Furious residents want a care home for delinquent juveniles shut down.And who are these delinquents?
Householders in Maurice Road, Canvey, claim they have endured swearing, late-night music and intimidating behaviour, since the youngsters moved in two weeks ago.
Why, they are, apparently, ‘vulnerable young people’…
The home is run by a private firm on behalf of Essex County Council to house “vulnerable young people” from across the county.It sounds more as though it’s the neighbours who fit that description to me…
Matters came to a head last Saturday night when police and paramedics were called following reports one of the juveniles had trashed the house.You’d better not read any Winston Smith blogposts, then.
Mr Bramall said: “It was absolute carnage. We could just hear someone going psycho.
“Everything was getting smashed up. There was shouting and screaming. There were about ten police in the street and paramedics. I’ve never seen anything like it.”
If you do, you’ll soon realise that it’s not exactly an uncommon occurrence in these places.
The care home houses four juveniles and it is staffed 24-hours a day by a warden.And that makes virtually no difference, given the restrictions under which they operate.
Angry residents also want to know why they were not informed before it opened.Well, the council claims to have done just that:
Nicola Spicer, a spokeswoman for the council said: “Maurice House is run by an independent management service, contracted by Essex County Council to provide accommodation to vulnerable young people in Essex.You’d better shout, Nicola, if you want that ‘dialogue’ to be heard over the sound of all those sirens…
"All neighbouring properties were informed, by letter, about the change of use of Maurice House and were provided with information and contact numbers should they have any concerns.
The management service is in contact with neighbours and this dialogue in ongoing.”
Perhaps they should release a few foxes in their garden
ReplyDeleteThe word "vulnerable" seems to have a new, almost opposite meaning these days. There is a new police initiative in Blacburn targeting children who are v"ulnerable to committing crimes". Does that even mean anything?
ReplyDeleteSome friends of mine recently told me of a similar, new build, centre being shoe-horned into an already crowded area behind some shops. They are pissed right off because their estate agent has told them that it will adversly affect the value of their home. Their elderly neighbours call the new unit "the place for the prisoners" (it's for vulnerable newly relesed ex-cons) so clearly some dialogue is required here.
ReplyDeleteAnother friend is a home visit Carer, she tells me of a dedicated unit for semi-independent Adults With Learning Difficulties, no problems from them but once she has helped her client sort out day to day stuff, like budgeting, she returns the following day to find that her client has 'lent' his electricity cash to "John" who Social Services chose to place in the same unit. "John" is a vulnerable 'recovering' drug addict and my friend does not expect her client to see his money again.
When the Council refers to “vulnerable young people” they aren't applying the everyday usage of 'vulnerable'. They mean that the young people have 'issues' with drugs or alcohol, personality disorders & 'mental illnesses', or have been 'involved' with the 'criminal justice system'. If they tick one or more of these boxes it means they are 'in priority need' (ie at the front of the queue) for 'social housing'. Hence their placement in a Council run hostel.
ReplyDeleteIn everyday parlance therefore, “vulnerable young people” most probably translates as 'neighbours from hell'.
"Perhaps they should release a few foxes in their garden"
ReplyDelete:)
"The word "vulnerable" seems to have a new, almost opposite meaning these days."
Indeed. As Mark points out further on...
"...she returns the following day to find that her client has 'lent' his electricity cash to "John" who Social Services chose to place in the same unit. "John" is a vulnerable 'recovering' drug addict..."
*sigh*
If these people ran zoos, you just KNOW they'd spend all their time wondering why the gazelles they kept housing in the lions enclosure were disappearing...
"In everyday parlance therefore, “vulnerable young people” most probably translates as 'neighbours from hell'."
Got it in one.