Private care home

[HarlotOTara]

Canvassing opinion to see if IABU to consider notifying someone about this.. Opposite my house is a care home which looks after very vulnerable men,they are like toddlers really and incapable of looking after themselves and need constant care. I was looking out of the window today and saw that one of the men had managed to wander into another neighbour's garden, there was no carer around. Anyway I went to care home to tell them what I had seen. A woman asnwered the door(I didn't approach the man as wasn't sure if I would frighten him, he appeared distressed)and I told her the man was in the adjacent garden. She said 'who is it, where?' but didn't come out with me but shut the door. I waited outside to keep an eye on the man and a few minutes later another carer came out and led the man back inside. I was concerned that noone was aware that the man was missing (no idea how long he had been out) as the men are really incapable of looking after themselves.
Also, the care home stank of smoke - is this acceptable in a care home? I doubt the men are capable of smoking.

Should I do anything about what happened?

[QOD]

They have to smoke outside same as anywhere because it's a business premise, I wouldn't personally act on a one off occurrence of wandering, but would keep any eye out.
It's difficult because they can't be restrained and staff probably have their hands full at times.
Nice of you to be concerned though

[Jamieandhismagictorch]

Keep your eyes peeled and telephone SS if you are concerned. Good on you for caring.

[bigstripeytiger]

I would phone social work and let them know. It might be a one-off, or it might be part of a bigger pattern of difficulty, if SW are made aware then they can decide how significant what you saw is to them.

[HarlotOTara]

Are social services the ones to call? I see the men regularly, at least those who are able to walk and go out. The carers never look particularly involved when they take the men out but then I don't know if this is always the case or just when I see them. I suppose I am concerned because the men I see are unable to speak but just make adult baby noises (for want of a better word), so would be unable to protest anyway.

[bigstripeytiger]

Most care home places like this are funded by social work.

[Sassybeast]

Assuming that you are in England, the home will be regulated by the care standards commission, not social services. Having said that, I'm not sure that what you witnessed is grounds for notifying anyone. Do you personally know that the man you saw was at risk ? The first person who answered the door may have been an admin person, housekeeper, cook, cleaner etc which would explain why they went to look for a carer. The man may regularly go outside and this may just have been the one time that you saw him. As for the smoking issue, care homes are heavily regulated but there may have been a resident who lit up a cigarette or someone who was distressed and required a cigarette to calm them down. I think you have made a lot of assumptions and unless you have actually worked in the home or have regularly visited a family memeber there, you can't really make assumptions that the residents aren't able to smoke etc. But if you do feel that it warrants follow up, the CSC website will give you details.

[2shoes]

I would ring ss.
the men should be kept safe,
i should imagine though as they are adults, they can't be made to stay inside iynwim.

[choufleur]

You need to call CQC (care quality commission) to report. Although local social services may investigate also if you call as the care home may be a commissioned provider.

I actually think you can smoke if homes (as it is a home - it's the main residence for the people who live there), although not in all areas.

[bigstripeytiger]

Im in Scotland, so it may be different in England. In Scotland the care commission regulate care homes, but most are funded by social work.
I think that it is worth calling though. Presumably if the man was in a neighbours garden he could have just as easily been in the road.

[HarlotOTara]

Sassybeast, I try not to make too many assumptions but the home has been opposite my house for many years, I can see the men are not capable of being out on their own as they have very severe learning difficulties. From what I have observed over many years I would doubt the men were capable of making a decision to smoke.I have been in the home a couple of times because my car has been hit by some of the carers reversing into it (not that I think that is cause for reporting anyone)and also on a few other occasions for example when one man tried to lift the garden gate of its hinges. I haven't actually said that I should do anything but having thought about it was concerned that am I being remiss in not doing anything

[Sassybeast]

If you feel that you need to inform someone, then inform them. There's not a lot of point in asking if you are being unresonable if you clearly don't think that you are

[muggglewump]

You can have smoking rooms in a Care Home, I work in one and we have one. I'm guessing there must be rules and regulations for this, but I have no idea what they are.
The corridor leading to ours stinks of smoke though, and only one resident smokes in it and it has a fan so it may be possible that they have a room near where the door is?.

I'd call though if I were you. The doors should be locked/alarmed to make sure no one wanders out for their own safety.