Is it ok to use cameras for security when having carers

worried33
worried33 Community Member Posts: 1,103 Championing
edited August 26 in Families and carers

This is in my own home, no one lives with me carers visit.

The problem is I have noticed some theft. The only sensible thing to do at this point seems to be to use cameras, but I dont know if its legal, and if I have to inform the carer agency.

Sadly because they keep sending 5-6 carers every week, I have no idea who the guilty person might be at this point. I asked them several times already as well as the council did on my behalf for them to cut it down to a regular, but they havent done it.

Comments

  • MrHappy2
    MrHappy2 Community Member Posts: 56 Contributor

    Hi @worried33

    You are not alone in having concerns re carers.

    Until a few months ago i had 3 sometimes 4 one hour care visits every day but i eventually cancelled my entire Social Services care package because of ongoing problems with care. Those problems included occasional theft by carers, different carers constantly (regularly 3 different carers every day). Short-time visits (paid for one hour visits but most carers have come and gone in less than 30 mins, and that's if they show up at all). And finally my biggest issue was the often times abysmal quality of care.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,799 Online Community Team

    Hi @worried33. I'm so sorry that you're experiencing this. Is it a large amount that is being stolen?

    We can't offer legal advice and it seems to be a bit of a grey area. Here's some information from the Quality Care Commission (CQC): https://www.cqc.org.uk/contact-us/report-concern/using-cameras-or-other-recording-equipment-check-somebodys-care

    A first step could be to let the care service know you're considering installing cameras. They should ask why and look into the issue.

  • 66Mustang
    66Mustang Community Member Posts: 15,537 Championing
    edited August 26

    The impression I got is that you're allowed cameras in your own home and you don't have to justify it to anyone. A courtesy would be to tell the carers about the cameras, and they may have the right not to come, but I'm not sure about that last bit.

    Last year we had to organise care for a relative with dementia. She was alone at night but had several hours of care a day. We installed cameras to keep an eye on her, not the carers, as she was doing things like trying to get out of bed (she wasn't able to walk, and we once found her on the floor in the morning). We asked the care company if they were okay with the cameras and they actually encouraged it because it protects both parties - as long as both parties are acting faithfully, that is!

  • CarNineSix
    CarNineSix Community Member Posts: 58 Contributor

    You have a second option, old mobile phone just propped up and left to record.

    But in your home, you can record what ever you want. The people who visit you should be made aware that CCTV is in use but this can be a small sign that can be seen, how many times do you see those signs and ignore them?

  • worried33
    worried33 Community Member Posts: 1,103 Championing
    edited August 26


    Given I know money got stolen, the total amount of things being stolen will be a unknown, as there is rooms I havent been in for months at this point. There is other things of value in my home, but in terms of cash it is about £60.

    I am more bothered about letters, documents, photos, and its the fact someone is going through my bits which I have a big problem with.

    I do have one carer who was going through some of my bits, and when I noticed her she casually told me she wanted to rearrange them, this was not far from where a mobile phone was sitting and where the money was, so when I speak to the agency I will at least ask she isnt assigned to me again, and inform them of what has happened.

    Even a meal vanished, I was given a choice of 2 meals by a carer, then the next day there was none left, this care who was going through my bits was in between those 2 slots.

  • Rachel_Scope
    Rachel_Scope Posts: 4,799 Online Community Team

    I'm so sorry the carer would go through your things. It's such an invasion of privacy. I think it's a good idea to ask that they don't send her again. I can't believe that they would steal a meal! Absolutely shocking.

    Do you feel able to speak to the care agency about wanting to install cameras? Do you have any friends or family that can support you with it?

  • Jean Eveleigh
    Jean Eveleigh Scope Member Posts: 188 Empowering

    This is the info I have found after searching for - Security cameras and home care UK law.

    It is legal to install security cameras in your own private home to monitor care, but you must respect strict privacy boundaries and data rules. Rules for Private Homes (Domiciliary Care)

    • Private Spaces: Never place cameras in bathrooms, toilets, or areas that violate basic human dignity.
    • Consent and Capacity: If the person receiving care has mental capacity, you should discuss and agree on the cameras with them. If they lack capacity (such as advanced dementia), a decision can be made in their "best interests" under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
    • Audio Recording: Sound recording is much more invasive than video and should generally be avoided unless strictly necessary and properly consented to.
    • Data Storage: Keep recorded footage secure and encrypted, and do not share it publicly or carelessly, as it constitutes personal data.
    • Boundary and Public Areas: If your camera captures areas outside your property line (like a public street or neighbor's property), you must follow guidelines from the Information Commissioner's Office.

    Rules for Care Homes

    • Strict Restrictions: Care homes face much tighter regulations from the Care Quality Commission. Covert or hidden cameras in residential bedrooms require formal justification, capacity assessments, and safeguarding protocols.
    • Refusal Rights: A care home can legally refuse a family's request to install a private camera if it breaches the privacy or dignity of other residents or staff.

    Further Exploration

    If you can tell me whether the care is in your own private home or a residential care facility, I can give you more specific guidance on your legal rights.

  • MrHappy2
    MrHappy2 Community Member Posts: 56 Contributor

    My last (and final care agency) was an all Kenyan agency. The only reason i am mentioning nationality is because language was an ongoing issue as was the actual quality of care. One example being a carer thought washing my hair meant rubbing in shampoo and leaving it. Perhaps that's how it was done back home in the village i thought to myself. So many other examples of abysmal care that eventually it became a pointless exercise even bothering to mention them because nothing ever changed.

  • worried33
    worried33 Community Member Posts: 1,103 Championing

    I have been thinking a bit about your post, I didnt originally reply, as I wasnt sure to say.
    I have not had the issue of them rushing of too soon, but rather outstaying their welcome, there is a lot of once they done with my needs, them standing in another room out of view, one told me she isnt allowed to leave earlier than the allotted time, so has to wait, but none of the others stay as long as she does. The evening visits which are shorter are usually much shorter than what I am paying for, but the slots cant be reduced they have a minimum time period.

    The bit that is bothering me, and really the whole thing has been bothering me, is the quality of care, and that I think I only need this care because both the NHS and social services are failing me.

    Only one of the carers I think does adequate care, the rest are as if they cant hide they want to be somewhere else, and I had to do a lot of nagging to get this carer almost every day except her day off. If she ever leaves there will be serious consideration in to only keeping them to fetch meals and nothing else.

    But also I think I am being messed around with by my OT, so the physio for the most part had to order the OT to visit, it took her about 2 months to even visit the property, and then for another 2 months or so she has kept saying a report is coming, which isnt coming, tried to make me fill in a rehousing from without the form, I then had to show her this form which has in big red letters it wont be processed without a report, promised hand rails. a special bed, only for a few days later to ring me saying it wont be happening without much of a reason given.

    Physio said I have been approved for a wheel chair but months later no one has contacted me on it, I am bad enough that I cant even have a scan at the hospital now, there is so much discomfort and inability to move my body, lie down in specific ways and so on, I cant even have an xray.

    When I asked the NHS about making special accommodation to get scan done (plus an eye screening that needs doing), they just shrugged their shoulders and said just try again, no pain injection or anything offered, no in patient arrangement offered, they wont even prescribe me more powerful painkillers.

    I got a social worker coming in 2 weeks who's only interest is reducing my care plan. She has no interest in everything else going on GP's ignoring my needs, OT being passive aggressive pretending to help me, and hospital showing no duty of care.

    It feels like I need to be firing off complaints in all directions to even get basic needs met.

    I think the issue with the OT is they uncomfortable with that I dont really have much in terms of secondary care evidence, and their system falls apart when that isnt there, we have the whole accountability and liability thing, so they dont want to say to my face they dont want to help me, either that or they just a complete mess. But this is a consistent pattern with anyone who has visited me, promises made face to face, then within a week a phone to call to back out, or just never hear from them again.

    I hear people talk about PIP as if its dehumanising, I actually found my experience of that not too bad, I explained my issues to the assessor, and the decision was made to give me support, fairly simple.

    With the NHS, I am literally having to explain all sorts of dehumanising stuff a dozen times, and then maybe, I might get a little thing happening, but then I have to repeat the whole thing again with someone else.

    I had someone tell me a diagnosis, and when I asked them to repeat it so I could write it down (due to hardly anything being on my file), they flat out refused probably for accountability reasons. Very strange behaviour. This is on top of that very strange autism assessment I had where I was treated like a criminal under police interrogation.

    At the very least if I was living in a suitable property with an appropriate wheelchair I probably would be able to do my own washing, getting food, putting shopping away, a wet room to wash myself, my quality of life would be so much better, but the system just doesnt want to help me, and yet we have people claiming people like myself are not interested in help.

    The most dehumanising thing is asking for help and then not getting it.

  • Mary_Scope
    Mary_Scope Posts: 5,692 Scope Online Community Children and Family Specialists

    I'm so sorry to hear this @worried33, it sounds like you're still carrying a really heavy amount of stress from all different directions and like you're not getting the right care and support.

    I know we sent over some information on finding an advocate a while back, were you able to get an application in with them please? There's no pressure at all but if you do want to put any formal complaints in, an advocate could be a big help in taking that weight off your shoulders.

    How are you feeling about the upcoming social worker visit?