Cutbacks to local Social work services, what thoughs and suggestions can you give?

dekaspace

My thoughts and history is, I have autism and mental health/depression issues(the two go together really) it took until 4 years ago to get a good social worker who did the best they could and got me like 12 hours a week from private company to help me with basic tasks

The company almost never turned up i.e went about 3 months with 20 minutes or so total time and when eventually complained it went up to what it should except the workers turned up late or left early claiming previous client played up or they had a meeting, or random days when they didnt turn up as the person was "sick"

All the issues with stress from 3 bad landlords in a row, paper thin walls and a drunk neighbour, and high rent made me move from the area to where I am now for past 2 years.

Was promised the same support as last place but it took 6 months for them to say they had no funding for it, and since I can do basic things like put food in microwave, hoover floor, have a shower I wasnt a priorty, but I could phone if there was an emergency, so despite my depression being so bad my weight ballooned, sometimes I didnt leave the house for over a week plus mental health meant even if I felt like leaving the house my brain refused to let me till I showered and shaved so if I felt too tired to do it I would sit in house all day etc.

Got a call Monday to say due to a excessive work load the boss has told people to close case files down and as I can "look after myself" it means I need no support.

A little upset/annoyed about this but also wanted peoples opinions on things like this and what to do now.

nannytone_2

in my area, they have stopped providing any assistance for anyone who's needs are less than 'substantial'
i have direct payments and temp;oy my PA ,yself ( i use a payroll company to do the 'books')
because of this, the help i receive is exactly what i want, when i want it.
i also have a higher budget than if i was using a council designated agency.

have you asked for a direct payments assessment?

dekaspace

Interesting didn't know that but I worry I may come across as being able to take care of myself since my problems are more psychological than anything else, I do get lower rate care and mobilty DLA and also worry they would say that covers it.

tomtontom

What help are you looking for? Elsewhere you talk about cooking so you're obviously capable in some aspects, is it more a case of disinclination? What can you do to help yourself more?

dekaspace

tomtontom wrote: »

What help are you looking for? Elsewhere you talk about cooking so you're obviously capable in some aspects, is it more a case of disinclination? What can you do to help yourself more?

I can cook just dont do it often, I have bad anxiety and minor self esteem issues but the self esteem is more a side effect of the anxiety.

I just never have the mental energy to do anything, I can sleep and feel like I never slept at all so I sleep longer.

Even before I had depression issues I had social awkwardness/anxiety.

So I need someone there to help me structure things as even if I get up early I can't focus, I may think I want X food for dinner so buy food then feel like I want something else so it gets wasted or just chucked in freezer, I don't leave the house as I need someone not necessarily for motivation as much as keeping to a routine.

Not sure if its the best way to say things but I go to two extremes but my personality is stuck in the middle, and even basic tasks can overwhelm me, to expand that what I mean is that I need confirmation what I do is correct and neither spoken to like dirt if I do something wrong, nor treated too gentle like a child and left to get away with anything just that I am on the right track and help to improve

I feel ashamed to ask for help, and want to have somewhat of a choice rather than being forced to do something, originally when I left home that felt like I would get up for my 9am lecture but sleep in a little so run out of the door and know at best I will get there 9.05 but more like 9.10 and lecturer is the sort who shouted at people late so would rush and even run then halfway to class stop and take in the beautiful scenery and relax, then skip that class that way I was still up at same time but it didn't overwhelm me.

These days if I did that I would instead just sleep in automatically then get so panicky I don't even leave house thinking I will get in trouble and even if I do drag myself out of bed my mind is overwhelmed so I plan to go to second lecture but then still a little on edge so don't go to that one and then think well I have missed half the day now so no point going in.

So its a combination of extreme anxiety mixed with my (mild)austism, side effects make me fat and bad diet which makes it worse etc.

So in theory I can do things like cook, clean, even basic things like go for a walk but instead just sit and do nothing, and my brain is stuck in between gears so to speak.

tomtontom

I understand what you're describing, but there's no reason why you can't make your own routine. If you find things overwhelming then break then down into smaller tasks so you feel like you're achieving more. Make a list of small achievable aims for the day.

There's nothing you are describing that you need a support worker to do for you, and with all the cuts that is the only people they can offer support to, those who have no other option (and a few who could help themselves but choose to remain dependent on others).

dekaspace

tomtontom wrote: »

I understand what you're describing, but there's no reason why you can't make your own routine. If you find things overwhelming then break then down into smaller tasks so you feel like you're achieving more. Make a list of small achievable aims for the day.

There's nothing you are describing that you need a support worker to do for you, and with all the cuts that is the only people they can offer support to, those who have no other option (and a few who could help themselves but choose to remain dependent on others).

I think you misunderstand though, part of the problem is I have so many choices I need them broken down and a structure made outside for me, otherwise everyday is the same and I need an external design plus I need constant verification its not just a case of saying "heres a list, follow it" as if I fail to do something on it I would go extreme.

So when I did better it was when my choices were limited, as I knew I had no money to even buy a treat, had to live of the basics, no internet to distract me, no easy access to unlimited games, movies, tv shows etc as I was limited to what I had, and no one to compare with I was happy.

My biggest luxury in some senses and shows how my brain pattern works is tv channels in the sense that way things are on at a set time like news, documentaries and if I dont like them I can watch something else, if you just told me heres a streaming service choose what you want to watch I would freak out.

So I need some form of control over my life and a certain amount of things that are always the same as a balance, I don't need help with the actual actions but getting me to do them as I lack the mental and physical energy to do anything.

I also of course also need councelling but individually nothing will work without a balance.

After 12 years of severe depression I have only recently balanced out a little but I will never recover without help.

teddysmum

My grandson has recently been diagnosed as having special needs, but at a meeting we were told that the system is so overwhelmed that help is only likely to be given to children likely to harm themselves, others or possibly property (eg damaged property, which could endanger someone else).

tomtontom

dekaspace wrote: »

I think you misunderstand though, part of the problem is I have so many choices I need them broken down and a structure made outside for me, otherwise everyday is the same and I need an external design plus I need constant verification its not just a case of saying "heres a list, follow it" as if I fail to do something on it I would go extreme.

So when I did better it was when my choices were limited, as I knew I had no money to even buy a treat, had to live of the basics, no internet to distract me, no easy access to unlimited games, movies, tv shows etc as I was limited to what I had, and no one to compare with I was happy.

My biggest luxury in some senses and shows how my brain pattern works is tv channels in the sense that way things are on at a set time like news, documentaries and if I dont like them I can watch something else, if you just told me heres a streaming service choose what you want to watch I would freak out.

So I need some form of control over my life and a certain amount of things that are always the same as a balance, I don't need help with the actual actions but getting me to do them as I lack the mental and physical energy to do anything.

I also of course also need councelling but individually nothing will work without a balance.

After 12 years of severe depression I have only recently balanced out a little but I will never recover without help.

No, I completely understand, my situation is very similar. You need to start helping yourself. It's not going to happen overnight, but there's nothing you have described that you cannot do yourself.

dekaspace

tomtontom wrote: »

No, I completely understand, my situation is very similar. You need to start helping yourself. It's not going to happen overnight, but there's nothing you have described that you cannot do yourself.

Actually I help myself a lot, if not I would of had a breakdown long ago, to say to help yourself isn't correct as everyone is different I never touch drink or drugs as I know the come down would be severe.

I need a helping hand to at least show me how I can make things better rather than just be expected to do it myself.

I don't want help to do the actual tasks just to organise my thoughs, I don't just have depression I have autism so even without depression it races all the time, I used to be a big kid even in my early 20s like jumping up and down on the spot or random yells(though not in public as was self concious) I would sing to myself and such.

I need help to get back to that state but even then had social anxiety so that would need address.

I was horrifically bullied at school, had shoulder broken, and teachers never believe me as the kids who did it were from well off families but at least then I enjoyed the little things I had.

I have heard it too many times from doctors that only I can make myself better but since I feel miserable most of the time and on a rare good day like today I feel ok but exhausted I need a helping hand to improve things so in the long run I can take care of myself better but I need help to get me there.

missbiggles1

A helping hand and 12 hours a week of professional care are totally different things!