supported living and privacy

[Chaseonthecase]

this group has really helped and I now have another question. A couple of the residents are going in each others bedrooms. I have asked that this is stopped for my son because one resident in particular keeps “giving” him toys and then goes in his bedroom uninvited to take them back causing him anxiety. When she doesn’t want visitors she shouts F off through the door and puts notes on the door with offensive language., also screaming at my son. Because she kept inviting him in her room (against my wishes) he now just goes in when he feels like it. Surely these rooms should be private spaces for residents. There is plenty of communal space to interact. He has no mental capacity, cannot give consent and relies on staff for everything. Councils solution was to remove him to another home!! And they say it will restrict his freedom if he is not allowed in a residents bedroom although they say I am allowed to tell him he can’t go in. Although of course no way of reinforcing this as I am not there. My feeling is this will develop into a safeguarding issue if not resolved. Please can someone advise me with a detached perspective.

[49Twister]

I’m not sure how to advise you, my son shares with one other person and they can invite each other into their rooms as long as the person is there. They can’t go in uninvited. They also have locks on their bedroom doors but this may not be appropriate for your son. Obviously if your son doesn’t understand that it’s more difficult. I don’t accept their explanation that it will restrict his freedom if he’s not allowed in a residents bedroom, I would have thought their bedrooms would be classed as their own private personal space. Do you have a social worker you can ask regarding this, or contact safeguarding to advise you as I understand completely your worry that it could develop into something more.

[Chaseonthecase in reply to 49Twister]

thank you for replying. It’s the social worker who is saying it will restrict his freedom and she can’t stop him. I’m not happy about it

[49Twister in reply to Chaseonthecase]

That’s ridiculous to come from a Social Worker, totally unacceptable, definitely contact safeguarding team to ask advice as your concerned and want to prevent any safeguarding issues. Good luck

[Jofisher]

raise it with the manager if she doesn’t deal with it in a timely manner raise it as a safeguarding.

[BenjiB]

My friend is having a similar issue !

Where my son lives the rooms have key card entry. A couple of the residents have their own cards but my son has to have a member of staff open it for him. It works really well. I thought it would annoy him when he started there but he’s got used to it really quickly and I feel happy that other residents can’t come into his room as he’s very vulnerable also that he can’t go into rooms and take or rearrange stuff which he likes to do!

Anything that restricts their freedom should be covered under DOLs. When my son was at home we had a DOLs in place as we had to keep doors locked to keep him safe.

[parasiticworm]

my son is in a group home thankfully with okay services users and we haven't experienced these problems.

[LearningLot]

Is it safe for a man and a woman to be going in and out of each other's bedrooms unsupervised?