step is to report your concerns to your immediate line manager and hopefully swift internal investigations will take place, If your concerns are being ignored by management or they're not acting quick enough, then report this to the CQC.
But what if documented concerns are being deleted?
This is a bigger problem and an even bigger red flag and must be reported to the CQC, especially if the in house system is a third party app like Nourish, because only users with max authorisation can request the removal, which suggests those at the top of the ladder are trying to cover things up such as but not limited to: House Managers, Quality and Compliance Managers and Heads of Care.
What if you're being told not to document things by management?
Again, you should follow your gut and document anyway with your reasoning, if your concerns are relevant to the well being of a service user and if you're reprimanded, follow this up with a report to the CQC.
Should you just mind your business and ignore it?
Sometimes you'll feel like staying quiet because you're conscious of needing your job to survive financially, but staying quiet can also make you an accessory after the fact in respect of Safeguarding concerns.
If something severe happens as a result of it not being reported, you're equally liable, both morally and legally. Always cover your own back and report anything suspicious.
Remember, it's better to lose your job for the right reasons and appeal it (with our support) , than to keep your job for all the wrong reasons.
If the CQC are brought in for an investigation, they will be interviewing ALL staff including yourself, So please cover your own back.
After reading this, you think you need to report something that you've witnessed or documented previously, then read the following steps:
Report this to your line manager immediately (We can support you with this)
Check out the CQC guidelines here: Whistleblowing
If you wish to log a CQC report you can do so here: Report
If you feel there is an immediate risk of harm or abuse, call 999/111.
Remember, you are an amazing Support Worker, the fact you're on this website says your going above and beyond to be the best you can be by broadening your mindset and socialising with others in the profession.
YES, YOU are a professional and never think of yourself as anything less, Be proud, there isn't many with the will or ability take on such a vocation
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I thank you for stopping by. You can always ask questions or give us topics to cover in the comment section below.
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