Serious Case Conference

mellymoo74

Any one know what this is?

I am due to have one with HA, Shelter, Medical Professional etc just wondering what the format is and what it is supposed to achieve?

[Deleted User]

I'm afraid it depends on the reason it has been called. I'd suggest phoning the organisation who seems to be at the head of the conference and asking them. We don't know the details so will be guessing. If you aren't the person the conference is being called for, or the parent of the child concerned etc.., just ask how best to prepare for the conference, what they will be needing to know.

I googled 'what is a serious case conference' and came up with a few links, maybe that will give you more information.

mellymoo74

Hmmm

I googled and got a lot of junk - going to try again.

Have been having issues with the HA for about 6 years, it has been called as our health has declined drastically and we need to be rehoused. Called by the HA so is obviously going to be weighted in their favour.

The issue is the HA dont want to rehouse, in fact refused a discretionary transfer for a like for like property and have just sent me a letter threatening court action for none existent rent arrears.

G_M

Get to the bottom of the "none existent rent arrears."

How much are they claiming? For what periods?
During the claimed periods, did you pay (all) rent? Can you prove this?
Do you have receipts/bank statements etc going back showing all rent payments made?

You mention health, so presumably there is a calim of some sort that the property is unsuitable and causing health problems? For you? Childeren? What evidence is there that the property is to blame?

mellymoo74

The none existant rent arrears are after they suggested a case review

Yes actually I can and in fact have proved they were paid, the same as two years ago when they took me to court and lost

There is a claim that the property is unsuitable for myself and my OH, lots of specialist medical reports the housing have not taken up despite repeated offers.

They dont like the fact I will only communicate with them in writing so that I can prove they have been aware of this issue for 28 months, as they attempted to say it was new.

Thanks for your help.

G_M

So get all your paperwork together and take it with you.

mellymoo74

mellymoo74 wrote: »

Any one know what this is?

I am due to have one with HA, Shelter, Medical Professional etc just wondering what the format is and what it is supposed to achieve?

I have all my paperwork together, but wanted to know this

[Deleted User]

As long as you still have the court papers, letters etc, it should be easy to prove the rent arrears don't exist and also that the HA should stop raising this issue, in front of other professionals.

If Shelter are attending, I would imagine you will finally have someone aware of Housing Law to attend who will make sure the HA do what they are supposed to.

I'd advise writing a list of concerns to bring to the conference. Perhaps discuss with Shelter what they can do to help support you so you have an idea what approach they will take. You can also discuss with them what should/shouldn't happen at the conference.

Be careful with righteous anger.., I am speaking as one who has felt this lol. Keeping calm at the conference, no matter what the provocation (and it will be there), will make for a much more productive outcome. Your irritation is coming through on here, so I should imagine it will be worse at the conference. Not saying it isn't justified.., but it won't help you. Been there, got the Tshirt lol.

mellymoo74

thank you deannatrois. Only asking as Shelter have said its a meeting of professionals that can take many formats so it left me a bit confused.

The reason the HA keep doing this is they are hoping that I have failed to keep one of the bits of paperwork from them (I havent) the judge was disgusted at the hearing in 2013 (last time they did this, coincides with the start of my raising the children in flats issue)

I had a face to face with the idiots in May and was fine (very considerate apparently) work in HSE so used to dealing with difficult people so honestly will be fine face to face just venting at the minut due to being worried about my health as this has caused me to have 3 TIAs to date.

[Deleted User]

I do understand, am a carer, with health issues only made worse by dealing with officialdom that refuses to do anything until everything is a crisis point! Then of course, its your fault its at crisis point.

Once the Conference has happened, hopefully Shelter will have a better idea of which tack to take with the HA. I don't know if you have already.., but have you involved your MP or councillor? They can often be helpful with red tape blocks.

mellymoo74

I involved the MP and Shelter at the same time thankfully, which is why its gone to the case review thingy I think.
Prior to that they were ignoring the fact that the situation was making my suicidal OH worse the stress of which has caused the little rash of TIAs I have been having.

Gotta love Housing Associations. I think they get confused as to what they have said and when, last was (you didnt meet the criteria for the property you asked for a discretionary transfer to in email 1, email 2 from another person your eligibility is for a 2 bed flat but the waiting list was too long for that property etc etc etc)