How to make a complaint?

D&DD

Thanks ES
I think part of the problem is as I say it's not really in my nature to get 'rowdy' with people.I totally understand the pressures/finiancial restraints our SS are under and I always think there is some poor soul worse off than us, so I tend to just sit and wait it out usually..
I have never really asked for help before...ever,this is how our life is,they are our kids and we just muddle along best we can usually
This is part of the problem..everyone who meets me usually says 'I can't believe how well you cope..you're an inspiration' etc etc so they assume I AM coping,as usual...but we're not!
The one time we have needed their support,they have failed us,more importantly they have failed my children.
We do have a 3 stage complaint procedure here too,so it will probably take a while..
As I say it's not in my nature to ever be rude to people who,at the end of the day are doing their best to help.
I wasn't raised to be like that.I try to always be polite and never get cross with them no matter how many times we are knocked back.
This is why it saddens me to have to go this route to try and get any help.
Sadly it is always those who shout the loudest who seem to get services here,wether they are in desperate need or not..

nanokitten

D&DD wrote: »

I always think there is some poor soul worse off than us, so I tend to just sit and wait it out usually..

this is part of the problem, there are always going to be people worse off somewhere and new cases will occur every single day, which is why non-acute cases get shoved to the back of the queue, however if you keep waiting till things get really bad it will take up more resources than if they'd got on with it.

Don't think of it as complaining or being rude, you are mearly being assertive and protecting your family.
I find that a polite (but brutally honest) letter describing what has happened generally gets better results than a rude one.
I'm not sure what DS's condition is but there was a report on the bbc this week about how if childeren with brain injuries didn't get a prompt OT assesment it permanently damaged their outcome
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7748110.stm
this will be true of many other conditions as children develop so fast, maybe you could suggest that you are concerned that lasting damage is being done to DS's development and that you will consider social services to be responisible.

good luck

ElectricSoup

I agree with nanokitten. Assertive and persistant... good luck, let us know how you get on!

D&DD

Well things came to a head and I went to pieces on the phone
Son's next op is on Jan 7th and we have no way of arranging cover for DS3 as our 2 current carers both work fulltime too :eek:
I rang on Friday as I hadn't heard anything back from the social worker who had visited..
She's left..no-one even told me and to add insult to injury never left a single note about her visit.
I got in a bit of a state so they passed me *fortunately* through to the only person in that dept who has ever helped us and as soon as I heard her voice I told her everything,she was not amused...
Within an hour I had a phone call from my new SWorker AND...sit down...the OT to make an appointment.
OT is coming 12th Dec :j
However new SW was supposed to phone yesterday and didn't...will see if he does today.Polite but firm letter has been sent so will update when we hear anything

Savvy_Sue

D&DD wrote: »

She's left..no-one even told me and to add insult to injury never left a single note about her visit.

Now THAT is bad, in this day and age ...

I know it's a bind when they have to write up every visit and contact they have, but honestly, what's the alternative? Sadly we all know ...

Hope things start moving now ...

D&DD

Well we have good news
Finally after 5 months of sheer hell we have a new social worker (a really lovely bloke..no chance of maternity leave!!!) who actually phones us :A ,new extra carer is being sorted out,plans are afoot for some social activities for DS3 AND...:j :j :j OT has been

I would like to thank everyone for their support and truly excellent advice :T it has benefitted the whole family

I was firm and fair in my letter and have been my usual polite self to all that have entered *did have to bribe OH to stay out of it though as he's still :mad: *

I feel we have turned the corner now and look forward to building a good relationship with our new team

*fingers crossed,touching wood*:rotfl:

alexcross

what a brilliant thread thank you orig. poster.
I am going to have to complain about CHAMS Im at my wits end after repeated mistakes and shrugging off my worries over DS thet (last month) told the DS's school that they had an appointment for DS at start of Dec. having recieved no appointment (have not seen them in three months and DS should have weight and BP checked at least once a month) I phoned them and they said they have no appointments available till January now I asked why then had they told school that he had appointment in Dec they said they had not told school this. I promptly went storming into school and was assured by them that they had been told this.
but its not the first time this has happened. DS's nurse at CHAMS told me she wanted to go into school and asses DS she said three times she was going to do this however the school have recently informed me that the only contact they have had in three years from CHAMS was the other day when school contacted them about the Dec appointment!!!!!!! grrrrrrr tell me someone please....how do I complain and to whom?

D&DD

Hi Alex I think we have been remarkably lucky with our CAMHS service here,many others I know have had rotten experiences with them. I think any complaint would have to be directed either at the manager of CAMHS or the primary care trust,they run our service here.

I would also suggest keeping an eye on your SENCO as from my experiences with the SEN system this is often the point where communications with Camhs falls flat Ours was very obstructive as she thought she knew best...hence the delays in our referrals etc
Early intervention is crucial with our kids,just wish the schools would recognise this as much as the parents do..