Hi there. Long time poster, name changed.
I don't know what to do or who I need to complain to, or how to move this forward.
My adult son was assessed last Summer as meeting care act criteria. He has complex needs related to autism and communication difficulties, but not learning difficulties (think Einstein, but can't remember to bath or eat). He has been initially approved for 3 hours support for going shopping and going out to take exercise etc with the idea that this will increase once he has developed a trusting relationship with a carer (currently spends 95 percent of time in bed, his "safe space" - urgently needs a routine). He has LCWRA and gets pip.
His social worker was agency and was recommended a particular carer agency who deal with complex needs. We didn't want direct payments initially as we've never done this before, he wouldn't be able to manage it, so wanted a carer company at least at first.
It's now April and, cutting a long story short, he has yet to have a single carer visit despite the assessment being complete last August. The initial agency says no one wants to work such a small contract. The agency social worker who dealt with us had to close his case back in January and transfer to a local social worker. He has requested repeatedly that my son be allocated but we have heard nothing. I called and spoke to duty social worker a few weeks ago who said it's between me and the carer agency, but they have said they have no one interested.
I feel like they are taking the piss because he lives here in our home and we wouldn't let him starve - but if he was living in his own place, he really could have by now.
How can I move this forward? Who do I complain to? The social services dept? The care agency? Or do I need to find a new care agency myself? I thought they (adult social care) would handle the allocation as my son cannot.
In the meantime my son has waited 8 months now and received no care at all.