Eviction notice served

mumoftwins

HHG doing another 'piece' on us this week with a new photo!

saffronflowers

MOT - done

SFx

moomin_girl

hi mot i have desperatly been trying to keep up with your story and have psted before but rather busy lately with my new job.

i just wanted to say i hope you have the best christmas possible with your lovely children and i-t, my thoughts will be with you.
:rudolf::snow_laug:santa2:

kerry xxx

mumoftwins

Had phone call from solicitor this morning, the psychiatrist has receommended I see a Clinical Psychologist so she is arranging that for me. Having done that she is writing to the LA to ask them to postpone appeal again in order that this report may be obtained - theoretically we should have all evidence in to the LA within 56 days of the letter deeming me intentionally homeless but as they were negligent in obtaining the psychiatrict report she feels we stand a chance - if not then to court we go to appeal against their decision!

The solicitor also wants to take a statement from I-T as she feels he is possibly the main witness as to how this has been affecting me.

The psychiatrist has also recommended that I am seen by the CMHT for the future, so support there I hope

MM written to council again asking for confirmation of postponement of appeal date.

Had phone call from BBC Three Counties radio for an update too.

floss2

MoT, good news on the CMHT - that means you should also be classed "in need" because of their contact & support.

Also, some of your little foibles may be coping mechanisms, superstitions or habits to "protect" you from anything that may be out of your comfort zone that you may not be comfortable dealing with. We all have those....mine is needing to know when everybody is doing what (comes from being a PA & managing my boss's diary I think!)

Love to all

Floss xx

gallygirl

ampersand wrote: »

#############################
ali007 - so sensible.

Yes, I think so too. Why on earth would anyone want flowers the wrong way up on a quilt, and as for the bogeyman :eek: ..... oh, you meant my advice .

Keep your chin up MIT, easy to say I know, but I'm sure it will be your 2008. xx

mumoftwins

Hello all,

This is a copy of the psychiatric report, I'd be interested in your comments please!




Mrs ***** *****

DRAFT PRELIMINARY REPORT

I have attended at urgent request to interview your client, who attended with her partner Mr ***** - - - , whom I interviewed separately.

I had received by email (only) instructions including copies of your client’s statement, letters from ******Borough Council and medical correspondence.

I briefly perused Mrs *****’ medical notes at your offices before seeing her. I noted frequent attendances over the years for unrelated matters, some of which (e.g. injuries
from a car crash) compounded her difficulties.

Mrs ***** confirmed the history as provided.

She presents well superficially, well dressed and well spoken. There was a brief “weeping” episode, but she quickly brought that under control. She described incapacitating panic attacks and how all her energy went in coping with the children’s routines on a day to day basis.

The stress at work, as described in reports, appears to have been severe and, with hindsight, it would have been better for her to have left the firm where she was suffering inappropriate attention and bullying much sooner, but financial need took precedence. She cannot accept that she made herself homeless “intentionally” in any normal understanding of that word.

At interview she confirmed that her 11 year old twins are the centre of her life, and she is proud of their progress despite the family difficulties. I understand that they get on well as a threesome, and she describes them as “best friends”. They are doing well at school and relationships at home are good; they have outside interests which require occasional adjustment of the fortnightly access arrangement with their father; this appears to be negotiated satisfactorily.

The other important positive in her life is her relationship with her partner ***** who is her constant support, including help with the correspondence with which I was provided. They were friends before her marriage when both were police officers and met up again after she had moved down south with the children. She told me that she had not had support from her own father and stepmother to the extent anticipated. She has never been able to depend on them much; not even after the Bunsfield explosion very close by and the evacuation, which is described from her point of view in the papers. She sees them on average about weekly, but her father has “no time for depression”…

Mrs *****said that she finds it hard to convey fully and convincingly what she is actually living with; extreme mood swings (disturbing highs and deep, longer lasting lows, crying easily, times when she cannot cope with house work and home maintenance. She cannot manage more than the essential day to day basics. She has not felt well enough to be able to contemplate seeking employment or even doing a little voluntary work, perhaps, whilst the children are at school.

She describes herself as being “a normal person” prior to what transpired to become her disastrous marriage. She had tablets from her GP to no seeming lasting benefit. Attendances at the GP surgery were generally brief and apparently referral to psychiatrist/psychologist specialists was never broached, nor did it occur to Mrs ***** to suggest or request it.

It is my practise always to suggest interviewing accompanying relatives and friends, and this was welcomed by Mrs *****.

Her partner’s account of her condition proved to be more graphic than anything I had read or heard from herself.

The border lines between relative normality and depression/anxiety are not straightforward nor easily defined and I suspect that her presentation has gone against a full appreciation of her mental problems. The couple have been together now for several years but it has not been feasible for them to actually live together yet; his flat in ****** is very small and unsuitable, nor does he have spare cash to help meet her contingencies.

He has been concerned by her emotional lability, which is extreme, and by frequent oddities of behaviour.

She can talk “hypomanically” without cease, then go quiet, and even fall asleep. She is liable to have “manic cleaning sessions.” For the last six months or so her conversation has been disjointed, her mind “skips” and she changes topics without realising she is doing so. She is nervous in crowds and cannot enter a lift; despite her bad back she insisted in walking up the stairs at the ******* tube station. She is oddly choosy where to sit in an empty carriage, moving around to find a seat she likes… She seems to befriend strangers when “high”. A graphic example a year or more ago was an incident at a supermarket when she was chatting to a woman behind her in the check-out queue. Her mobile phone rang, and she impulsively gave it to this woman, telling her to speak to Mrs *****’ father!

As described, ***** is a considerate, tolerant man and has maintained unswerving loyalty to Mrs *****. I thought him a likely reliable witness, though lacking any background. He is “in despair” about what they could do if the threat of immediate eviction after the hearing comes to pass.

It is my opinion that because of “mental illness” of as yet unclear and unconfirmed diagnosis she satisfies the criteria of para 11.17 of the Code of Guidance for local authorities and her failures should not be considered “deliberate”.

I recommend referral to a clinical psychologist expert in this field as a highly desirable immediate step in order to help clarify diagnosis, prognosis and treatment recommendations, and I would advise that the hearing be deferred for that purpose. For the future, I would envisage involvement of the Community Mental Health Team.

***

Lucy1982_2

hi MOT

I would say that is a positive thing, he has pointed out that your 'failures should not be considered “deliberate”.' Which in my mind reads that your actions cannot be read as making yourself homeless.

I would take this well and hopefully something good will come of it.

x

saffronflowers

I think that it is an increadibly fair evaluation of the situation and also it confirms the council stating you can "cope" is mearly a face that you manage to put on and it is hiding your illness.

Also fab news about getting diagnosis asap,

Big hugs Honey

SFx

mumoftwins

para 11.17 of the Code of Guidance for local authorities



11.17. Generally, an act or omission should not be considered deliberate where:
i) the act or omission was non-payment of rent which was the result of housing
benefit delays, or financial difficulties which were beyond the applicant’s control;
ii) the housing authority has reason to believe the applicant is incapable of managing
his or her affairs, for example, by reason of age, mental illness or disability;
iii) the act or omission was the result of limited mental capacity; or a temporary
aberration or aberrations caused by mental illness, frailty, or an assessed substance
abuse problem;
iv) the act or omission was made when the applicant was under duress;
v) imprudence or lack of foresight on the part of an applicant led to homelessness

but the act or omission was in good faith