Update Social Service Care needs + Solisitor

[JsMum]

I requested in September 2009 for J to be reassessed due to changes in his needs and after aparently an assessment from Social services we where told he did not meet the criteria for the Childrens Disability Team, the service we need so J can attend a Specialist Respite centre in the holidays and so he can have a care plan and other provisions.

 

And so J he was redirected Back to family support team, a service that is not meeting his needs, and apparently dont have the funds to fund the specialist respite centre.

 

So we got a solisitor back in October/November 2009 and they have been liasing with our Local Authority Social services who have been very very very slooooowwww at responding to the solisitor, but the solisitor said words such as Judicial review and court, and they have finally responded!

 

Finally Social services have admitted the reason they have not put in anything in writing to refuse funding or he doesnt meet the criteria of Childrens Disability Team is because they DID NOT Actually carry out an Assessment!

 

Oh My goodness I am sooooo livid, angry, all this time they have wasted and ignored proffessionals and the LAW!

 

The Social Services have however agreed to carry out an UPDATED core Assessment as his two other core assessments are aparently out of date! which is why I asked for a reassessment in September 2009 TWICE!

 

The updated Core Assessment is Next Week March 2010, making that 6 months after I requested it!

 

So upshot is there is no written assessments or evidence of thier findings because he didnt even have a core Assessment carried out!

 

so how did they conclude he didnt meet the criteria for Childrens Disability Team and why was he refused funding for the specialist Respite Centre? when he wasnt even assessed, we wondered why they wouldnt write anything in a formal letter, now we know why! and have wasted valuable time too at Js expense as he desperately needs theses services.

 

They did not also carry out a Carers Assessment also requested in September 2009 and that is also in pursuits too.

 

We have gone throw the procedures with the solisitor and put in an official formal complaint to our LA SS we are hoping that we are now indeed on the road to having something finally in writing to be told he Does not meet the criteria for Childrens Disability team and why he has been refused funding for the Specialist Respite Centre.

 

 

JsMumxxx

Edited March 11, 2010 by JsMum

[noogsy]

hi crikey no wonder you are furious,

make me wonder how many other families are getting the run around,

they(the social workers) didnt think you were going to get legal help,

you called there bluff

aye good luck and i hope you get respite care help

noogsy x

[trekster]

i would be as hacked off as you are about this as well. Let us know if you ever get an apology from them.

[KezT]

That's awful - does the solicitor have any suggestions as to what to do now? I would want something formal out of SS to apologise and to ensure that they don't do it again to someone else!!! Have you made a complaint just to social services? or to the LA? or to your MP etc? I would be absolutely livid, and I've had some pretty rubbish experiences with SS myself.

 

Can I ask, did the solicitor cost loads and are SS paying your legal costs since they screwed up?

[JsMum]

That's awful - does the solicitor have any suggestions as to what to do now? I would want something formal out of SS to apologise and to ensure that they don't do it again to someone else!!! Have you made a complaint just to social services? or to the LA? or to your MP etc? I would be absolutely livid, and I've had some pretty rubbish experiences with SS myself.

 

Can I ask, did the solicitor cost loads and are SS paying your legal costs since they screwed up?

The solisitor said that they have not followed the guidlines at all in our situation and that could land them in a lot of trouble, we are indeed wanting a letter of apology, but the biggest thing we need is what they have told me in Writing, because once they write formally that J does not meet the criteria for CDT and There is no funding for the service, a Service J needs, then we can appeal and it can go to court if nessasary because the SS should not be using Js IQ as a reason for not meeting a criteria, he is a Disabled Child and needs services, but they are refusing, the fact they havent followed the right proceedure for the Assessment is proof that they are letting us down as a family, in the past J has very nearly ended up in care because of lack of services and support and very nearly J ended up in secure accomadation because he was not safe to himself and others, so this is serious but they are ignoring all the evidence.

 

The solisitor was given to me by National Autistic Society and we are entitled to Legal Aid so no its not costs us in money but it has cost us in emotional and mental health.

 

Anyone else having Social Care needs difficulties please do contact NAS or Contact A Family.xxx

 

JsMumxxx

 

[julie1]

well done you for staying at it. I hope you get the help you and your son needs, its so hard to get anything from s/s. I have 4 disabled children and its very hard however we dont meet the cirteria for extra help either.

[JsMum]

well done you for staying at it. I hope you get the help you and your son needs, its so hard to get anything from s/s. I have 4 disabled children and its very hard however we dont meet the cirteria for extra help either.

 

 

Have they had core assessments?

Are they identified as been Disabled? DLA/SEN statement ect...?

Do they need services and provisions in the home/activities/recreation?

Have they put it in writing that they do not meet the critieria for extra help, do they need that extra help?

Do you know what extra help you need, have you requested it in writing, have they put it in writing why they have refused.

Appeal is all I can recommend.

Contact NAS if you feel you should be accessing more support, I have one child, hats off to you as you have that four times me, dont know how you have done it.

Contact a family have some brilliant booklets on community care needs too and assessments so do contact them for a copy too.

 

JsMumxxx

 

Edited March 11, 2010 by JsMum

[cmuir]

Hi

 

Too often parents are worn down by people that they rely on to provide support but who aren't. Emotionally it's very draining. Just wanted to say, good for you for sticking this out. Sure there are kids out there who get the support they both need and deserve, but there are those who aren't, and it's only through gutsy parents who are prepared to go against the grain that benefit.

 

Well done.

 

Caroline

[JsMum]

Hi

 

Too often parents are worn down by people that they rely on to provide support but who aren't. Emotionally it's very draining. Just wanted to say, good for you for sticking this out. Sure there are kids out there who get the support they both need and deserve, but there are those who aren't, and it's only through gutsy parents who are prepared to go against the grain that benefit.

 

Well done.

 

Caroline

thanks, the fights not over yet, but Ill go all the way, even bang on number 10s door IF I have to, its defo emotionally draining, very very frustrating, but I have to continue to fight on, even though there is defo times I want to give up, I know Im not on my own in this battle, thanks caroline for your post.

JsMumxx

 

[lil_me]

Have you asked your local Disability Team what the criteria is for respite care?

 

Unfortunately it's not something made publically available by most LAs but I asked for it from our local authority and they provided it, based on this I knew my sons would not be entitled to it so chose not to apply

[KezT]

Have you asked your local Disability Team what the criteria is for respite care?

 

Unfortunately it's not something made publically available by most LAs but I asked for it from our local authority and they provided it, based on this I knew my sons would not be entitled to it so chose not to apply

 

But if I read the OP correctly, they said he did not meet the criteria for the Disabled Childrens Team - which is just plain wrong. he is a child, he has a disability, he meets the criteria! What services that team then decides to supply is another issue, but he should be eligible to be fully assessed for each sefice requested and a report given to both the LA & the parent saying why he is/is't eligible for that service.

[JsMum]

Have you asked your local Disability Team what the criteria is for respite care?

 

Unfortunately it's not something made publically available by most LAs but I asked for it from our local authority and they provided it, based on this I knew my sons would not be entitled to it so chose not to apply

 

Your son is entitled to an assessment, any services, provisions identified has to be forfilled, its not about Criteria, it is about a Childs Need, A Disabled Child is a Child in Need, my point in the opening post was that my social services departement decided my son DID NOT meet the criteria, based on an ASSESSMENT, when I and the Solisitor requested the evidence IN WRITING that is when they said there actually was NO ASSESSMENT so how could they make that decision.

 

Once you have a refusal to fund a provision or access a Service your child NEEDS then you can APPEAL, we didnt have their refusals in Writing, why, because they had not ASSESSED him in the first place.

 

Please go throw the Assessment, even if they say your child doesnt meet the criteria, Ask them to put it in writing and why and then Appeal.

 

Im in the process now, its a long drawn out battle but if I had of left it in October 2009 where J aparently didnt meet the critiera, we wouldnt be having a REAL UPDATED core Assessment next week. we would be presuming he doesnt meet the criteria, when it is not about a Criteria at all but meeting a childs NEED!

 

JsMumxxx

 

Edited March 13, 2010 by JsMum

[Sally44]

As already said, the constant fighting is very draining. You have only found out what you have after getting a solicitor involved. But I presume you won't be able to claim back costs. Makes me sick that we have to spend so much time trawling through legislation and paperwork only to find that things have not been done properly.

I'm still waiting for the CAF to be completed, which I will chase up again. But i've been too busy over the annual review - total farce - and non-compliance issues and a formal complaint to the EP service. How do we find the time!!

I'm trying to sort it out myself at the moment because I think if they don't do what they should this time, then at least I have that as evidence before I call in a solicitor.

 

Well done for persisting.

[bensmum2]

hI i DON'T KNOW WHAT AREA YOU LIVE IN , WE LIVE IN TAMESIDE NEAR MANCHESTER AND WE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH SOC SERV FOR YEARS , I AHVE BEEN ASKING FOR HELP FOR ABOUT 5 YEARS ONLY TO BE TOLD MY SON "DOESNT MEET THE CRITERIA" THEY REFUSE TO WRITE THAT DOWN AND THEY REFUSE TO TELL US WHAT "THE CRITERIA " IS, THEY HAVE IGNORED MANY MULTI AGENCY MEETINGS OVER THE YEARS AND THE ONES THEY DID ATTEND THEY PROMISED TO ASSESS AND THEN DIDN'T FOLLOW IT UP.OVER THE PHONE THEY ONCE TOLD ME HE HAD TO BE IN A WHEELCHAIR TO GET HELP, ANOTHER TIME THEY SAID HE HAD TO BE STATEMENTED AND ANOTHER TIME THEY SAID THEY THOU8GHT WE WERE CAUSING HIS PROBLEMS OURSLEVES AND SO HE WASNT ENTITLED TO HELP. MY SON IS PARTIALLY SIGHTED, HAS DYSPRAXIA, SENSORY DEFENSIVENESS, GENERALISED ANXIETY DISORDER , SOMAITC SYMPTOMS AND BED WETTING IN SCHOOL TERM TIME SO MUCH THAT I NOW HAVE TO HOME SCHOOL HIM, HE WAS ONLY DIAGNOSED WITH ASPERGERS LAST JULY AND IS NOW 14, HE GETS DLA HIGHER CARE LOWER MOBILITY AND HAS DOEN FOR 7 YEARS. JUST BEFORE HIS ASPERGERS DIAGNOSSI THEY SAID WE WERE BAD PARENTS AND HE DIDNT MEET THE CRITERIA COS WE WERE CAUSING HIS PROBLEMS AND THREATENED US WITH PUTTING HIM ON THE CHILD PROTECTION REGISTER!! THEN 2 WEEKS AFTER HIS ASPERGERS DIAGNOSIS,AFTER HE HAD BEEN SO FRUSTRATED AT SCHOOL HE HAD WALKED OUT , I ASKED FAMILY SUPPORT FOR HELP AND THEY ASSESSED US (THE DISABILITY TEAM STILL REFUSED) AND THEY SAID HE HAD VERY COMPLEX NEEDS BUT DESPITE THIS WE WERE SUCH GOOD PARENTS THAT WE MET ALL OF HIS NEEDS OURSELVES AND THEREFORE HE DID NOT CLASS AS A CHILD IN NEED AND SO STILL DIDN'T MEET THE CRITERIA FOR SERVICES, I HAVE COMPLAINED AND ASKED TO SEE MY FILES , AND GOT NOWHERE AT ALL. THEY IGNORE CAMHS WHEN THEY ASK FOR HELP. oN TOP OF ALL THIS I AM REGISTERED BLIND MYSLEF AND CARE FOR ANOTHER DISABLED SON ND MY ELDERLY BLIND MUM AND WE STILL HAVE BEEN REFUSED ASSESSMENT FROM THE DISABILITY TEAM NAS, CONTACT A FAMILY ETC ETC CANT DO ANY MORE THAN WE HAVE DONE, AND WE CAN'T GET A SOLICITOR COS WE DONT QUALIFY FOR LEGAL AID(AND ARE PRESENTLY PAYING OUT £500 A MONTH TO ONE TO TRY TO GET ACCESS TO O0UR GRANDSON) . THE GOOD NEWS IS, MY SON IS GETTING A FINALISED STATEMENT THIS WEEK AND ARMED WITHN THIS I AM GOING TO GO BACK AGAIN AND ASK FOR A CORE ASSESSMENT , I AM GOING TO THREATEN THEM WITH A JUDICIAL REVIEW IF THEY DONT AT LEAST ASSESS, iT IS A DISGRACE THAT PEOPLE ARE BEING TREATED LIKE THIS AND OUR CHILDREN ARE MISSING OUT ON WHAT THEY ARE ENTITLED TO , GOOD LUCK WITH ALL THIS , WE ALL HAVE TO KEEP FIGHTING FOR OUR KIDS X SORRY ABOUT CAPITALS I FIND IT EASIER TO SEE XX

[Kathryn]

Well done for pursuing it: I suspect not many parents even get this far because they don't know the system. I hope the assessment next week goes OK.

 

<'>

 

K x

[JsMum]

sorry Ive not updated,

 

but we had TWO social workers visit and one was Js regular social worker and then a new social worker and she was very nice, she really listened and understood while Js social worker explained to her why we where here, which is because Js needs have changed and were having a UPdated Core assessment, and the new social worker is the one who is going to be carrying it out over the next few weeks as its a thora one this time, not a pretend one!

 

The new social worker took all my details of the specialist respite were trying to access and she was fine about it none of this oh no funding, wont meet criteria ect..... they both stayed for a good hour and half and we discussed Js progress at school and that the support needs to come from social services not Education becuase his school are doing all they can, who are supporting us and adding reports to show that J needs a 52 Week care plan so that was all cleared up too because in the past social services would say What are school doing! arnt school helping with that!

 

I felt for the first time that they really listened and I am hopeful we will get support soon, we already have extra sessional work sessions in place for the Easter and I have requested frequent contact from a social worker so they can see J in the Holidays, I will update you once the core assessment has been completed in a few weeks time.

 

JsMumxx

Edited March 22, 2010 by JsMum

[JsMum]

Another update

 

We have won funding!

 

J now has four days per week at a specialist respite care placement that meets all his needs, in the holidays.

 

I cant believe it, but it was very hard work, fighting the systems that dont want to take responsibility to meet childrens needs with spersific disabilities, it has been very stressful because if the social services hadnt of approved funding it would of gone to judicial review, basically court, so at least over the summer holidays we now have funding for the placement to go ahead.

 

The facility will support him in activities and social recreation at the same time have trained support workers and full time 1-1 for J and the placement meets the needs of children with ASD/ADHD and challanging behaviour.

 

It was very difficult finding a spersific respite facility because a lot of them where for severe learning and physical disabilities so getting one that met the needs of more higher functioning children with significant needs has been a challange, similair to when choosing his school, because thats half the battle sometimes, finding one that fits our childrens needs.

 

So we have got there in the end, he is also been transferred to childrens disabilities Service, a new invented service to meet the needs of children with High functioning ASD/ADHD/Challenging behaviour.

 

I am also to get specialist parenting support, trained in ASD/ADHD needs.

 

Sessional work and a care plan which is been amended to make more spersific, just like a statement of SEN is.

 

It has NOT been an easy process, full of stress but I wouldnt of been able to continue to care for J if we hadnt of got any support in place for the holidays as we where in crisis, were slowly breaking down that was having a knock on effect on his school placement too, it wasnt enough to have just school needs met.

 

It has to be a wholistic aproach, all sectors have to be providing support, Education, social services, Camhs, GPs. it has to be a whole system aproach, not ditching families at every opportunity and running saying, nowt to do we me!

 

It has to be everyone working together.

 

Anyway if your having community care difficulties contact National Autistic Society if you need advice on community care services, there the ones who found me a list of solisitors, and the respite facility J is now going to be attending.

 

we are still working with our solisitor to ensure J needs are met, and ammenments are still in process but we are in a new team, new social worker and now a new respite placement, so it goes to show if you fight back you will get there in the end.

 

because it isnt about Criterias, it is about NEED.

 

JsMum

 

 

Edited July 7, 2010 by JsMum

[trekster]

well done you for staying at it. I hope you get the help you and your son needs, its so hard to get anything from s/s. I have 4 disabled children and its very hard however we dont meet the cirteria for extra help either.

 

Same from me as well JsMum, good on you for not giving up. The more parents like you there are out there the more likely i feel social services will finally take responsibility for social care needs of autistics.

[trekster]

Bensmum2, if you hold down the control key, then press the + key at the same time, that should enlarge the text on the internet screen for you.

[trekster]

So pleased you got the help your son needs.

[Enid]

Good Grief....... youre amazing, I gave up last year but had another go this year and have now got 2 days at the school repsite in the hols and from sept one overnight, but it is such hard work, starting again and again with each new worker, what I would like is one or two evenings a week for someone to take him out so the other 2 could have a friend to play! but have been told NO.

[teachermum1]

It's a shame they can't put anything in place at home though. If he's at residential all term and then in respite 4 days a week in the holidays, you hardly see him.

 

Glad they're offering more support but maybe they could think more creatively about how to help you have him at home.

[JsMum]

It's a shame they can't put anything in place at home though. If he's at residential all term and then in respite 4 days a week in the holidays, you hardly see him.

 

Glad they're offering more support but maybe they could think more creatively about how to help you have him at home.

 

The respite isnt just about a break for me, it is so J has opportunities to access recreation and activities with trained support, J requires a consistant structure and the respite provides that, the respite and the school placements are very similair and I do still get to see J, I have him for a long week end, Im doing the transport and when J is at school we talk several times a day, I am always here for him, maybe not in physcial form at times but he knows I am only a phone call away, and because of that we have a much better relationship when we are together but the long holidays are exhausting and J finds it difficult with a lack of routine, even though I keep them at home there not the same as a residential setting, the four days was deemed by the assessment we had, one or two days wouldnt of given J the time to provide consistancy and by the time he got to respite settled down it would be time to come home again, so it was decided three nights, to provide this, so it was based on his needs, maybe you and your son couldnt cope been apart like this but for me and J we need this to actually stay together, as on accasions it is impossible to keep J safe, we have no family to provide respite/activities, so for us this is the only way we can continue to be together, many kids in the holidays spend tme with grandparents/relations for three or fours a week, others will have childminders and many will be placed in kids clubs five days a week, the school are providing J with a lot of support already, they have agreed to keep phone contact in the holidays but there is nothing else they can do, we have recieved carers in the past, but it didnt work, in one week he had 11 different carers, and they where not trained, if J was to recieve 1-1 in the mainstream activities this year they would be different carers again not trained in special needs, also many of the activities here are in mainstream secondary schools an enviroment J gets very distressed in Anxious in, so we did look at every avenue before coming to the conclusion that we needed a samiliar enviroment to the specialist school he is already in, It has not been easy either finding a specialist respite facility either, many where for far more disabled children/young people, and the placement we have found there far and between, there very few, so though yes where going to be apart for four days a week, in the summer holidays, but when we are together we will have Quality time, and I will have time to plan, organise the time we do have together when he is in respite, last year I did the whole of the summer holidays without a break, his sessional worker was ill, and there was no replacement, due to J not adapting to new people unplanned, by the end of the summer holidays I was mentally exhausted, and our relationship was in tatters, spending soo much time together was tearing us apart too, I know it may upset some parents that it seems me and J are never together, but we are, since J went to residential school the times we are together is much better, sadly in the holidays we need more support and this can not be provided in the home.

 

The last spring bank holiday J nearly ended up in care, I dont want that, it wouldnt meet his needs, and it would be very hard to stay together for longer, the care system has caused considerable seperation issues in the early days when I could no longer cope and J ended up in emergency respite, no planning or warning, so crisis is very disruptive.

 

Planned, organised residential respite for a few days a week is much more constructive and gives the whole family support.

 

JsMumx

 

 

[teachermum1]

You know that I know the difficulties with having a violent child who needs routine - our boys are very very similar and always have been. I too have no family help and often find it impossible to keep my J safe. I guess the difference is that SS have put support in here, at home (because I have never wanted J in residential, and he's soooo young, not just in age but in behaviour, so they HAD to find an at-home solution, if you know what I mean) which means that J is off on activities with his play worker for a few half-days a week and also with the local autism service-again, with workers who he knows. This means he gets access to activities but then comes home for his home routine. I get time with him, but also time apart - like you say, most children do other things in the holidays and I agree that our children should be able to too. I just think it's sad for you and him that they haven't found a way to support you to have him at home more, but if you're happy with it, that's the main thing.

[JsMum]

You know that I know the difficulties with having a violent child who needs routine - our boys are very very similar and always have been. I too have no family help and often find it impossible to keep my J safe. I guess the difference is that SS have put support in here, at home (because I have never wanted J in residential, and he's soooo young, not just in age but in behaviour, so they HAD to find an at-home solution, if you know what I mean) which means that J is off on activities with his play worker for a few half-days a week and also with the local autism service-again, with workers who he knows. This means he gets access to activities but then comes home for his home routine. I get time with him, but also time apart - like you say, most children do other things in the holidays and I agree that our children should be able to too. I just think it's sad for you and him that they haven't found a way to support you to have him at home more, but if you're happy with it, that's the main thing.

 

We have tried the Home support, J does have a play/sessional worker already available in the Christmas/Easter holidays but it still wasnt meeting Js needs, the darker/colder evenings where limiting activity choices, and the sessional worker and I agreed he still required more support, and we both agreed he needed a very similair place like his school placement, so we researched residential respite and I dont see it as a sad option, but a bridge to fill in the gap, a couple of hours a couple of times a week wasnt enough with a sessional worer. J is easily bored and restless, he is on the go all the time, his staff at his school are looking forward to a holiday as there exhausted, so we do need the respite placement, the funding would of been turned down on the residential respite if home support could meet his needs.

 

JsMumx

 

Edited July 11, 2010 by JsMum

[VEE111]

I requested in September 2009 for J to be reassessed due to changes in his needs and after aparently an assessment from Social services we where told he did not meet the criteria for the Childrens Disability Team, the service we need so J can attend a Specialist Respite centre in the holidays and so he can have a care plan and other provisions.

 

And so J he was redirected Back to family support team, a service that is not meeting his needs, and apparently dont have the funds to fund the specialist respite centre.

 

So we got a solisitor back in October/November 2009 and they have been liasing with our Local Authority Social services who have been very very very slooooowwww at responding to the solisitor, but the solisitor said words such as Judicial review and court, and they have finally responded!

 

Finally Social services have admitted the reason they have not put in anything in writing to refuse funding or he doesnt meet the criteria of Childrens Disability Team is because they DID NOT Actually carry out an Assessment!

 

Oh My goodness I am sooooo livid, angry, all this time they have wasted and ignored proffessionals and the LAW!

 

The Social Services have however agreed to carry out an UPDATED core Assessment as his two other core assessments are aparently out of date! which is why I asked for a reassessment in September 2009 TWICE!

 

The updated Core Assessment is Next Week March 2010, making that 6 months after I requested it!

 

So upshot is there is no written assessments or evidence of thier findings because he didnt even have a core Assessment carried out!

 

so how did they conclude he didnt meet the criteria for Childrens Disability Team and why was he refused funding for the specialist Respite Centre? when he wasnt even assessed, we wondered why they wouldnt write anything in a formal letter, now we know why! and have wasted valuable time too at Js expense as he desperately needs theses services.

 

They did not also carry out a Carers Assessment also requested in September 2009 and that is also in pursuits too.

 

We have gone throw the procedures with the solisitor and put in an official formal complaint to our LA SS we are hoping that we are now indeed on the road to having something finally in writing to be told he Does not meet the criteria for Childrens Disability team and why he has been refused funding for the Specialist Respite Centre.

 

 

JsMumxxx

 

hi.

you will need to FIGHT the social services to get ANY support.

GET A GOOD SOLICITOR AND FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the closer J get to 16 the faster SOCIAL SERVICES they will sling theM adrift!

after 16 the nightmare REALLY begins.................

sorry to sound so negitive but my experiance hasnt been good

***-***** SOCIAL SERVICES refused to believe my son has ADHD & ASBERGERS.

DLA stopped at 16........

social services put my son on the child protected at 14...because they said his behaviour was odd at school,

it was, he was bullied dreadfully at school but his head of year wasnt interested in helping him

my son is now 20.................with no support or help..................

i try my best, but after 20years ive totally burnt out!.

THERE WILL BE NO HELP FOR MY DARLING SON.................................

HOW MANY OTHER 20 YEAR OLDS ARNT GETTING ANY SUPPORT WHATSOEVER???????????????/

I CANT SAY HOW DISGUSTED I AM AT SOCIAL SERVICES ***-***** & ***** CC

AND THE ***** EDUCATION OFFICE WHO SAID IT WOULDNT HELP TO "LABEL HIM"

AND TO COME BACK AFTER HE WAS 16 IF I WANTED TO GET A FORMAL DIOGNOSIS!!

AND IM STILL TRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Edited July 12, 2010 by call me jaded
to remove names

[JsMum]

hi.

you will need to FIGHT the social services to get ANY support.

GET A GOOD SOLICITOR AND FIGHT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

the closer J get to 16 the faster SOCIAL SERVICES they will sling theM adrift!

after 16 the nightmare REALLY begins.................

sorry to sound so negitive but my experiance hasnt been good

***-***** SOCIAL SERVICES refused to believe my son has ADHD & ASBERGERS.

DLA stopped at 16........

social services put my son on the child protected at 14...because they said his behaviour was odd at school,

it was, he was bullied dreadfully at school but his head of year wasnt interested in helping him

my son is now 20.................with no support or help..................

i try my best, but after 20years ive totally burnt out!.

THERE WILL BE NO HELP FOR MY DARLING SON.................................

HOW MANY OTHER 20 YEAR OLDS ARNT GETTING ANY SUPPORT WHATSOEVER???????????????/

I CANT SAY HOW DISGUSTED I AM AT SOCIAL SERVICES ***-***** & ***** CC

AND THE ***** EDUCATION OFFICE WHO SAID IT WOULDNT HELP TO "LABEL HIM"

AND TO COME BACK AFTER HE WAS 16 IF I WANTED TO GET A FORMAL DIOGNOSIS!!

AND IM STILL TRYING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am sorry that you have been let down by the system, and I do understand your frustration, it is very difficult to get the services to meet the needs of children with average intelligence but with significant needs, I did what you advised here in the post and I have been successful in getting my son support, have you read my update post further on in the thread, it is positive news, it goes to show that you can get the support if you fight, so can you.

 

I recommend Mencap, they have a lot of information on AS/ADHD and Mental health issues.

 

Another contact is Contact A Family, I know your son is now an adult but they have a wealth of experience and information on information for provisions and services, I also had support from NAS, have you contacted them.

 

In our area post 16 for ASD/ADHD/Learning Disabilities are improving, there not fantastic but there is some really good provisions that provide supported living where they learn to be independant, Im applying for J to continue his education in his school when he gets to 16 so he will remain there until he is 19, 20.

 

It is scarey the future and I do take on board what your saying but you can fight back, your still breathing, and alive, you can do it.

 

JsMumx

Edited July 12, 2010 by call me jaded
to remove names in the quote

[Enid]

I cant get any help at home,even though have begged pleaded ect ect. my lad is like the other 2 J`s!!!! all I have got is 2 days a week hoiday club at the school, 9.30 till 3.30, £10 per session and from sept one over night a week.

[call me jaded]

Just to say I've edited to remove the names of the local authorities in Vee111's post as the forum owner can be sued for libel for anything anyone writes.

[JsMum]

I cant get any help at home,even though have begged pleaded ect ect. my lad is like the other 2 J`s!!!! all I have got is 2 days a week hoiday club at the school, 9.30 till 3.30, £10 per session and from sept one over night a week.

you need to put in a complaint to social services to express your sons needs are not met, when you have pleeded with ss did you request the increase of support/respite in writing, did ss respond and put it in writing why they will not increase his respite, if so you can then appeal, this is when you then involve the legal services to support you throw a judicial review, where a court decides basically what your son does need which is different to care proceedings, its a case that purely to see what provisions/services your son NEEDS and then acted on.

 

You need to get everything in writing to back up your appeal.

 

verbal pleading wont get what your son needs, also if the kids club is spersific to his needs it may be that this can be funded by the ss. In the past J has recieved funding for attending kids clubs before so look into that too.

 

If you do feel strongly that your son is not recieving enough provisions then you have to complain and appeal their decisions.

 

JsMumx

Edited July 12, 2010 by JsMum

[trekster]

I cant get any help at home,even though have begged pleaded ect ect. my lad is like the other 2 J`s!!!! all I have got is 2 days a week hoiday club at the school, 9.30 till 3.30, £10 per session and from sept one over night a week.

 

Have you been assessed then appealed?

[Enid]

No to all the above, have 3 times tried get a social worker, have had a caf report and have been told I dont meet the criteria........ its just all so wearing, have other kids and a job and have given up the fight for now, the support I get comes from the school.