Has anyone ever requested their child's file?

[Tiredmumno1]

Sorry second thread from me today, but I need as much advice at the moment as possible.

I am trying to request my child's file regarding his statements and any paperwork relating to this and my ds.

Have any of you ever done this, and what was the procedure you had to go through to get it, how long did it take?

Thank you so much for reading, I am at my wits end now

[Tiredmumno1]

Thanks for the response perception, do you know where I can find a copy of the letter you are talking about.

As I have had social services on the phone? Even though they are not involved, they say it has to go through them to get the paperwork released and started saying something to do with the access to records procedure.

[bjkmummy]

go onto your councils website and look for subject access data request - then there will be a form to complete - it can take up to 40 days so 8 weeks

[Tiredmumno1]

Thanks for your response, ok I have done what you said, and I had a look at what they require to access the info, and it was just name, address and what paperwork was required.

Yet the phone call I got earlier they were demanding 2 forms of ID and my sons birth certificate, it didn't say anything on the website about this.

I still feel that they are wanting to put barriers up to stop us accessing this info.

[Tiredmumno1]

That's ok perception, I just appreciate the responses tbh, well I have requested the paperwork online now. Do you think that will be enough, I have searched for a template of the letter you kind of referred to, but can't find anything.

They are probably running around trying to dispose of the bad stuff, I wouldn't put it past them.

I can't believe they said that and you managed to get your hands on it.

[funnyperson]

Oh yes thats a good ides lets all get our children's files so that we can gather ammunition to attack the timid unprofessionals who have spent their time naturally being as horrible as possible and as obstructive as possible and lets make sure once we have the files that we write a three page complaint about their conduct, especially if they are timid, so that they will never be unprofessional again, especially if they haven't said exactly what we wanted them to say, in exactly the words we wanted, at exactly the time we wanted to get exactly the services we wanted.

[Tiredmumno1]

Well said perception, I thank you for your input, it's been much appreciated, sorry you have been through such rubbish as well, their behaviour sounds just awful, but it's always about fighting for our children, right?

And as for you funnyperson (I am not laughing btw) I think the word unprofessional sums our LEA up just nicely, they can't adhere to the statement, and really don't give a monkeys about my ds, their job is to maintain the statement and if they can't that is not my problem, and they are in the wrong job. They have never tried to help at all, my ds will always be my top priority, not worrying about what happens to them, if they don't care what happens to my ds. Harsh but true I am afraid, they don't know their backsides from their elbows, so without knowing any facts maybe you want to keep your one track minded comments to yourself.

[bochead]

funnyperson - actually all we want is for people to do their jobs, as paid for by the taxpayer.

I'm too busy coping with the impact of having a kid with a disability to have time for witch hunts. However the emotional and physical abuse of our most vulnerable children does happen, and is often covered up by a wall of professional silence. In these cases the perpetrators should damn well be publicly exposed for the sake of the decent professionals as well as the families involved. Why should everyone else have to clear up the messes left by a very, very tiny minority?

Better training across the board would help too. I'll join any campaign to fight for more funding to keep professional knowledge relevant and up to date.

[2tirednot2fight]

Funny person, there is No Place for timid professionals in disability services for children, these are vulnerable children who need strong advocates,to fail to defend the rights of disabled children is unacceptable.

[funnyperson]

2tired you are right , its true, children's advocates must be articulate and brave.
Training is important and it is quite possible for excellent timid juniors to develop into strong advocates. All professionals start out sometime. If parents kept doing the professionals down to 'show them up' in some way then no one would ever want to work in that field.
Being articulate has its place and time and doesn't always mean a professional is being timid. Professionals and parents don't always agree. Parents always know what their child can and cant do and what their child needs, but not always what the diagnosis might be and what the best strategies are to support the children.
Getting the best for a child needs team work and respect between parents and professionals. Everyone has a really important role and needs to work togther for these really needy children. I don't call a silent mum timid, for example. Why should a parent call a silent professional timid? What gives a parent the right to demean anyone?

[2tirednot2fight]

Funny person I understand where you are coming from but our children are consistently let down because those charged with defending their rights simply don't do so, individual children cannot be disadvantaged whilst professionals feel their feet. I get the feeling that you mayn't realise what parents go through. I certainly try everything to work with people but it is definitely not in the best interests of a child to let things go so a timid professional isn't upset. I make no apologies for challenging professionals who let my child down be they timid or assertive. I wouldn't set out to hurt anyones feelings but if the truth is painful for them then my view is that is likely to be significantly lower than the painful experiences we as parents encounter.

[funnyperson]

Professionals are not Gods, they are people. There is a difference between parents being proactive and working with professionals to get the best for their children within an existing framework, and parents/carers who fight battles for resources that don't exist, for children who have long term and possibly incurable conditions.
At the end of the day, there is a shortage of ed psychs, speech therapists, occupational therapists etc, and battling with the shyer ones (who may be better with the children) isn't going to resolve that and will possibly make things worse. 'The truth' is a matter of perspective.

[funnyperson]

perception you have me totally wrong. I am deeply committed to helping children with long term conditions access the curriculum and reach their potential.
Some children have long term and possibly incurable conditions. Some parents think that they can be cured. Other parents think they cannot be helped at all.

Duty of care yes.

Right to reasonable job conditions also.

I thought you said the ed psych remained silent and timid? Now you say she said eating wasn't an educational need. Anyway I'm with you on what you want for your child, just not with you on bashing professionals.

Eating is important. Nutritionally and socially. Children with CP have health and educational and social needs. Often the funding is split 3 ways between education, health and social services, (now all one pot I believe) and the statement goes to a special panel for complex children.

Feeding: Ask for: extra time to eat, speech and language therapy advice incorporated into IEP on feeding, occupational therapy advice on seating and cutlery whilst eating to be incorporated into IEP, one to one assistant to help your child eat well, important that the child eats with other children so as to have that social time. If a gastrostomy then assistant will need to be trained. If ed psych no good then ask the paediatrician to include feeding in his/her input to statement. Ask the SALT and OT to do the same. If not all joined up ask for a Team around the Child meeting. Can often get loads sorted that way. Wish you well.

[funnyperson]

Hmmm. Strictly speaking ed psychs don't comment on feeding. The salt, ot and paed do. Ed psychs can be very very useful and very important identifying learning needs and the intelligence profile in detail ( verbal, non verbal, spatial, memory, writing etc) so as to advise teachers on the best way for the child to access the curriculum and learn, which the health people cant do. Putting together these recommendations works best if the whole team around the child has met beforehand. I hope the annual review goes well. I'm sorry it was unpleasant for you.

[2tirednot2fight]

Funny person can I ask you whether as a professional you challenge other professionals in the interests of those you work with? I know I do but am horrified when others choose to hide behind their agency rather than challenge colleagues from other disciplines. Maybe this would reduce the need for professional bashing as you see it. Sometimes the truth is just the truth based on fact but people choose to pretend otherwise so they dont have to speak out.

Perception reality I am sorry to hear about your experiences which have some similarities to mine and I hope that provision is in place for your child soon.