Any help and advice please Re Direct payments

[alexmum2]

I applied for direct payments way back in Nov 09, had a visit from a social worker who suggested I go down the private sector route first, whci i agreed to do.

unfortuneately the volunteer worker has only took my son out twice in this time, for an hour each time. on the last occations she upset im by makeing negative comments about his weight and other things (which i don't like to mention) he is a very articulate lad and is on the upper end of the sectrum.

We don't have many family members who we see regularly and therefore i needed him to be in the company of some one other than myself and his father; we are tied at the hip and it's not good for him or me to cut a long story short , i complained to the student social worker who did the assement and explained that we felt that it wasn't working, and could we continue with our application for DP, she became quite obnoxious and s basically she it was our son's fault it han't worked!

We then received a letter to say that they would not be putting us forward for DP but would continue with useing SOVA for support, in other words another volunteer worker would be appointed to our son!

Does anyone know how I can insist on the direct payments route? I seem to have come up against a brick wall, when ever i try to contact the SW she is never there and doesn't return my calls; I have put in a complaint explaining the situation but still nothing happening.

All we are asking is for our son to have contact with another person who could take him to the cinema bowling anything just once a week! we have tried other things like scouts judo ect but he finds these activities difficult.

[KezT]

The law has been changed so that it is a duty to make direct payments. This means that councils must make a direct payment to eligible individuals who are able to provide consent. Direct payments should be discussed as a first option at each assessment and each review.

 

Taken from the gov't website (http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/SocialCare/Socialcarereform/Personalisation/Directpayments/DH_080273)

 

So I wouold suggest writing to your SS asking for a carers assessment (mandatory) and at the carers assessment saying you want to be assessed for DPs. As I read it, they can't refuse to assess you - so at the very least you should get a report back stating why they think you do not qualify!

Edited February 25, 2010 by KezT

[chris54]

I dont see that having a volunteer worker coming in has much to do with direct payment.

 

Direct payment is to cover "care" that is assessed as needed.

 

A volunteer worker would be in addition to this not instead of.

 

It could be that the social worker is not communicating with you that well and it come down to them they dont think you would get any help, (Join the club) and that in their opinion a volunteer worker is the best you will get.

 

But you are entitled to an assessment.

Edited February 25, 2010 by chris54

[alexmum2]

thanks for your comments, i have just had the social worker on the line, (what a coincidence speak of the devil))she has told me that during my assessment of needs for our son it was agreed that we should use PAYP and SOVA, but i explained that this simply wasn't working as our son in 4 months has only had 2 outings with the PAYP worker and is just isn't good enough! I want a regular contact on a set day at least once a week.

She then said that another assesment would have to be done to get DP and that could not take place until next year! direct payments were discussed at the first meeting when an assement was done where I explained why I wanted them and that that that is what i wanted, but like I said they insisted that we should use the PAYP and SOVA (which is the volunteer secter) before DP could be considered.

[Sally44]

Well you've got further than me!!

 

There must be some way of ensuring it all happens as it should do.

I would suggest putting in a complaint in writing. Surely there are timescales involved?

 

I have asked for the school to complete a CAF form to SS for my son and myself to be assessed. There is supposed to be a 4 month timescale on that. I have heard no further. For 2 years prior to that I kept phoning SS asking for an assessment and nothing happened.

 

We had a volunteer worker for around 3 weeks before she left. No replacement yet!

We tried another volunteer scheme where they support the child for 10 weeks until they are independent in a club etc. But as soon as the support stops my son cannot continue as he needs on-going support.

 

Maybe a word with your LEA's Disability Discrimination Advisor. They maybe able to help you put something in writing to the responsible person. As your son is autistic, his needs should be taken into account.

 

I'm sure others will post about this subject.

[alexmum2]

Thanks Sally, yes to day i have phoned the LA SS and tried to gets some answers as to who I need to speak to as to why I have come up against a brick wall in getting my son DP. At one point I was talking to a person in the SS team for my son, and asking her for a name or contact number of any one in SS who could advise me, but all she kept saying was that she was business support and didn't have that information; I said well your not very good at business support if you can't even find the name of some one I can speak to or even put me through to some one else who may know!

But i will keep trying to find out who the disability discrimination perosn at the LA . eveything i have read about DP on this forum more of less says that our child and anyone else with a disablity has the right to direct payments if they are found to be needed.

[alexmum2]

At the end of the day i feel it all boils down to money! At the moment our LA are trying to stop statementing! so what chance to i chace in getting a few quid so i can pay some kind person to take my son out.

[chris54]

If I am honest the sort of thing that you are asking for DP for is, in my experience, only given in situations were the carer is in need of a rest from caring. It is not for the benefit of the cared for but for the benefit of the carer. Not saying its right or wrong, just what Iv seen.

[alexmum2]

Hi chris form what i have read on this suject today it's for both, it's not healthy for my son to be tied to my hip and it's not it's not good for me to have him there. As we don't have any family to speak of he gets no other interaction except with my husband and me, like i have said there are a lot of people on this site who use DP for exactly the same reason we are trying to get them for.

[chris54]

Hi, Im in just the same boat, only my wife is also disabled and seldom goes out with out me.

Ill have to see how you get on and maybe have another go.

 

 

Just wondering if these other people would put their hand up, I cant say Iv seen them.

Edited February 26, 2010 by chris54

[alexmum2]

Hi Chris if you go to inportant topics at the top of general enquiries there first post says Direct Payments respite care, I have read the post in this topic and there are an awful lots os people getting direct payments for exactly what I need them for and what your wanting them for.

[Sally44]

When I went to an NAS seminar they talked about Direct Payments and said that all children and their carers should be assessed.

The Child might receive DP for someone to take them out.

The carer might be entitled to respite, or a sitting service etc.

But, as we are finding, getting it done is another thing.

 

Have you asked the school about a CAF form being completed. That form details the needs of the child and is sent to SS. They then come and assess the child. That was the only way I was moving forward. But it is now over 4 months ago I requested it. So after my son's Annual Review (today), I then have to start chasing up the completion of the CAF.

 

The person at the LEA responsible for DDA should be able to tell you who you write to to complain, or at least confirm the process via the CAF form.

 

 

[Karen A]

Hi.

I think it may be worth bearing in mind that a CAF form sounds very important.However it is really just a basic level referal form.SS may be required to decide whether detailed asssessment is needed however there is no obligation to do any more than a very basic assessment.A CAF does not gaurentee that anything will actually be followed up after the assessment or provided.

Karen.

The downloads on this link might be useful.

http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/everychildmatters/r...actice/IG00172/

Edited February 26, 2010 by Karen A

[chris54]

My last word on this is that the impression is being given that funded respite care is widely available to the parent of children with higher functioning Autism. I just do not think this is the case.

 

The post referred to above (Direct Payments respite care) has had a total of 21 contributors over 6 years, and not all about this subject.

Edited February 26, 2010 by chris54

[KezT]

I think that whether you actually get them or not depends a large amount on the social worker. But they can't refuse to assess! Write & say your circumstances have changed and you want a new assessment (the change in circs being that you have tried the voluntary sector & it's not worked and now YOU, as the carer, are finding it difficult to cope)

 

We got DP for help for DH out of the carer's assessment I requested when my world was falling apart - DS was suspended from school for violent & aggressive behaviour, DH was fighting to be retired rather than sacked, but was staring retirement in the face at 37 years old, and was severely depressed about his condition, I was trying to juggle work & caring for both of them & the other kids & I honestly thought that I was going to have a death on my conscience if I kept working! I contacted both Adult SS and Child SS to try to get help - but only adult SS bothered to reply! The SW allocated to my DH was fantastic, looked at all the circs and pushed hard for DP's, then fought again for full payments when they were agreed as necessary but only at a 20% payment level (meaning we were expected to find 80% of the costs)! She made all the difference.

 

She was DH's social worker, but the DP's were jointly there to keep me in work and him sane. I never quite worked out who they were supposed to be there for as it was my carers assessment and my world that was falling apart - although they are in his name, and he completes all the paperwork. Once you've got them, they rarely seem to re-visit (provided you keep up with the paperwork required) so you will probably keep them!

 

I was told that you should make it sound as terrible as possible during your assessment - a few tears don't hurt (although I am sure social workers must become immune to them!). You will only get them if you are not coping!

 

Remember, they are means tested too.

 

I'm still waiting for child SS to reply to my many calls & referrals............ DS doesn't have a SW, and I feel that if I push hard enough to get one, they will probably do the minimum necessary, make my life as difficult as possible and probably not make any real effort to help us, so I haven't bothered pushing for the last year or so. Only you can know how much you really need them, and whether it is worth fighting if they are not interested:(

[Kazzen161]

In our area, I agree with Chris - you have more chance of getting help if you word it that it is for the benefit of the child, rather than for respite for you. The carer's assessment and the child 's assessment are two separate things, so you need to be clear which one SS are doing.

 

Did the SW actually do an assessment when she came before? Did you get a copy of that assessment? If so, check what it said - depending on the wording, you might be able to argue that a new assessment is not necessary - that you have tried the voluntary agency as requested and they now need to review the situation.

 

I am also not sure why you have to wait a year to be reassessed. I woud check this. If they say you can only be assessed once per year, but this was not explained to you at the time of the first meeting, then I would complain, as you woudl have been less likely to agree to try the voluntary agency if you had known that was it for a year.

[alexmum2]

My last word on this is that the impression is being given that funded respite care is widely available to the parent of children with higher functioning Autism. I just do not think this is the case.

 

The post referred to above (Direct Payments respite care) has had a total of 21 contributors over 6 years, and not all about this subject.

Chris I didn't say all these people are getting DP i said MOST. I have also been on other ASD forums and the general feeling is that DP should be offered to every one in need, wether they are carers of children with special needs or adults themselves. It's a way for people to take control over the care they need and how they would like that care to be used, or in other word what they would use DP for (respite, baby sitting support during social outings ect.) and not left in the hands of SS, where the choice is not yours on the care you need when you receive it and how you recieve it.

[alexmum2]

In our area, I agree with Chris - you have more chance of getting help if you word it that it is for the benefit of the child, rather than for respite for you. The carer's assessment and the child 's assessment are two separate things, so you need to be clear which one SS are doing.

 

Did the SW actually do an assessment when she came before? Did you get a copy of that assessment? If so, check what it said - depending on the wording, you might be able to argue that a new assessment is not necessary - that you have tried the voluntary agency as requested and they now need to review the situation.

 

I am also not sure why you have to wait a year to be reassessed. I woud check this. If they say you can only be assessed once per year, but this was not explained to you at the time of the first meeting, then I would complain, as you woudl have been less likely to agree to try the voluntary agency if you had known that was it for a year.

 

We have had both done one assement for my needs through the carer's assesment team , and my son's needs through SS; In my assement as a carer it clearly states that I have requested DP and what we would use them for, in my DS case it went into the area of way he needs to be helped by another person ( other than me and my husband) to help in socialise with differnt people in different situations.

[alexmum2]

KezT Yes i agree with what you say; some agencies I have spoken to today have voiced the very same thing as you, it appears to be how badly you need support or how badly you child needs support, I can't get my head around why it can't be both? Thanks for you reply KezT