social services/direct payments

snailz

hi does anyone know anything about social services? sorry this may be a long thread. my daughter who is 4 has complex needs, she is autistic and non verbal, i have another child who is almost 1. i am a single parent. the problem i have is safe guarding my youngest. my eldest has frequent melt downs and is violent towards her sister. also she does not sleep at night, only for 2 hours, i suffer from M.E and struggle with the lack of sleep. i had a core assessment from social services and was placed at level 3 support, this is the highest in regards of disability and safeguarding. my social worker took my case to panel to request respite. i was awarded 4 hours. however today she contacted me to inform me that i had been moved down to level 2 as panel and herself agreed that i was coping ok and no longer needed the support at level 3. i am a bit confused as my situation has not changed since she did her assessment only in september. also i asked if i could turn down the 4 hours and receive direct payments instead so i could pay for more hours, i was refused, she told me that to receive direct payments it would need to go back to panel and another core assessment would need to be done she said its unlikely these payments would be awarded as panel have already decided on the 4 hours. can anyone tell me if this is correct? am i being treated unfairly? i always thought that anyone who entitled to respite through social services was entitled to direct payments? thanks.

sheeps68

Not sure which area you are from as this does vary a little. If your assessment was with a childrens team I would suggest you contact adults for an assessment of your needs. Suspect it was a childrens team as you say you had a core assessment. However you say your social worker rang you so that points to an adult team as its only the child who has a social worker if childrens team. Whichever team I would ask for the other team to make an assessment. I would also ask for a carers assessment. Also do you have a carers support group. Nearly all areas have them but you may need to ask around.

Racheldevon

It's interesting you say you've been moved to level 2 - within the area i work - all families that have a child with additional needs that meets the threshold for social care intervention (integrated children's services) automatically sit at level 3. I would certainly explore/request a carer's assessment. If you feel your situation hasn't changed, and that you're not being listened to, perhaps put something in writing to the practice manager, asking for the reasons for this change to be put into writing, and then challenge this.

Are you linked into your local sure start children's centre? They provide free services to all families with a chld aged 0-5 years, and are free. You might want to give them a call and ask if someone from their family support team can visit you to discuss the support/ways in which they could also work with you. Have a look on google to find your nearest centre - all communities have access to them.

Also, are you linked into any carer's groups - for example, things like Parent Carer's Voice, any local groups (which the above should be able to advise you on). Your local council will also have a directory of family services available, which will inform you about other sources of support. Does your GP surgey have you down as a carer?

Are you getting the right benefits - have you looked into DLA, and carer's allowence?

nlj1520

Firstly I am sorry to hear what a difficult situation you are in. My son is autistic and although now an adult I cannot imagine trying to care for him at that age AND a small child. It was night on impossible with just him!
As well as pursuing the right amount of respite have you contacted the Challenging Behaviour Foundation? this is a charity with all sorts of advisory resources for parents of children with behaviour which challenges. They can have a Family Support Worker speak to you on the phone and send you information which might help you manage the situation and help your daughter have fewer melt downs. They have helped me also with getting the right sort of provision for my son by making sure I knew the legal position.
The other people who may be able to help get the respite situation sorted are Advocates. Your daughter may be too young to be entitle to one, but worth a look and perhaps a conversation with them. All areas will have a service that is free, do a google search and contact them. They will also be really aware of the legal situation and what Social Services MUST do.
Hang on in there, you are obviously strong and a fabulous mother. you will get something sorted out. All the very best.

daska

I'm in a similar position in that a single parent to DS2 who is probably ASD/ADHD, has severe language delay and has severe sensory problems which lead to violence etc and I have ME. I don't have a 1 year old, I can't begin to imagine how you cope!

Who did the assessment?

Children's Services support the child.

But Adult Services hold the responsibility for supporting you in your parenting role. That can include help caring for the child, child care, domestic, school run, equipment etc.

Are you aware of the Disabled Parent's Network? There's a wealth of information there and they are really helpful, they may even be able to help you find an advocate to press your case with SS.

I currently get 37 hours a week to cover dressing/ feeding/ school runs and to ensure I'm not left totally on my own all weekend. I also have a lifeline so that I can call for help if (or rather when) DS2 attacks me - I have a fine crop of bruises from where he attacked me on Sunday

Has anyone ever mentioned sensory problems or your child been referred to Paediatric Occupational Therapy? If not then push for it. 80% of children with autism have sensory problems and a lot of the time they can be mitigated with appropriate therapy. Our lives changes massively in Feb this year when it was discovered that wearing a tight hat to bed allowed DS2 to sleep through -prior to that he got maybe 3 nights every 3 months where he'd sleep normally and the rest of the time he'd be up to 3.30am or awake a minimum of 4 times a night. A good OT might be able to identify something that helps.

And if you haven't already, please apply for DLA! DS2 has just (I found out today!) been awarded High Rate Care and Low Rate Mobility because of problems that sound exactly like your little one. That would be a huge amount to help pay for private help or to use as evidence that SS should really be stepping up.

Zziggi

I wonder if the posters on this thread could advise me. I am disabled and have a disabled child. I seem to be constantly pushed between children's services (as there's a child - an it's disabled), adult social services (as I have a disability) and the Carers team of social services (because I care for my child who has a disability) with each department basically saying one of the other two is responsible. I know it all boils down to money & they're all basically trying to get someone else to pay but I cannot get any of the departments to see us as a family.

I do get some help at the minute but it is always under threat of bring cut & the department threatening to take the help away always cites that it is some other departments job to put support in place. The net affect us that our needs are not fully met. Just how do I get them all to work together and asses the WHOLE situation?? I read above that adult social services should support the parent in their parenting role (e.g. Childcare) however I get told by adult SS that childcare falls under children's services because it is to benefit my disabled child. Children's services say the childcare is to give me a break from my caring role so carers team should pay. the carers team say i need childcare to have a break because if my medical probs so adult SS should pay. adult SS say its childcare for my child so childrens services should pay etc etc ad infinitum. The truth is they're all correct. I need childcare to give me a break because my health problems limit my ability to be a carer and my child does benefit from childcare because they enjoy the stimulation, change of scenery & chance to be with others.

The above is just one example but highlights the nutty way the 3 departments (who are all "social services" essentially) squabble between themselves, how do I get them to look at the family functioning as a whole?

nlj1520

ZZiggy, try going up the management layers until you reach the person in charge of all 3 'services' and make your case to them. Or just go straight to the Director of Social Services for your council and make them aware? Good luck

daska

Complain formally to each department (I would suggest you write a single letter addressed to all of them) that their squabbling is leaving you without the support they all agree you need and can they arrange a joint meeting with the aim of resolving their differences. Copy same letter to the Director of Social Services (essentially making a request that s/he bangs heads together).

shegirl

Good luck op.

I'm starting to lose all faith in the disability teams.

Ds respite was stopped a few weeks ago,apparently the respite centre (we had one overnight a week and 2 day sessions during school holidays) couldn't contain him (no idea whether it was just that week or longer term they struggled).

Disability worker only contacted me this week.I left god knows how many messages and they done naff all.His psychologist phoned and reminded them that they can't just stop services and leave it -they're meant to do an assessment on the impact FIRST and find alternatives.

No assessment of impact. No alternatives.Just a plan for a meeting sometime soon to start thinking.

Funny really.Ds (13) is,according to the professionals,in the top 10 severity and complexity wise in the catchment area (which extends out of our city and also into another county technically),he is on 2:1 care in school in classroom just for him,part time,respite apparently 'couldn't contain him' and I'm left on my own with nothing.

Must be bloody magic me!

nlj1520

Shegirl I cared for my son alone and after one horrendous incident lasting 20 hours during which I summoned social services the staff member left saying it was too dangerous for her to stay!!!!!! fine for me though apparently.

shegirl

nlj1520 wrote: »

Shegirl I cared for my son alone and after one horrendous incident lasting 20 hours during which I summoned social services the staff member left saying it was too dangerous for her to stay!!!!!! fine for me though apparently.

It's insane isn't it. So much for 'helping'. What is really getting me though is his behaviour has worsened and he's regressed due to change and loss of routine yet they don't seem to get it!!! There's something seriously wrong when they don't understand the effects of change or loss on an autisitc:eek::rotfl: