to think my local Social Services are a bunch of charlatans?

[FlaminNoraImPregnantPanda]

I'm so very, very angry at them. At best they are utterly incompetent and at worst they are dishonest and stepping way outside their remit. Sorry, I'm pregnant and need to rant to release some of the stress so I can stop crying and calm down.

I have AS and need a little bit of support in the home. I'm not in the UK and here there is a specialist unit at the hospital to support people with autism. They have done a referral to the local SS for me. There are certain support services which adults with autism are entitled to by law in this country, once a referral is made.

SS have rejected this referral as they say they think my difficulties are down to low self-asteem. In their opinion I don't have autism. Despite a team of autism experts carrying out a full assessment and diagnosing autism. Their report was full of blatant mistakes and outright falsehoods. EG saying things were said in our meeting which weren't. I can prove this as the whole thing was recorded.

The autism unit couldn't believe the referral was rejected. They deal with people in my circumstance all day every day. They say they have never had a referral rejected before and the fact they are dismissing my diagnosis is unacceptable. So we appealed to the council's social services appeal board. The appeal included reports from my consultant, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, psychologist and a full and detailed correction of all the mistakes from me. I was told that if this appeal failed the file is then automatically passed to the County Court for review.

It was rejected.

So for the past 6 months I've been waiting for the County Court appeal, which is all done on the file, not in person. I've just got a letter from the County Court saying my appeal will be done on 27th December and if I want to have any further evidence taken into account it has to reach them by Friday. They have sent me a copy of the file to date which they have received for me to review. They have only been sent the original Social Services report and a note stating that I was asked for further information, as were the hospital unit, but we have declined to submit further information.

I can't believe that these people are given responsibility for organising care for vulnerable people. I wouldn't trust them to care for an ant farm.

I've tried to get hold of the hospital unit, the court clerk, a translator, one of the incompetents at Social Services, etc but of course, no bugger is around as it's Christmas.

I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack.

/rant

:(

Look I'm not being deliberately obtuse or uncaring just trying to explain what may have been the reasoning behind the decisions made.

Autism is bloody difficult and some people can manage with minimal input and I simply suggested that perhaps the op has been assessed as such based on paper reports.

Who pays for the support also has a bearing on the outcome. She mentioned hospital provision so of that country operates like us and its a health funded matter then that could also explain the discharge.

No OP please post in adults with disabilities or somewhere other than here please don't feel unsupported there is 2 frankly horrible people on this thread the rest are supporting you.

I know it's natural to read the negatives more but please don't.

I hope the people who have posted rude things are really fucking proud of themselves.

OP, please post this somewhere else. MN has some wonderful members, I'm sorry you've come across the nasty minority.

Really hope things sort themselves out, Nora.

Some truly fuckwittish opinions on here.

I don't know where you are so I don't know would be appropriate there, but here I might suggest talking to your MP about this or a charitable advocacy group that supports people who have an ASD diagnosis.

Am I one of the nasty people?

How??

OP, so sorry you are getting such rude and unhelpful comments from some posters.

I am truly and some of the posts on this thread.

Hi Flaminora, sorry to hear you are having a tough time. Not sure which country you are in but may be worth contacting local politicians etc.

Trueblood-are you always so offensive? Or do you only pick on those you deem to be weaker than you? In my eyes, that's bullying and have reported your post.

Just realised this is in AIBU.

But that's no excuse for some of the responses on this thread.

Onebad you basically said she only wanted support because she was 'entitled' before even hearing all the facts.

Start a thread in parenting or mental health or relationships OP. Dont let those idiots drive you away!

Remember there is the NAS as well OP of you don't feel you can post on mumsnet for a bit. I'm sure theres forums over there. Please don't just go without support

No I didn't say that. I asked her what help she wanted and if she was only accessing it because she was entitled to it rather than because she required it. If she had said she desperately needed it because of x y z I would have posted differently. As it is she didn't answer as to what level of support she requires.

Those posting such unsupportive crap ought to be ashamed of themselves!
OP the special needs sections of MN are much "safer" - they are kind and supportive areas, if you feel you can't continue with this thread do start one there and people will help.

The stuff posted earlier has no place on MN in any forum.

She did answer. If she doesn't want to tell a bunch of strangers all her personal
Difficulties she has every right to be vague and you have every right to say 'without more details I can't help you' but to assume something of someone and to say nasty things like they're 'entitled' based on assumptions made by you is appalling.

Second paragraph, first line:

'I have AS and need a little bit of support in the home.'

If you tell us which country you are in, we can look at ways to help you. Please ignore the couple of nasty bitches on here.

The tories are spreading a disease. This thread shows the attitudes they are spreading.

Someone needs support and they are scrounging. Disgusting attitudes.

Sorry your going through a tough time Panda, I really hope you win your appeal and get the physical support you need. Do you have anybody nearby who can help you in the meantime?. You'll get plenty of support on here, don't give the horrible posts any headspace.

I hope some Of you are proud of yourselves!

All the op is asking for is a few hours a week buddy system and someone to help impliment systems and routines in the home that can then be slowly withdrawn, probably another few hours a week.

Op please post in another topic

I hope the OP comes back to read how many others are being supportive. Just unlucky that put of the 3 first posters, 2 were vile

Properly shocked by how this thread started.

OnebadbackandalostpelvicfloorYou seem to have missed the OP stating;

""Someone to support me with setting up systems and routines within the home. To work with me until I can manage and then gradually step back as I get better at coping"

The OP is going to have a baby, not only are her needs changing, she will be responsible for the needs of someone else.

I don't know of anybody who wants to have support with routines, but I do know people who need it.

So much ignorance about AS on this thread.

Bloody hell, there are some horrible posters on AIBU. I think I remember where you are and I also think I have read of another MNer having similar issues with social services there. Hope you're ok.

I know you all think I'm the antichrist but last post from me.

To some people needing 'a bit of support' is needing someone to do the cleaning and laundry to others it's having a carer come in to wash and dress them. One you would provide for yourself the other you will need social services support for.

It may be a damn sight quicker for her to source help through universal services than truck through social services dependent on what help she is after is the point I was getting at.