A little advice please.

[tigerlily11]

I'm not sure if I should be asking this but it is bothering myself a couple of other people I know in the naighboorhood.
The lady next door to me is a child minder. She has all the paper work to back it up apparently, but the thing is I wouldn't put her in charge of a hamster cage let alone children.
She has a son who is about 16. He is strange at the best of times but he has a habit of howling like a wolf at the top of his voice for no reason. I have heard him shouting at the children in her care on several occasions and she has not stopped him. I have heard him reduce the children to tears. She argues with him while ahe has had babies in her arms and I can hear them crying their little eyes out.Surely thats not right.
To top it all off the other day a mother came to pick up her child and he had a large cloth held to the back of his head with blood on it.
The mother was understandably angry but I have heard from other poeple who know her as well that this is not the first time it has happened. It also seems that her son is the culprit.
Am I right to wait and see if the mother of this child makes a complaint or do something myself.
I hate to hear a child cry and having 4 children myself I know how hard it is but she is being paid to look after other peoples children and so far as far as I can see she isn't fit for the job.
If I complain who do I complain to?
Thanks for your time.

[Richard1966]

If you wish to make a formal complaint you should contact your local social services department as she will be registered with them.

[Yorkie580]

If you're concerned - and it sounds as though you're probably right to be - report your concerns. At the end of the day the welfare of the kids has got to be paramount.

[ronnieB]

I dont like the sound of this tiger,contact social services you can remain anonymous.

[pink-kittens]

If you are in the UK then she won't be registered with social services but she will be with OFSTED - the regulatory body for childcare providers. If you are in NI, then you will need to contact SS as minders there are registered with them

You can call OFSTED with your concerns and/or your local Children's Information Services at your local council.

[hippyhoppy]

You could approach the Early Years team with the council, they will give you any advice that you need. Or contact OFSTED direct - I have a number - 0845 601 4771. I used to be a childminder, and accidents do happen, however if the son is the cause, then there's reason to be concerned. Good luck, it's not a situation I'd like to be in...

[novalis]

It's better to be safe than sorry as far as the welfare of chidren is concerned. Approach the relevant authorities as listed above --- and, by that, I mean all of them just in case one doesn't investigate. Think how you'd feel if your children were being "looked after" in such a manner.

[ladyalex]

I think you should raise the alarm. After all, which is better? Not doing anything with the risk that some serious harm is going to come to a child or making a report that (hopefully) will be investigated that might turn out to be unfounded. I would like to think that I would make the report. It is hard, though. But do think how you would feel if something really bad happened.
Another agency you might consider is NSPCC. Have a look at this website
www.nspcc.org.uk
You will certainly lose any relationship you might have had with this neighbour, but that might be a risk you are willing to take.

Good luck. This is a horrible situation.

[froggequene]

Ring your Local Authority & ask to speak to the Child Protection Team (they're attached to Social Services)

[tigerlily11]

Thank you very much for your help. I wasn't at all sure who were the relevent bodies.
I was speaking to some one else in the naighboorhood who has had more to do with her than I have, they live across the road, and they said they had already contacted some one over this.
If nothing comes of it then I shall make a complaint myself but I know I would not want my children anywhere near this woman.

[froggequene]

If an investigation is underway, you may not hear any thing about the outcome unless it goes to court.

If you are thinking about lodging a complaint, you should make a note of the date & time of events what you heard happening and who you think was involved.