complaining about family support worker

[Eleanor14]

I had an unscheduled appointment from my family support worker, I was informed/threatened that the school had "grave concerns" regarding my autistic daughter and that a caf was going to be enforced and if I didn't agree safeguards would have to put in place. I was naturally very distressed and contacted her school and SENCO worker. They told me that, far from being concerned, they were actually very happy with my daughter and her progress, but admittedly they wished for me to correspond more with the school. This is just one instance of her undermining and intimidating me. Should I complain?

I would. pfsa's are supposed to be there to help and support, not intimidate! enforce a caf how?? as far as I was aware a caf is just a bit of paperwork that details circumstance and is shared between professionals, what exactly is she trying to enforce?!

Yes you should complain. She sounds extremely unprofessional.
A CAF cannot be enforced, she is incorrect. It is voluntary and informed consent is mandatory.

I would advise calling her boss and complaining, possibly asking for a different pfsa. I had a bd one to start with, highly patronising and utterly useless, dcs changed schools and thankfully we got a bloody amazing one who got me respite in the hols and everything. shes now left and again, we seem to have another really good one that's on the ball.

Absolutely complain. We have a CAF in place for my son with ASD. Like Blueballoon says, consent is mandatory. If we didn't want a CAF in place, it wouldn't be in place. All our CAF is for is to make sure all involved professionals (nursery SENCO, people from the council providing funding, etc) are all in the same place at the same time with us present as parents, so we can highlight any issues. It's helpful only because it prevents mixed messages and things being held up - it's certainly not a stick to beat you with, FFS.

Go to her Manager.

There is a big discrepancy in what the school has communicated to her and what she has told you.

Has she previously explained the Common Assessment Framework and how it can progress?

I suspect she clumsily meant it could be upped a tier.

However, there doesn't seem to be a reason why this should be happened.

It definitely needs to be got to the bottom of, it sounds as though she was on a power trip, tbh.

She should be fostering a good relationship and working openingly and honestly, not making unfounded threats.

Address this today, if possible.