CCTV in Care Homes Petition.

GwylimT

My Grandma has been in her home for almost four years, we were talking about this and her general view was "we aren't sub-humans who don't deserve privacy in our own homes, I take it the people signing this petition are happy to have cctv in their home that can be accessed by a complete stranger".

ripplyuk

If I was in such a vulnerable situation, I'd much rather lose my privacy than be abused.

I don't agree with cameras in all homes, just ones where the residents have severe, advanced dementia or are otherwise unable to communicate or help themselves if they are being abused. I feel this is protecting their human rights, rather than taking them away. I've worked in such a place and if I ever end up somewhere like that, I'd want cameras everywhere, especially my bedroom/bathroom.

Brighton_belle

ripplyuk wrote: »

If I was in such a vulnerable situation, I'd much rather lose my privacy than be abused.

I don't agree with cameras in all homes, just ones where the residents have severe, advanced dementia or are otherwise unable to communicate or help themselves if they are being abused. I feel this is protecting their human rights, rather than taking them away. I've worked in such a place and if I ever end up somewhere like that, I'd want cameras everywhere, especially my bedroom/bathroom.

I understand the sentiment, but in reality, to be of any use, someone is going to have to look through 24/7 hours of tape every week for each room - because who ever is monitoring the camera's is just one person covering how many rooms in a home: who can actually do this?
Also, in any one home, only x a %will have dementia, not all by any means.

Morglin

There are plenty of covert cameras to be purchased, so best people buy one, if they are concerned about elderly relatives.

I put one in my Dads room for a few weeks, as he had been as he had been so badly neglected in hospital, and it does make you very wary of professionals. but the staff at the home are brilliant.

His one just started rolling when anyone came into the room.

Lin

splishsplash

Morglin wrote: »

There are plenty of covert cameras to be purchased, so best people buy one, if they are concerned about elderly relatives.

I put one in my Dads room for a few weeks, as he had been as he had been so badly neglected in hospital, and it does make you very wary of professionals. but the staff at the home are brilliant.

His one just started rolling when anyone came into the room.

Lin

I find that really disturbing.

You do not employ those carers. You have no right whatsoever to secretly film them. Whatever rights employers have to monitor employees, this is a different ballgame altogether and I can't believe it's legal.

Did your Dad consent to being filmed? Who reviews the tape? What happens to the taped material and how do you safeguard it?

Wow. I'm actually shocked.

AnnieO1234

splishsplash wrote: »

I find that really disturbing.

You do not employ those carers. You have no right whatsoever to secretly film them. Whatever rights employers have to monitor employees, this is a different ballgame altogether and I can't believe it's legal.

Did your Dad consent to being filmed? Who reviews the tape? What happens to the taped material and how do you safeguard it?

Wow. I'm actually shocked.

So you're saying if you suspected abuse could be taking place that you wouldn't want to do something similar? Xxx

Person_one

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I do agree with this, but don't think it's lack of money that makes people behave in such an appalling fashion.

It's not directly caused by low wages, but at the moment we have a culture where care work is viewed as unskilled, low status and a kind of 'last resort' job that anyone can do because you don't need any qualifications or experience. It's a terrible indictment of how much we value our most vulnerable people.

If care work was seen as the skilled work it is, and given some respect, and staff were invested in and trained then they would have more reason to take real pride in their work, and more of the right sort of people would go into it.

(I do not at all intend to disparage all carers, there are many many absolutely fantastic ones and the majority do a perfectly accepted job. However I bet every good carer has witnessed at least a dozen or more terrible ones drift through their workplaces and move on with no consequences)

splishsplash

AnnieO1234 wrote: »

So you're saying if you suspected abuse could be taking place that you wouldn't want to do something similar? Xxx

If I suspected abuse or neglect I would be bringing it to management's attention and I would be a severe pain in their backsides until I was confident I was wrong.

If I thought for a minute that my concerns were not being taken seriously or were justified then I would be moving my relative asap.

Neglect would be hard to prove by secret filming in any event. Skin condition, weight loss or soiling on clothing/covers would be indicators to raise a concern with staff. Frequent lengthy visits would show me the ambiance and general attitude of the staff and residents.

Setting up a secret camera is not something that would enter my head.

A camera like that could capture visitors who come to see my relative, private conversations or phone calls held nearby - all things I have absolutely no right to overhear or witness.

WeAreGhosts

Management can be useless (I know my relative's care home management is useless after they blamed CQC for their 'inadequate' report!).
Here's info regarding using covert CCTV http://www.cqc.org.uk/content/using-hidden-cameras-monitor-care
The downloads to the right of the page contain the info.

seven-day-weekend

I would not want to be spied on.

And also. it's not fair to the (vast majority of) dedicated care workers.

Would you like to be under constant surveillance in your own home, or at work?